The Stockport Community Cycling Club Big Stockport Ride in Reverse 2018 was based on a Lifeleisure cycle event route a few years back. This year the starting point changed and we met at CERA Cycloan.

Before the cycle ride started, CERA Cycloan gave a short presentation, in which they donated to Sarah and I the bicycle they had loaned us as part of our wedding day decorations. It was an extremely kind thought and very well received.

It was a dry but chilly morning when we set off. Sarah was leading this ride around the edges of Stockport.

We began by making our way through St Thomas’s Rec.

We hadn’t got too far when the first mechanical was required. Thankfully, this was just a pumping up of tyres.

We continued on through Offerton.

Then weaved our way through Hazel Grove.

We cycled through Torkington Park.

A little further on we joined the Middlewood Way.

At Rose Hill, we crossed over Marple Road and joined NCN Route 55.

Sarah andThis took us past Marple Hall school and towards Chadkirk.

A section of this also forms the Alan Newton Way.

We crossed over Chadkirk Bridge.

Our coffee stop was at the Wyevale Garden Centre.

This proved a bit of a torturous experience. For quite a few of us, the food took ages … and ages … and ages … and ages (you get the picture!) to arrive. And this was just for a simple cheese butty. Thankfully, when it did arrive, it was pretty decent. And they did have gluten-free offerings.

After the break, we set off along the Goyt Valley trail.

This took us to Bredbury.

From there we headed towards Brinnington.

Our route followed the path under the motorway and climbed up to the former railway line.

From there, we turned on to NCN Route 62 and cycled through Reddish Vale.

Leaving the Vale we joined Mill Lane and NCN Route 6.

We continued to follow NCN Route 6 for a little while as it joined the Fallowfield Loop.

We were only on the Fallowfield Loop briefly, before turning off and picking up the Nelstrop Road North path.

Next, we made our way through Heaton Chapel.

Then Heaton Norris.

This took us back down towards Brinnington.

From the edge of Brinnington, we dropped into the town centre alongside the River Mersey.

After turning up Millgate and passing by the Market Hall, we headed towards Hopes Carr.

We then

This took us alongside Hillgate and eventually back to the start,

We had cycled nearly 20 miles. This had been another one of our routes that had shown that even when cycling through urban areas, there are quiet and interesting routes to cycle.

You can view our Big Stockport Ride in Reverse 2018 route below: