The last couple of Stockport Community Cycling Club ride has been cancelled due to poor weather. So, the forecast for brighter conditions brought out a healthy crowd of club members to Torkington Park. This Fools Nook 2019 ride, led by Graham, was the latest in the clubs longer ride series.

It began with us leaving Torkington Park and making our way through the nearby estate.

Our first climb of the day took us up Old Torkington Road.

Then along Threaphurst Lane.

Over the Middlewood crossing, and up to Higher Poynton.

At Higher Poynton, we had a brief stop by the visitor centre.

From Higher Poynton, we made our way around the back of Lyme Park and towards Pott Shrigley.

We turned off, past Nabs Quarry.

Then dropped into Bollington down Beeston Brow.

The climbs continued as we turned off the main street and up Hurst Lane towards Kerridge.

Just before Kerridge, we turned off and climbed up Redway Lane towards White Nancy.

This then took us along Kerridge Lane and over Kerridge Hill.

Next, we crossed of Rainow Road and turned on to Calrofold Lane.

Continuing through the foothills around Macclesfield and the slopes of Teggs Nose.

There were some fabulous views

We followed local network route 71 for a while.

This took us towards Langley.

Before eventually arriving at Sutton.

A little further along we joined National Cycle Network route 55. We had cycled this section recently on the Macclesfield Circular ride.

We crossed Macclesfield Road at the old Fools Nook pub.

And over the canal, as we cycled towards Galwsworth.

We left NCN Route 55 at Gawsworth, and continued along the Cheshire Cycleway, route 70, in the direction of Henbury.

Soon, however, we turned towards Siddington.

From there we cycled towards our lunch stop at Jodrell Bank.

Just before we arrived at the lunch stop I had a  cramp in my left quadriceps. This was the sign of things to come … 🙁

Jodrell Bank cafe is a favourite stop for Cheshire cyclists, including ours, and we have visited it many times before. The food is always hearty, and they have gluten-free options.

There were a number of our members who had found the morning hard going and so left us at this point.

After lunch, we began by cycling towards the Peovers.

Our original route took us up Artists Lane, Alderley Edge. However, since we were tired we decided to miss this out and use the bypass instead.

We cycled through Chelford.

A little further on we picked up the Alderley Bypass.

Unfortunately, just before we turned towards Wilmslow my leg cramps returned. And not just in one leg this time – but both.

I managed to limp into Wilmslow, but my cycling day was finished. There were likely to be a few more hills still to tackle and the chances of my legs cramping again were high. So I opted for the train. Sarah was tired as well, so she came along with me too. I heard later, there were one or two others who were shattered by the time they had finished.

This is a fine cycle ride, in spite of the toll it took on many of us. Many of us had forgotten how challenging it was, and perhaps it should take up one of the two annual hilly ride slits if repeated in future. Nonetheless, in spite of our tolls, it was good to be out cycling again.

You can view our Fools Nook 2019 route below: