Today was Stockport Community Cycling Club‘s Middlewich 2016; and for Sarah what a difference a year makes! This time last year this was our last longer ride before our JOGLE cycle tour. I led the Middlewich 2015 ride while Sarah sat it out – literally – for she had just broken her foot (which resulted in her being unable to cycle the JOGLE).

Thankfully, that was then and this is now. So no broken foot this year meant Sarah was able to lead seventeen of us as we met at Bramhall library for what promised to be a day of two halves – sunny in the morning, rain in the afternoon. Neil was today’s back-leader.

Leaving Bramhall we made our way towards Woodford.

And then the climb past The Deanwater towards Wilmslow.

  

Soon we were turned towards Mottram St Andrew.

And then skirted the edge of Alderley Edge.

From here we headed through Henbury.

Then on towards Gawsworth.

At Marton we met up with Bruce who had left home late and decided to catch up with us en-route.

  

After cycling along the A54 for awhile we turned off and picked up a track at Brereton Green which we cycled along for a short while.

This led to Brereton.

  

Soon the rain that had been forecast finally turned up.

Finally we arrived in Middlewich where we picked up the Trent & Mersey Canal.

Lunch was on the side of the canal at The Big Lock. The food here is a bit pricey, but it is good tasty fare, and there are gluten-free and vegetarian options.

After lunch we headed back for home via Byley and Allostock.

And Ollerton.

Where we were briefly caught up in a local traffic jam …

Next we made our way through Wilmslow.

Eventually we returned to Bramhall.

This had proved to be an enjoyable ride where in spite of the predicted weather forecast the rain had largely stayed away and instead we had enjoyed a day of sunshine and cycling in Cheshire. Can’t be beat!

You can view our Middlewich 2016 route below:

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