The week of writing an Open University essay is an intense one for me. I therefore usually shut down my social calendar and minimise all distractions. Thankfully I had been cycling on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but all day studying on a Bank Holiday Monday. I knew I had to sacrifice the full day unofficial Stockport Community Cycling Club unofficial ride. Since Andy S wasn’t free all day either emailing him with an alternative temptation of ‘a few miles, a few hills, and back by lunch’ was pretty much a guaranteed ‘yes, let’s do it’.

So Sarah and I found ourselves cycling over to Marple early on a cold Monday morning meeting up with Andy, Neil and Tracey.

After a welcome cup of tea we set off up Glossop Road, destination Charlesworth, the hills, and the snow. At Charlesworth we turned off the main road on to Town Lane.

Then we turned on to Chapel Brow, where the fun started. A long 1 in 7 climb with sections over 1 in 5.

It was a tough climb and windy at the top. The view was spectacular though.

From there it was down hill all the way to Hayfield.

Out of Hayfield we climbed back up following Swallow House Lane.

This was followed by an even sharper climb up Sitch Lane.

From here we dropped in to New Mills and then one final climb up over Jacksons Edge.

Finally we headed for home and for me at least the fun was over and it was back to that essay!

Still, we had cycled nearly 28 miles and climbed 2700 feet. That”s what Bank Holiday Monday’s are really meant for 🙂