Sunday took Sarah and I to Rivington for the latest ride in Stockport Community Cycling Club‘s longer ride series. Whilst we had visited Eyam Hall (click here to read more about our day) the previous day and then gone for a short walk this was the first serious exercise we had undertaken since our exertions in the previous weekends Manchester Marathon 2015 (click here to read more about our experience). The longer rides tend to be around 50 miles. However a couple of them are in fact only a little longer than standard SCCC Sunday rides, but what they lack in extra distance they more than make for in quality, i.e. hills!

This ride was devised and led by Andy S. It is actually few years since we had tackled Andy’s previous version – Rivington eXtra ride – but this time around he promised a significantly revised and even more scenic route passing twelve local reservoirs.

We met near to the Rivington Hall Barn. The weather forecast for the day had threatened to bring rain but on the day, though it started off cool, the temperature would rise significantly and we would be blessed with sunshine from start to finish.

Andy said we would cycle past twelve reservoirs during the day. Setting off we passed the first one, Rivington Lower Reservoir within the first mile

From there we tackled the first serious climb as we passed Anglezarke Reservoir.

  

Our first village was the lovely Coppice.

We turned towards Brinscall and then Belmont Reservoir.

From here we made our way towards Entwistle.

Across another reservoir, this one being Entwistle Reservoir.

Lunch was taken at The Strawbury Duck at Entwistle. They had reserved a room for us. The food was fine, though a little expensive and there wasn’t much of it. There were a few vegetarian options but nothing specifically gluten-free. Unfortunately the service was slow – we were there nearly two hours – but they acknowledged that and didn’t charge us for drinks.

Immediately after lunch we passed another reservoir – Wayoh Reservoir – and made our way through Edgeworth village, Turton, and Egerton.

Past Delph Reservoir.

And Springs Reservoir.

Before a climb up Scout Road on the edge of Bolton

Finally we headed back towards Horwich and Lever Park and the finish of the ride. This was straight into a headwind and having spent all day climbing hills proved a tough finish to the ride.

This was a challenging and superb ride, and is bound to become one of SCCC’s favourite rides. We had cycled nearly 36 miles and climbed some 3000 feet. Sarah and I haven’t completed too much cycling recently, so this was excellent training for our upcoming JOGLE.

You can view today’s Rivington route below:
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