It has been a long time coming but at last the sun has come out as 16 cyclists turned up in Timperley for the latest Stockport Community Cycling Club ride – Croft 2016.

In previous years this almost completely flat ride has presented problems – we have been arriving at the lunch stop far too early. So this year the start point was moved to extend the length of the ride a little.

Leaving Timperley we made our way through Altrincham.

Waited for the tram to pass through …

Up Oldfield Road …

And through Dunham Massey.

From here we made our way towards Warburton.

Cycling over Warburton Bridge (possibly the toughest climb of the day)

Through Hollins Green.

We were still early! So we briefly stopped at Culcheth where Sarah purchased some suncream. Who would have thought that would be a requirement after recent cycle rides??

  

Leaving Culcheth we cycled along Wilton Lane towards Croft.

Lunch was at The General Elliot.

This pub always provides a welcome for us. There isn’t a wide choice of bar food, but what is served is excellent. And Sarah had a few choices to choose from too; she selected the quinoa cakes.

For the first time this year we were able to eat outside!

Back on the road after lunch and we were cycling into a headwind as we headed through Locking Stumps and then up Woolston Grange Avenue.

Next we turned on to the A57 Manchester Road before cycling back over Warburton Bridge.

We picked up the Trans Pennine Trail for awhile.

And the Bridgewater Canal.

Before finally weaving our way back through Altrincham and Timperley.

What a difference a week can make. Last week we had cycled through a whole season of weather conditions, this week it was wall-to-wall sunshine. Will summer weather last? We certainly hope so.

You can view the Croft 2016 route below:

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