Join us on the 3rd Saturday of the month as we continue our exploration of Manchester by bike. We are riding between railway stations or Metrolink stops, so there are options to cut the ride short if you don't want to commit to the full distance. Just turn up on whatever bike you have, whether a road bike with skinny tyres, a gravel bike, or an electric assist bike. If you happen to have a folder, you can even take that onto the tram.

If you prefer to do your own thing, we have a number of Permanently Available Rides ('Perms'). These can be done in one go or easily broken up into shorter stages, taking advantage of the rail network throughout Manchester. You can tackle these rides on your own or with friends, at any time of your choosing.

There are also plenty of Cycling Clubs in the area who regularly organise club runs, either on a regular basis, or as occasional 'specials'. As a Cycling UK Member, you will be welcomed by most clubs, with the 3rd party insurance which comes with your membership. It's a good idea to contact the clubs first to find out where and when they meet, and what sort of speeds and terrain they get up to.

Helmet policy at Cycling UK is that you make up your own mind whether to wear one or not. Individual cycling clubs may have their own rules, and if they wish to mandate helmet wearing, you will be expected to respect that.

Manchester CTC Regular Rides : meeting every 3rd Saturday in the month
Date	Ride	Details
Saturday 18/11/2023	Bury - Ashton 33 km (20 miles) one-way 65 km (40 miles) return	Continuing our Station to Station tour of Manchester. Leave Bury Interchange from outside the Wetherspoons at 10:30. The ride to Ashton goes through Birtle and Cutgate. Continue to Ashton via Middleton and Daisy Nook Country Park. You can finish the ride at Rochdale (15km) or Ashton (35km) where trains and trams are available. The ride back to Bury goes through Clayton Vale and Heaton Park and adds another 30km.
Saturday 16/12/2023	Bromley Cross - Appley Bridge 34 km (21 miles) one-way 65 km (40 miles) return	Continuing our Station to Station tour of Manchester. Meet at Bromley Cross Station for a 10:30 start. The 9:21 train from Rochdale to Clitheroe calls at Victoria (9:41), Bolton (10:02) and arrives at Bromley Cross at 10:12. We ride over Rivington Moor and Winter Hill but the slopes are gradual rather than horrendous. We also use the Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath and the former Lancashire Union Railway line from Adlington to Red Rock. At Appley Bridge you can get a train back to Manchester, or you ride with us back to the start for an additional 31km (19 miles).
Saturday 20/01/2024	Appley Bridge - Irlam 33 km (20 miles) one-way 67 km (41 miles) return	Continuing our Station to Station tour of Manchester. Meet at Appley Bridge Station for a 10:30 start. The 9:27 train from Manchester Oxford Road to Southport calls at Bolton (9:47), Wigan Wallgate (10:06) and arrives at Appley Bridge at 10:16. There is also a train from Stalybridge (8:52) to Southport, which calls at Victoria (9:06), Bolton (9:31), Wigan Wallgate (9:49) and arrives at Appley Bridge at 10:00 for a 10:30 start. The ride uses an extensive stretch of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, the Leigh branch and the Bridgewater Canal. This is followed by a ride over Chat Moss to reach Irlam. It's about as flat as we could make it. You can get a train back to Manchester from Irlam, or return with us back to Appley Bridge for an additional 34km (21 miles).
Saturday 17/02/2024	Irlam - Manchester Airport 29 km (18 miles) one-way 48 km (30 miles) return	Continuing our Station to Station tour of Manchester. Meet at Irlam Station for a 10:30 start. The 9:46 from Oxford Road to Liverpool Lime Street arrives at Irlam at 10:04 for a 10:30 start.
Saturday 16/03/2024	Manchester Airport - Hazel Grove 32 km (20 miles) one-way 51 km (31 miles) return	Continuing our Station to Station tour of Manchester. Catch a train from Oxford Road (10:00) or Piccadilly (10:02) to arrive at the Airport station at 10:25 for a 10:30 start.
Saturday 20/04/2024	Hazel Grove - Hadfield 37 km (23 miles) one-way 55 km (34 miles) return	Continuing our Station to Station tour of Manchester. The 9:51 from Piccadilly to Buxton arrives at Hazel Grove at 10:15 for a 10:30 start.
Saturday 18/05/2024	Dinting - Littleborough 45 km (28 miles) one-way 78 km (48 miles) return	Continuing our Station to Station tour of Manchester. The 10:03 train from Piccadilly arrives at Dinting at 10:29 for a 10:30 start.
Saturday 15/06/2024	Manchester Sightseer: West & South 64 km (40 miles) return	Part of our Manchester Sightseer tour of Manchester. Meet at the Velodrome Cafe for a 10:30 start.
Saturday 20/07/2024	Manchester Sightseer: North & West 61 km (38 miles) return	Part of our Manchester Sightseer tour of Manchester.Meet at the Velodrome Cafe for a 10:30 start.
Saturday 17/08/2024	Littleborough - Bromley Cross 40 km (25 miles) one-way 66 km (41 miles) return	Resuming our Station to Station tour of Manchester.
Saturday 21/09/2024	Ashton-Altrincham 33 km (20 miles) one-way 57 km (35 miles) return	Resuming our Station to Station tour of Manchester. Meet at Costa on Katherine Street but ready to leave from the tram stop at 10:30. The ride to East Didsbury uses the Fallowfield Loop Line (a former railway line, now a cyclepath. Cafe stop at the Bijou Cafe in Cheadle. We pass the Airport where you can cut short the ride using the tram or a train back into Manchester. The ride finished at Altrincham (train and tram connections, or you can ride back via Wythenshawe Park and the Fallowfield Loop).
Saturday 29/09/2024	Beard Cup 2 km (1 miles) one-way 4 km (2 miles) return	Our 'fun' hill climb, click here for details
Sunday 19/10/2024	Altrincham to Bury 34 km (21 miles) one-way 65 km (40 miles) return	Continuing our Station to Station tour of Manchester. Start from the clock tower by the Interchange at 10:30. Our journey involves the Bridgewater Canal towpath from West Timperley to Barton Swing Bridge. We'll also use the Irwell Sculpture Trail from Agecroft to Phillip's Park. If the full distance is too much, you can drop out at Manchester and get the train back. If you have a folding bike, we will pass tram stops at Trafford Centre, Eccles, Radcliffe and Bury. The return ride from Bury to Altrincham will add an extra 28km.

Other Local Cycling UK Groups
Peak Audax	Mostly formal Audax events that need to be pre-entered. They can be from 50km to 600km, so do make sure what you are committed to before you start!
Bury CTC	Meet on Sundays outside former Wilko's Store on the Rock.
Rochdale CTC	Club rides start from Rochdale Leisure Centre, Beginners and Medium rides departing at 9:30 on Saturdays. On Sundays, club rides set off at 8:30 (short/medium/Long). The Sunday Chaingang leaves at 9:00. The Vets group has a ride on Thursdays.
Oldham & Tameside CTC	A small group of enthisiastic cyclists who meet every Sunday, whatever the weather. We meet at Deep Cutting Stalybridge, or Apethorn Lane Hyde.
South Manchester CTC	There are 2 rides on Sundays, meeting 9:00 for 9:15 departure. Rides start from Cheadle, Hazel Grove or Whalley Bridge (see runs list for details).
West Manchester CTC	Club runs from Jolly Thresher, Agden at 11am Sundays