MTC Sunday Bike Rides

Winter/Spring 2007 schedule

Main groups

All rides will begin from Didsbury Clock Tower.

Group 3 rides will leave at 8.30am, all other groups will leave at 9am prompt.

Group 1 (9am)

Should travel at the speed of the slowest person. Anyone is welcome and as long as people are confident to ride on the open road no specific group riding skills are required.

Week Date Type Distance Route Link
11 14/01/2007 Intro 45k 634643
12 21/01/2007 Mixed 50k 655823
13 28/01/2007 Intro 45k
14 04/02/2007 Long or
Interval/Brick - MTC Training Duathlon
60k 680341
15 11/02/2007 Intro 50k 530220
16 18/02/2007 Hilly 55k 707384
17 25/02/2007 Intro 50k 722365
18 04/03/2007 MTC Training Duathlon 60k
19 11/03/2007 Intro 50k 757130
20 18/03/2007 Mixed 55k
21 25/03/2007 Intro 50k

Group 2 (9 am)

Bridge between Group 1 and 3. Riders should be a challenge for people looking to move up from Group 1 and an alternative for Group 3 riders. Basic group riding skills are necessary but the group needs to accomodate a range of skill levels and abilities. 20-30 kmph on flats.

Week Date Type Distance Route Link
11 14/01/2007 Long 4h
12 21/01/2007 Hilly 3h30
13 28/01/2007 Mixed 3h45 669398
14 04/02/2007 Interval/Brick - MTC Training Duathlon
15 11/02/2007 Long 4h30
16 18/02/2007 Hilly 3h45
17 25/02/2007 Mixed 4h
18 04/03/2007 MTC Training Duathlon
19 11/03/2007 Mixed 3h 752015
20 18/03/2007 Mixed / Challenge 40 miles + Mixed / Challenge
21 25/03/2007 Hilly 3h30

Group 3 (8.30am)

30+ kmph on flats. Riders should be able to: Follow a wheel at speed, through and off, etc

Week Date Type Distance Route Link
11 14/01/2007 Hilly 3h45 yousendit
12 21/01/2007 Mixed 4h yousendit
13 28/01/2007 Long 4h30 yousendit
14 04/02/2007 Interval/Brick - MTC Training Duathlon
15 11/02/2007 Hilly 4h
16 18/02/2007 Mixed 4h30
17 25/02/2007 Long 5h yousendit
18 04/03/2007 MTC Training Duathlon
19 11/03/2007 Hilly 3h30
20 18/03/2007 Challenge TBC
21 25/03/2007 Long 5h

Alternative ride for early risers

An additional bike group leave from the Bridge Inn car park on Dane Road, Sale (next to Dane Road Metrolink) at 7:30AM (later in the winter months - check the table below). The ride will last 2-3 hours at an average speed of 25-27km/hour. This is somewhere between the level of Group 2 and 3 and will suit anyone looking to develop aerobic endurance for Olympic or Middle distance events.

Week Date Type Distance Route Link
11 14/01/2007
8:15AM
Hill Intervals Artists Lane loop
12 21/01/2007
8:15AM
Long Hills 4h Brickworks/Bollington
Extension Kettleshulme, Windgather rocks, Lamaload resvr, down Cat and Fiddle
13 28/01/2007
8:00AM
Flat (easy week) 60k Tatton, Lymm loop
14 04/02/2007
9:00AM
Interval/Brick - MTC Training Duathlon Ride out to MTC Duathlon at Byley
15 11/02/2007
7:45AM
Hill Intervals Artists Lane loop
16 18/02/2007
7:30AM
Long Hills TBC
17 25/02/2007
7:30AM
Flat 2.5-3h 595932
18 04/03/2007
9:00AM
Interval/Brick - MTC Training Duathlon Ride out to MTC Duathlon at Byley
19 11/03/2007
7:30AM
Long Hills Brickworks, Long Hill, Cat and Fiddle
20 18/03/2007
7:30AM
Hill Intervals Artists Lane loop
21 25/03/2007
7:30AM
Flat 3h TBC

Autumn/Winter 2006 Schedule

Group 1

Week Date Type Distance Gmap Pedometer Route
1 5/11/2006 Intro 30-40k route 522296
2 12/11/2006 Long 50k route 530220
3 19/11/2006 Intro 30-40k route 522296 / 540513
4 26/11/2006 Hill 45k route 507280
5 03/12/2006 Intro 30-40k route 567002
6 10/12/2006 Long 50k route 579261
7 17/12/2006 Intro 30-40k
8 24/12/2006 Intro 45k route 597775
9 31/12/2006 Intro 40k
10 07/01/2006 Challenge TBC route 621216

Group 2

Week Date Type Distance Gmap Pedometer Route
1 5/11/2006 Mixed 3h (with Group 3) route 524291
2 12/11/2006 Long 3h 30m (with Group 3) route 533174
3 19/11/2006 Interval 45m Z3/Z4 route 546762
4 26/11/2006 Mixed 3h
5 03/12/2006 Long 3h 30m
6 10/12/2006 Mixed 3h (with Group 3)
7 17/12/2006 Interval 60m Z3/Z4 route 545056
8 24/12/2006 Interval 10 mile TT
9 31/12/2006 Mixed 2h
10 07/01/2006 Challenge TBC route 616884

Group 3

Week Date Type Distance Gmap Pedometer Route
1 5/11/2006 Mixed 3h route 524291
2 12/11/2006 Long 3h 30m route 533174
3 19/11/2006 Hilly 3h
4 26/11/2006 Interval 60m Z3/Z4
5 03/12/2006 Mixed 3h 30m route
6 10/12/2006 Mixed 3h
7 17/12/2006 Hilly 3h 30m route
8 24/12/2006 Interval 10 mile TT
9 31/12/2006 Mixed 2h
10 07/01/2006 Challenge TBC route 616884

Ride Types

Here's some info we came up with to help explain the main focus of each type of ride.

Intro

A relatively short and flat route perfect for novice riders or those looking for a social ride.

Long

Predominantly Z1/Z2 on flat or rolling terrain. Distance / Time in the saddle is the focus.

Hilly

3+ Steep hills where riders will have no choice but to push hard at a lower cadence. Hilly rides will usually have a large total ascent over the ride.

Interval

The middle section of the ride will include 1+ structured period/s of work. This could either be a time trial, hill intervals, chain gang, To begin with this type of ride will be done on a 5-10km circuit so group members are able to take a lap out if required. Later in the year this can be included into a longer loop.

Mixed

Can include some steep hills, intervals and steady work as well as short sprints as decided by the group.

Challenge

A step above what the majority of riders in the group are used to. It could be a British Cycling or CTC organised ride or a club organised attempt on one of the classic routes such as the Fred Whitton.

Advice for Riders

Check the Man tri website to make yourself familiar with the route before the day of the ride. We are trying to map all routes using the gmap-pedometer website otherwise alternative information about the route will be provided.

Wear a helmet, easily visible clothing and eye-wear.

Bring a mobile phone to use in case of emergency or if you become separated from the group. Carrying some small change is also a good idea.

Check your bike to make sure it is road worthy before leaving home. British cycling offer bike maintenance and helmet and clothing safety checklists.

Depending on the weather bring suitably warm clothing. This could include:

  • Gloves
  • Hat / Ear warmers to wear underneath your helmet
  • Waterproof / windproof jacket
  • Shoe covers
  • Arm / Leg warmers
  • Base layers

Bring some food / drink. As a minimum:

  • 750ml of water/energy drink
  • A small snack (flapjack / energy bar)

Carry the following equipment / spares:

  • 2 spare inner tubes
  • Tyre levers
  • Pump
  • Multi-tool

Ideally you should be able to fix a puncture. If you can't let the ride leader know before you set off.

When you arrive, sign-on with the ride leader by providing your name and mobile number. The ride leader will provide you with their mobile number/s and an emergency contact number in case they cannot be reached.

Abide by the rules of the road and remain responsible for your own safety for the duration of the ride. The Club recommends you take out BTA membership as this will provide you with insurance cover whilst training as well as racing. More information about BTA membership can be found on their website - www.britishtriathlon.org. Other organisations such as British Cycling and the CTC provide similar cover whilst cycling, so you should decide which is most appropriate for you.

Let the ride leader know when you are leaving, particularly if you won�t be staying with the group for the whole ride.

No coaching will be provided during the ride.

Typical Routes

Throughout 2006/2007 we hope to build up a library of routes using the GMaps Pedometer route mapping website. Until this is up and running, here are some suggestions.

All rides head out of Manchester via Cheadle heading south...

For a ride in flattish countryside we head west from Alderley Edge and do a loop in the area of Jodrell Bank, Chelford, Byley, Goostry, Tatton Park and Knutsford. This would be mainly on Cheshire lanes in pleasant countryside.

For more undulating terrain we would head south east from Aldereley Edge and take in the countryside towards Macclesfield, taking in Presbury, Gawsworth, Henbury and Congleton. This is a great area for cycling with many short climbs and quiet roads.

The hardest routes are west of Macclesfield towards Buxton. These take in the famous climbs of the Cat and Fiddle, Brickworks and Long Hill. Shorter rides would be around Bollington and Rainow. This country is very hard and the climbs very steep.

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