RSF - The Off Road Cycling Club

A crazy 250km/150 mile mainly off road circumnavigation of England’s Second City. It’s not to be scoffed at and unless you are super off-road fit, plan for at least four days to make it an enjoyable experience. Alternatively, do it in sections on different days or ride it as a pizza slice out of Manchester using some of the many spokes in the form of canals or old railway lines to get you on route. You could also use Manchester’s well served train network to join many parts of the wheel.

So what is the route like? Broadly speaking it falls into two categories bounded at Adlington and Bollington. The north and east are the Pennines with some steep and technical riding mostly off-road and linking in with the Pennine Bridleway for some of the way. The south and west cross the Wigan Coalfields and Cheshire Plains following canals, old railways, cycle paths and quieter roads. It’s flatter and has a higher proportion of roads than the other section.

As you would expect services are generally good around the conurbation with a fair selection of shops, cafes and pubs making this an easily supplied bike camping trip. There are campsites as well but less in the south and west. There is also plenty of sightseeing and heritage included on this route which in many ways justifies it not being rushed.

Two route notes to make are check that the Holcombe Moor Firing Range is open, it generally is, and Tatton Park is only open during the day. Check you can get in/out via Rotherne and Knutsford Gates when you are on that section.

As for bike choice, it’s entirely up to you. Certainly, the south and west sections are prime CX/Gravel bike territory and really no problem on a tourer or hybrid for the experienced rider year round. The north and east are probably more mountain bike territory but in better weather, for the more experienced, a CX/Gravel bike can cope with the terrain if low geared.

This route is still being tweaked and feedback is welcomed.

Nigel Blandford

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