The common factor for recent Stockport Community Cycling Club rides (apart from bikes and cycling!) has been rain – and lots of it. To that extent the Around Poynton ride was no different. It was raining when we arrived at the start, it was raining when we arrived in Poynton, and it was raining when we all went our separate ways after the ride. Yes, it rained and rained and didn’t stop!

Sarah was the ride leader as ten hardy and well wrapped up club members met up near Woodsmoor Rail station.

We began by weaving our way through Woodsmoor and Hazel Grove.

Crossing the busy A6 road we cycled through Torkington Park.

And then up Old Torkington Road.

And on to the Middlewood Way.

We followed the Middlewood Way as far as Higher Poynton.

We began dropping down from Higher Poynton by cycling down Coppice Road and then turning left down The Coppice, a lovely quiet little track. It was here that Andy Shaw’s gears decided they didn’t like the rain and refused to work and was stuck in the lowest gear. So he spent the rest of the ride to the coffee break pedalling like a banshee to keep up on the downward sections.

The ride had been described as a cycle around the lanes of Poynton, so that’s exactly the route Sarah plotted!

And that of course meant a quick tour of the local estates …

As well as the rain the wind was occasionally strong too. Indeed at one point we were pedalling hard without moving forward!

Eventually we arrived at the Poynton village shops, and from there we found Cafe 31, a great little place that made us really welcome. The food was just what cyclists enjoy most – hearty, tasty and fairly priced.

After the break it was back in to the rain again as we headed towards Bramhall.

We made our way down Lower Park Road.

We crossed Chester Road and then followed a track in to the back of Bramhall picking up Seal Road.

Then down Fir Road and on to Brookdale Road.

We cycled along more Bramhall roads until finally we picked up the track over the bridge at Woodsmoor.

In spite of the rain this proved a great route and a really enjoyable ride. We had cycled nearly 15 miles.

You can view our Around Poynton route below:

[sgpx gpx=”/wp-content/uploads/gpx/sccc-around-poynton-2015.gpx”]