Our first cycle ride in 2021 was a familiar one. During the first coronavirus lockdown, Sarah and I regularly cycled around Higher Poynton. Indeed, it was the direction we headed on my first cycle ride following my hip operation. However, it was warmer then. Now we are in January, possibly the coldest month of the year.

So it was that Sarah and I set off from Great Moor and made our way towards Hazel Grove.

In Hazel Grove, we met up with our good friend Andy. He is in our social bubble, so even with the tighter restrictions, he was still allowed to join us.

A little further along we picked up the cycle path alongside the A555, the Airport Relief Road.

We hadn’t got very far, however, when Andy feared he had a puncture. It wasn’t the case, it was some debris in the tyre. Sarah was feeling cold, so the stop didn’t help.

We continued on towards Poynton and turned into Towers Road.

This was followed by a steady climb up towards Waterloo Road.

Before entering the edges of Adlington.

We continued to work our way through Adlington.

Before another steady climb took us towards Pott Shrigley.

At Pott Shrigley, we turned into Shrigley Road.

This took us towards the back entrance of Lyme Park. Along the ridge at the top, there are some fabulous views out over Cheshire.

Then our route took us back into Higher Poynton again.

Eventually, we reached Middlewood Road and dropped down into Norbury Hollow.

Then, after climbing out of the hollow we arrived at Buxton Road. Here we parted company with Andy.

Sarah and I continued back home through Bramhall.

Finally, we took the path through Mirrlees Fields and then home.

Today, we had cycled just under 16 miles. For me, it had once again been good to get back on the bike. Even winter and a cold January doesn’t spoil my cycling, I had managed to warm up enough after a few miles. The route, while short was the lumpiest one I have done as my recovery continues. Sarah, however, felt too cold most of the way round to get the most out of it. Ahh well.

You can view our January cycle ride around Higher Poynton below: