Leeds Liverpool

I wanted to try the Leeds Liverpool Canal, from Adlington to Leyland, didn't quite make it due to very cold 20 mph head wind. Up the middlebrook Valley Trail to Horwich, a circuit around Lever Park, across to Adlington to join the canal towpath. I should have turned north, but because of the wind changed to south. I rode along the canal for a few miles, till near Westhoughton and the back home by road. A cold and windy day, 25 miles, 3 hours.

Urban Sprawl

I have wanted to have a look at the Fallowfield Loop for a while, so Saturday I set Off. But I didn't take a map which nearly blew it.

I set off down to Sale Water Park by Route 55, very wet and muddy. In Chorlton, I ran out of signposts, tried a few options and just as I was seeting off to Manchester City Centre I stumbled accross the western end of the Loop. I travelled to the full length and arrived at Sport City. From there to the City Centre and I tried to pick up the Bridgewater Canal, failed, but joined it near Old Trafford, from there back to the 55 and home. The weather was cool, just above freezing, but the mud was everywhere, I would have loked it a little colder.

In contrast to the 55 the Loop is well kept and almost litter and fly tipping free.

Let it Snow!

Super ride to work this morning in the soft powder snow! Great conditions and good traction, lets see what its like later when its melted and re-frozen! Wind is very cold from the North East, so with me going.. and against me coming back.

First Week Back!

I managed 4 days to and from work in the first week back at work. The weather has been very cold all week, one one morning it was -6C! A total of 65 miles for the week, which gets my new yearly target of 3000 miles off to a good start.

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.....