Route Advice – Manchester to Ashby de la Zouch

[therams]

OK, on Friday I have the day off work and am planning to cycle from Manchester to my parents house in Ashby de la Zouch (in the midlands near Donington Race Track).

I normally plot my routes on map my ride and then upload them to my Garmin 305. However, when plotting the routes I normally have some idea of what the roads are like.

Does anybody have any route advice, I think I will head to Buxton and then on from there. But I could also follow the route of the old A50 to stoke, but I don’t know that area at all well.

Macclesfield – Leek – Ashborne also looks good on Google Maps!

Basically I want to keep the distance to around 75 miles and avoid busy roads.

Missing out Buxton, would also let me miss out some hills?

Any advice is appreciated thanks!

 

[garrilla]

And will you be going to Nottm on Sat?

 

[therams]

No bad planning on my part, I have to be in Oxford on Saturday. Should be interesting though...

 

[therams]

I have gone for this, 74 mile will be my longest ride so far, by about 4 miles, if I make it!

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/manchester/151125135879232452

 

[garrilla]

I'll be interested to know what that route is like from Congletron onwards. I occasion muster the motivation to do Liverpool-Nottm but I go/struggle over the peaks, so its maybe time to try a lighter ride and as I'm going to West Nottm (Bramcote), your route would suit with a bit of adaption at the end.

 

[therams]

Yes, I chose this route to avoid the Peaks, I have a few backup routes as well, just in case.

I will let you know how I get on.

 

[therams]

Well the whole ride (75 miles) took me just under 6 hours, not to bad considering the conditions. The first 30 miles, were torrential rain and probably the only part of the route that I would change.

I set of at about 8:00 and at that time of the day the A34 to Congleton was too busy to be relaxing. With the rain, I did not feel too safe, even with high vis and back light on. However, once I reached Congleton, the rain eased and the roads became quieter. It was a mistake to think that as I had missed out Buxton, I was missing out the peak district! My Garmin recorded 4500 ft of climbing over the 75 miles, way more than I expected and way more than I had every done before. However, I got my head down and when I arrived at my parents; the feeling of accomplishment was fantastic.

So would I recommend the route, if you miss the A34 at the start and like hills then yes! The last 25 miles through Derbyshire were fantastic!

To be honest on a Sunday morning, with no rain then the whole route would have been great.

 

[jimboalee]

Some advice for those who plan a LONE ride across country.

Stick to the main roads.
Reason 1. - If something disasterous happens, the paramedics can find you easier.
Reason 2. - There are more shops on the main roads.
Reason 3. - Signage is better on main roads. You needn't have a Garmin to guide you.

Don't go down single track lanes on a LONE ride. If another vehicle, whatever size, makes you ride into the hedge and clears off, you might be lying there un-noticed bleeding to death for a long time.

Most important of all.
Have your mobile phone in a small pocket where you can get at it, even if you are upside down in a drainage ditch.

 

[cheadle hulme]

I wish I'd seen this before - I would have warned you the A34 is unpleasant.

From Wilmslow its possible to take quiet lanes via Chelford, Windyharbour and Swettenham to get to Congleton. Only adds about a mile too.

 

[therams]

Some advice for those who plan a LONE ride across country.

Stick to the main roads.
Reason 1. - If something disasterous happens, the paramedics can find you easier.
Reason 2. - There are more shops on the main roads.
Reason 3. - Signage is better on main roads. You needn't have a Garmin to guide you.

Don't go down single track lanes on a LONE ride. If another vehicle, whatever size, makes you ride into the hedge and clears off, you might be lying there un-noticed bleeding to death for a long time.

Most important of all.
Have your mobile phone in a small pocket where you can get at it, even if you are upside down in a drainage ditch.

I appreciate what you are saying about having a mobile phone to hand, in case of an emergency. But I think a well planned route, on single track lanes can be fantastic. Shops can be planed in as well and with a GPS or map, you can find your way easily.

Surely, that's part of the pleasure of cycling alone, the isolation, time to really appreciate the country side.

I agree that being left for dead in a ditch is not ideal, but if everything we did was 0% risk we would never leave the house.

 

[therams]

I wish I'd seen this before - I would have warned you the A34 is unpleasant.

From Wilmslow its possible to take quiet lanes via Chelford, Windyharbour and Swettenham to get to Congleton. Only adds about a mile too.

Yes, I had originally planned a route past Jodrell Bank but changed my mind at the last minute. In hindsight, not worth it to save a few miles.