The Lymm 2018 cycle ride had originally been scheduled in the Stockport Community Cycling Club ride calendar for a couple of weeks ago.  Unfortunately, original iteration had been cancelled due to bad weather and rescheduled for this weekend instead. Not that the predicted weather for this weekend was much better. So, it was that twenty-two club members turned up at the Atlantic Street car park on a freezing cold and breezy Saturday morning. I was the back-leader today. Gill was leading the cycle ride, and since Sarah and Tracey were taking corner duties, we had an all-female front row!

Gill had decided we would not use the Trans Pennine Trail path today. So, the ride began by making our way towards Dunham Town.

At Dunham Town, we turned up Back Lane.

We may not have been cycling along the Trans Pennine Trail, however, we kept criss-crossing over it.

Our route next took us through the village of Warburton.

We crossed over Dunham Road a few times.

After one stop Martin stopped for a quick mechanical repair.

A little further on … and it still didn’t seem to be fixed.

Soon we were entering the outer edges of Lymm district at Rushgreen.

We turned off up Reddish Lane.

And still Martin wasn’t happy with his bicycle …

We did actually use the Trans Pennine Trail for a short while.

When we arrived in Lymm town centre it started to snow.

Our coffee stop was at The Terrace. It was just good to get out of the snow and the cold. Thankfully, the cafe also had plenty of gluten-free options for Sarah. We had a couple of sandwiches, and both were very good. It is a cafe we are happy to recommend.

If anything, after lunch it was snowing even harder.

Yet, a few minutes later, as we left Lymm,  it had stopped.

You would never have known it been snowing!

Now it was Miguel’s turn to struggle with a mechanical.

We passed by St Peter’s at Oughtrington.

Soon it started to snow again.

We cycled through Agden.

And crossed over the River Bollin by the Swan-With-Two-Nicks. They are obviously repairing the bridge.

Finally, it was a return through Dunham Massey.

This Lymm 2018 had covered just over 15 miles. We had encountered a whole spectrum of weather and the temperature had never risen above zero. For these reasons, it is likely this would be a cycle ride that will go down in SCCC folklore.

The 12-mile journey home for Sarah, Andy S and I would prove even more challenging. More gusting snow and a strong headwind ensured it was hard going all the way. To top it all, there were two punctures too!

You can view the Lymm 2018 route below: