Christmas Break

I have only managed about 6 commutes to work and back this month due to work commitments, so I wont manage as many miles in the year as I had hoped, around 2,200 in all.

Today was cold and clear with a breeze from the east, I rode down Route 55 from Little Hulton to Manchester, stopped off at Krispy Kream in Trafford Centre for a coffee and a doughnut!
#Came back along the Bridgewater canal to Leigh then back o the road to Bolton.

25 miles in temperatures of around zero.

Happy New Year!!

Sunday Freeze

I set off from home at 07.45, the intention to be somewhere over Rivington. I decided to follow the trail up to Winter Hill by Bob's Smithy, through Walker Fold Wood to join the road to the top. It was freezing cold this morning, I think around minus 2 degrees. I as really cold and the trail was very icy. Made it to the top, there was a breeze blowing from the north, Even colder!

The back to Georges Lane and up to the Pike, I was overtaken by 3 out of 4 other riders!

Didn't stay long on the Pike, down to the Lower Barn, it was marginally warmer inside, but not much. One bacon barm and a tea later then back home. A really tiring ride, one I have done before many times, but never feeling so tired.

25 miles

2K

This morning, in the dark and rain, I passed the 2000 mile mark, (since Jan 1st 2008).

Work commitments have prevented me from riding a lot these past few weeks, so its just been a few days here and there, mostly in the dark and sometimes in the rain.

But antway I have passed some sort of arbitary milestone, something to beat next year.....

To the Pike!

Another day that started damp and misty turned into a beautiful day later. Went along Middlebrook Valley Trail to Horwich, then up to Georges Lane and the usual route to the Pike. At the top no view, very misty and humid, but started to clear while I drank my coffee. A lot of riders out this morning, amazing so early. Went down the Ice Cream Run, then to Rivington.

Tried to look up Leadmines Clough, but the bridleway ran out soon, returned over the moor to the bottom barn for a cup of tea.

Another superb day in the sun.

25 miles, nearly 4 hours with stops.

Sunday Ride

After a really dull and damp start to the day, it turned into a fantastic autumn day, bright sunshine, not much wind and totally clear sky. I set off to explore a little bit further along the Bridgewater Canal and the Leeds Liverpool. I joined the canal at Leigh. This stretch of the canal, the towpath actually, is due to be upgraded to a cycle track in the near future, its a great ride. Unfortunately the last week of rain has turned to towpath into a mud bath! but its still a very nice ride. I called at the gym in Trafford Park for a swim and coffee and then back home along Route 55, which would be a fantastic route if if it were maintained even a little bit. Anyway 27 miles, according to my computer, Mapmyride doesn't show the side trip to Pennington Flash and along the Leeds Liverpool.

Note Route 55 joins Bolton and Monton via a disused railway line.

This week saw the end of the fine weather, we have had 4 days of heavy rain and a lot of wind, got soaked two days already, but I still managed 4 days to work and back by bike. At the end of the week I will have managed 1800 miles, (2,880 kms), which is nothing by the standards of other local bloggers!

New Tyres

I finally bought two new tyres, the others, especially the front were worn out and very fragile as I found when I took them off. Went for Maxxis Advantage, they seem very smooth rolling, lets see how they perform.

Last week I managed three trips up to Winter Hill and Rivigton Pike, up via Foxholes Lane to Georges Lane and down by a the AICR and the Commonwealth Down, superb weather and dry hard trails. Not able to ride this weekend even though its been excellent weather.

Nights and especailly mornings are closing in and I need the lights at least on the morning commute.

Today's ride was along Middlebrook Valley Trail to Lostock, then up to the top of Beaumont Road, Markland Hill, Walker Fold Lane to the bridleway and then to the top of Winter Hill. The weather was superb, warm dry, sunny and almost no wind, visibility was great from the top. Very few people on the top, but more on the Pike.

From the top I dropped off the steep side down towards the Belmont Road, but turned left to the Pigeon Tower, then back to Bob's Smithy via George's Lane, back home by the Valley Trail.

Front tyre developed a large bulge,so new tyres tomorrow, the old ones have done about 2,500 miles.

Total Distance 22 miles

I completed Sunday the western section of the Trans Pennine Trail. I joined the trail at Sale Water Park, after following Route 55 from Farnworth to Stretford via the Bridgewater Canal to join it.

The trail then passes Warrington, Widnes and then turns to the north at Liverpool Airport. It then follows the old railway loop line all the way to Southport. The weather was sunny when I left home, became cool at Liverpool and the sun came out again at Southport.

The Trail along this section is almost flat; it’s mostly all off road, with short sections of quiet rods joining the paths. The signposts in Liverpool are almost non-existent, so I needed my maps. The end of the Trail (or the beginning) was a bit of a let down. Otherwise it’s a good ride.

Total distance 80 miles, 8 hours.

Wildlife

I have always been interested to wildlife on the trails I ride. On my ride to work I have seen Hero, Canada Geese, Kingfisher, all types of ducks and wading birds. I have seen twice a Fallow Deer, which was great. The most exotic I ever saw was an Iguana! actually it was sitting in the sun on someones knee!

I have tried to take photos of the animals...with not much sucess, here are two photos of a Heron.

No Time

Almost a week and a half, haven't managed any riding, just yesterday and today, the usual commute to work and back, but with a side trip up to the Pike with Mark from work. Weather was good, quite clear view from the top.

Been using my new Camelbak pack this week, very comfortable!

Late August

The weather has been fine the last week, so I managed to get up around Rivington four times in seven days!, a record. I even managed Rivington Pike on three consecutive days!

Yesterday, Saturday, I went with my youngest son Robert with me, we managed 25 miles in nice, warm but very humid conditions.

From From the Horwich end of the Middlebrook Valley Trail weclimbed by road up to Georges Lane and then to the Pike, we came down what I think is called the Commonwealth Down and through Lever Park to the Bottom Barn, for tea and sadwiches! Thenback home.

Blog Start

Welcome to my Blog Spot!

This is the first post I have made. The blog will contain a few lines now and then of my mountain bike trips.

I am a regular user of the Middlebrook Valley Trail, which runs from Bolton to Horwich. I use the trail every day to commute to work, 16 miles in total every day. I also use the trail to get up to Winter Hill and Rivington.