 Welcome to Manchester CTC. We are part of Cycling UK and an informal group of Peak Audax CTC. We organise a series of informal group rides for all Cycling UK members, and indeed all cyclist. We'd love to see you out with us some time.
Note that Cycling UK was previously known as CTC, but some of us still use the old name. We're referring to the same organisation!
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Looking for someone to ride with?
Join us for our
regular monthly rides
where we explore the cycling facilities in the Greater Manchester area and further afield.
We also have a number of route suggestions (see right) our
'Permanent' Rides
.
There are other
Cycling UK groups
in the area who regularly organise club runs, either on a regular weekly basis, or as occasional 'specials'. As a Cycling UK Member, you will be welcomed on most of these.
There are also plenty of
other cycling clubs
who will welcome you to take part in their activities.
(If you want to ride with any of these groups, you should make contact to find out where and when they meet, and what expectations they will have on you.)
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| Manchester CTC Group Rides :
meeting once a month (usually the third Saturday of the month).
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An exploration of Greater Manchester cycling facilities.All starts can be reached by train
 , and several by
 metrolink. Note that only folding bikes can be taken on the tram.
The rides are suitable for all sorts of bikes, including skinny-tyred road bikes, and folding bikes, although a gravel bike would be ideal. You can even bring an electric-assist bike provided you check that you have enough charge for the intending distance!
There is no entry fee for these rides, just bring some cash or cards as we'll have a cafe stop or two along the way. All we ask is that you have 3rd party insurance, such as that provided to members of Cycling UK or National Clarion.
Click on the
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what3words
link for our meeting point.
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Sunday
22/06/2025
Start time:
13:00
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Marple
65 km (40 miles)
580 meters of climbing
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Planes and Parks
We don't have a social ride for June. Instead, we hope you will join us for this 50km Audax ride which starts from Marple at 13:00 on Sunday 22nd.
There is an entry fee of £5 for members of Audax UK and Cycling UK. The non-member's fee is £8, which includes third party insurance. Entries should be made before the day
here
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For the
PLANES
part of the title, we use a significant length of segregated cycleway to reach the first stop at the Runway Viewing Park at Manchester Airport.
There are some delightful Cheshire Lanes for the return via Lyme Park (
PARKS
). This is a little lumpy and includes a short off road section in Lyme Park, but suitable for all bikes.
The early afternoon start will allow riders to mingle with riders finishing the 200km Solstice Ride at the Marple Social and Forces Club where a warm welcome and free refreshments await you and you can relax and enjoy the attractive canal side location.
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Saturday
19/07/2025
Start time:
10:30
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Hazel Grove
29 km (18 miles)
53 km (33 miles) return
500 meters of climbing
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Lyme Park and the Torrs
Meet at Hazel Grove station ready for a 10:30 start. Trains from Piccadilly serve Hazel Grove, such as the 9:51. There is a car park about 5 minutes away at
Torkington Park
which was free last time I checked. If you get there early, there is a Wetherspoons on the A6 for a breakfast and bottom-less coffee.
This is a ride to Bollington via the Middlewood, where we might make our first cafe stop. Perhaps we might continue to the cafe at Lyme Park. After that we'll visit the Torrs, the underground world beneath New Mills.Our ride returns to Hazel Grove by passing through Marple and the Alan Newton Way to Woodbank Park in Stockport.
The full ride is 54km but you can cut the ride shorter as we pass stations at Disley (25km), New Mills (29km) and Rose Hill (38km).
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Saturday
16/08/2025
Start time:
10:30
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Bramhall
57 km (35 miles)
550 meters of climbing
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Going for Gold
Meet at
Bramhall station
for a tour of some of the commemorative gold postboxes from the 2012 London Olympics.
We set off from outside the station at 10:30. The 9:46 from Piccadilly arrives at 10:03. There is Pay and Display parking at Bramhall Hall. If you get there early, you'll probably find me in Greggs in the centre of Bramhall.
The ride will also take in Alderley Edge where we might find a Wizard tearoom.
We pass through Macclesfield from where you can catch a train back if 25km is your limit. If you do, you'll miss perhaps the best bits of our ride; the Middlewood Way over Bollington Viaduct, and througn Lyme Park.
There's another opt-out point at Disley Station (41km). Otherwise, ride with us back to Bramhall where you can catch your train back home or try to remember where you left the car.
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Saturday
27/09/2025
Start time:
10:30
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Irlam
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Going for More Gold
Meet at Irlam station to vist more of the gold postboxes from the 2012 London Olympics.We start from Irlam Station at 10:30. There are trains from Manchester Oxford Road. Get there early for a bacon butty from the excellent station cafe.
This ride will visit more of the postboxes painted gold to commemorate local athletes and their achievements in the 2012 London Olympics.
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Saturday
12/10/2025
Start time:
13:00
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Diggle
1 km (0 miles)
140 meters of climbing
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Beard Cup Hill Climb
There is no social ride in October. Instead, meet us at Diggle Band Club to watch, or take part in, the Beard Cup Hill Climb. There will be pies, teas (or something stronger if you wish from the bar). And of course a one mile ride up to Standedge.
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Saturday
15/11/2025
Start time:
10:30
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Guide Bridge
31 km (19 miles)
53 km (33 miles) return
310 meters of climbing
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Autumn on the FLOOP to Altrincham
Meet at Guide Bridge station ready for a 10:30 start. Trains from Piccadilly serve Guide Bridge, such as the 10:03. There is a car park about 5 minutes away at
Portland Basin Museum
which was free last time I checked. If you get there early, you can grab a coffee from the Sandwich Station just round the corner on Stockport Road.
We will join the Fallowfield Loop Line and ride down Erwood Road, which is magical at this time of year ride. Our first stop will be a Bijou place you may know in Cheadle.
After Cheadle, we'll pass Ringway on the way to Altrincham, which at 33km gives you a drop-out option.Otherwise we'll ride back through Wythenshawe Park to regain the fter Cheadle, we'll pass Ringway on the way to Altrincham, which at 33km gives you a drop-out option.
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Saturday
20/12/2025
Start time:
10:30
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Glossop
29 km (18 miles)
48 km (30 miles) return
620 meters of climbing
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Longdendale
Meet at Glossop station for a 10:35 start, so that lets you get 10:03 train from Piccadilly which arrives at 10:33. Better still, get an earlier train and get a coffee from Glossop station cafe.
We'll ride up the Longdendale Trail, formerly the railway line to Sheffield. We'll turn around at Woodhead Tunnel and look for a cafe in Glossop.
You can head back homw from Glossop (29km) or join us for a second loop, this time via the Deryshire Levels and Broadbottom, for a second cafe stop. Broadbottom gives you another point to shorten the ride at 37km, or you can ride back to Glossop for the full 48km.
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Manchester CTC
- our Permanent Rides
... rides that you can undertake on any day, at any time, starting and finishing anywhere convenient along the route. Just download the GPX and go
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Going for Gold:
track down the commemorative post boxes in the Greater Manchester area following the 2012 London Olympic Games
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Manchester Sightseer:
a self-guided tour of some of Manchester's famous sites (and sights), as a 114km Audax ride or a series of stages that you can ride over an extended period.
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mini-Manc Sightseer:
a shorter version of the above, only 63km in total
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Station to Station (inner ring):
a series of rides between Metrolink stations
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Station to Station (outer ring):
as above, but these rides are between main line stations all within the Greater Manchester ticketing area (so free travel if you have your bus pass and have paid the tram supplement)
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Werneth Low Rider:
A 60km Audax ride climbing all seven ascents of Werneth Low, but you can also undertake this as a non-Audax ride, picking and choosing as many (or few) of the climbs as you wish
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Cycling UK
- other local groups
... if you're a member of Cycling UK, you will be welcome to join in the activities of other Cycling UK group
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| Peak Audax
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Formal Audax events that need to be pre-entered. They can be Calendar Events where you ride with others on a set date, or as Permanent Rides ('Perms') which you can ride to your own timetable, on your own or with a group of mates.
They range from 50km to 600km, can be flat (well, flat-ish) or hilly, so do make sure you know what you are taking on before you start!
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| Rochdale
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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.
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| Oldham & Tameside
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A small group of enthiasastic cyclists who meet every Sunday, whatever the weather. We meet at Deep Cutting Stalybridge, or Apethorn Lane Hyde.
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| South Manchester
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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).
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| West Manchester
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Club runs from Jolly Thresher, Agden at 11am Sundays
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Other cycling groups in the Manchester area
... get in touch to find out what activities they have to offer
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