Super Saturday– 1 ride, 3 golds (GENTS ONLY RIDE)

As one of the “Go for Gold” Olympic themed bike rides in July and August, we are cycling to Eccles and Manchester City Centre to visit three gold postboxes painted to mark the successes of Sarah Storey, Philip Hindes and GB Cycling as a whole in the 2012 London Olympics.

We cycle away from Horwich along the Middlebrook trail and then weave across Bolton to the Roe Green loopline which takes us most of the way to Eccles with just a little bit of road at the end. After the obligatory photo at the post-box, we head into the centre of Manchester, using mainly cycle lanes, picking up the other two post-boxes in Piccadilly and Albert Square. Don’t be put off by cycling in the centre of Manchester – on the recce it was surprisingly quiet and cycle friendly.

We join the Bridgewater Canal near the Castlefield Basin and continue on it for 14 miles, all the way to Leigh. We then head through Leigh, Howe Bridge and Westhoughton mainly along roads and return to Middlebrook via Wingates. The route is a rich mix of roads, towpaths, bicycle tracks and bike lanes, and hybrid bikes are recommended. The ride distance is about 42 miles with 1050 feet of ascent.

Although helmets are only recommended by law and not deemed to be essential, anyone not wearing a helmet will not be able to join the ride. Please be self-sufficient and arm yourself with spare inner tubes, bike levers and pump. Don’t forget your pennies for the café stop. Please ensure you bring along a drink for the ride. Also check your brakes and gears on your bike at least the night before. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the starting time for a quick bike check and ride briefing. If you have not completed a ride participant form previously for one of the HRS rides, please request one via email [email protected], Facebook messenger, or through Letsride.co.uk

We never leave anyone behind