NB For all rides, children must be accompanied by an adult.

Weekend rides:

Farmers' Market ride: First Saturday of each month (not January) Our regular ride out along quiet lanes via Ackers Crossing to the Farmers' Market at Rode Hall, returning via a pub for lunch,and back to Congleton for around 2.30pm. Approx. 12 miles.

The dates for the first half of 2010 are: 6th February, 6th March, 3rd April, 1st May, 5th June.

Bring your panniers/baskets to fill with good local food.

Meet at the Canal Rd end of Moss Lane, Congleton, at 9.30am.

N.B. This is an informal arrangement, with a few CCC members regularly involved. However, there are times when people have other obligations or the weather is atrocious, so you may find no-one else at the meeting point. Peter Hall often knows who'll be going, so for more details about any weekend rides, email Peter Hall.

Cheshire East Cycling Programme 2010

The cycle campaign groups and the local cycling clubs in Cheshire East have joined together in the Cheshire East Cycling Campaign. This affiliation of organisations, wishes to promote cycling as a way of cutting congestion on our roads, of reducing CO2 levels in the atmosphere and as a way of getting the residents of Cheshire East healthier.

Supported by Cheshire East Council the CECC has planned a number of Spring and Summer rides in 2010 throughout Cheshire East. These rides will introduce new cyclists or reacquaint returning cyclists to the pleasures of cycling for work, school, shopping or just for pleasure.

We hope that you will take advantage of these rides and we look forward to seeing you during the coming year.

Congleton

April

• Saturday 3rd - Ride to Rode Hall Farmers Market - 12 miles - meet at the corner of Moss Road and Leek Road at 09.30
• Saturday 17th - 30 miles with a tea stop - meet at the Unicorn pub West Heath Congleton at 13.00

May

• Saturday 1st - Ride to Rode Hall Farmers Market - 12 miles - meet at the corner of Moss Road and Leek Road at 09.30
• Thursday 6th - Discover the Congleton Cycle Network - 6 miles meet at Congleton Rugby Club, Park Street at 19.00
• Saturday 15th - 30 miles with a tea stop - meet at the Unicorn pub West Heath Congleton at 13.00

June

• Saturday 5th - Ride to Rode Hall Farmers Market - 12 miles - meet at the corner of Moss Road and Leek Road at 09.30
• Thursday 10th - Short ride on the Biddulph Valley Way - 6 miles meet at Congleton Rugby Club, Park Street at 19.00.
• Saturday 19th - 30 miles with a tea stop - meet at the Unicorn pub West Heath Congleton at 13.00
• Sunday 20th - Pedalling Picnic in conjunction with the Congleton Food and Drink Festival - 10 miles meet at Congleton Town Hall at11.00. Return to the Festival at 14.00.

July

• Saturday 3rd - Ride to Rode Hall Farmers Market - 12 miles - meet at the corner of Moss Road and Leek Road at 09.30
• Thursday 8th - Short ride around the lanes - 6 miles meet at Congleton Rugby Club, Park Street at 19.00.
• Saturday 17th - 30 miles with a tea stop - meet at the Unicorn pub West Heath Congleton at 13.00

August

• Saturday 7th - Ride to Rode Hall Farmers Market - 12 miles - meet at the corner of Moss Road and Leek Road at 09.30
• Thursday 5th - Short ride around the lanes - 6 miles meet at Congleton Rugby Club, Park Street at 19.00.
• Saturday 21st - 30 miles with a tea stop - meet at the Unicorn pub West Heath Congleton at 13.00

September

• Saturday 4th - Ride to Rode Hall Farmers Market - 12 miles - meet at the corner of Moss Road and Leek Road at 09.30
• Saturday 18th - 30 miles with a tea stop - meet at the Unicorn pub West Heath Congleton at 13.00.

October

• Saturday 2nd - Ride to Rode Hall Farmers Market - 12 miles - meet at the corner of Moss Road and Leek Road at 09.30
• Saturday 16th - 30 miles with a tea stop - meet at the Unicorn pub West Heath Congleton at 11.30.

November

• Saturday 6th - Ride to Rode Hall Farmers Market - 12 miles - meet at the corner of Moss Road and Leek Road at 09.30
• Saturday 20th - 30 miles with a tea stop - meet at the Unicorn pub West Heath Congleton at 11.30.

December

• Saturday 4th - Ride to Rode Hall Farmers Market - 12 miles - meet at the corner of Moss Road and Leek Road at 09.30
• Saturday 18th - 30 miles with a tea stop - meet at the Unicorn pub West Heath Congleton at 11.30.

Congleton Cycling Club

In addition Congleton Cycling Club has Club Runs most Sundays leaving Congleton Rugby Club at 09.30 - contact Bob Norton 01270 765510

Macclesfield Wheelers

Macclesfield Wheelers hold a number of rides for beginners and returning riders during the year. Contact Mike Roberts at michael@robertsms.f9.co.uk

Wilmslow, Handforth, Alderley Edge

Ride programme under development - check www.cyclewilmslow.org.uk or call 07779 483713 for updates.

Peter Hall often knows who'll be going, so for more details about any weekend rides, email Peter Hall.

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13th August 2009

A ride to discover the Congleton Cycle Network - all those shortcuts and quiet routes across town.

16th July 2009

An evening ride along Cheshire lanes.

Pedalling Picnic (a Bike Week event)

Sunday 21st June 2009

48 riders aged from four to well into their latter years enjoyed a great day out on the annual Congleton Cycling Campaign's Pedalling Picnic. Leaving Congleton Town Hall under that auspices of the town crier, Doug Parker, the riders rode through Bromley Farm and onto the Biddulph Valley Way. Unfortunately by this time one of the youngest riders riders had to tearfully drop out after riding over a large piece of sharp metal that wrecked his tyre. The remainder of the riders rode to Biddulph Grange Country Park where they met another group of 38 riders from the Cycle 2000 group in the Potteries. A pleasant hour was spent in the meadow at the Country Park enjoying a picnic and drinks from the Rangers cabin. Both groups went on their separate ways with the Congleton riders arriving back in Conflation to sample the Congleton Food and Drink Festival. On the groups return each of the riders under the age of 16 received a Goodie Bag with items such as puncture kits, reflective arm and leg bands and some chocolate all donated by local bike related businesses.

Congleton's first Food and Drink Fair

The Congleton Cycling Campaign was heartened by the number of riders who took part in the Picnic but also at the interest that was shown by visitors to the Campaign's stand at the Food and Drink Festival. So many people expressed the wish to ride their bikes more in and around Congleton and to help their children cycle more to school that we hope to increase our efforts to get the new Cheshire East Council and Northern Rail to improve the facilities for cyclists in Congleton and at the railway station.

18th June 2009 - Evening ride

We'll include a report asap.

21st May 2009 - Biddulph Valley Way

Our first evening ride along with Congleton Cycling Club members. A beautiful evening and a great turnout, especially from local scouts working towards their cycling badge. We all had some serious cleaning and oiling work once we got home as the route was very wet and muddy after recent downpours.

27th April 2009 - Graham McCargo Memorial Ride

Our late chairman's favourite ride along the lanes to Tatton Park and back.

5th April 2009 - Brindley Ford to Macclesfield

Not a Congleton Cycling Campaign event, but you a ride with Sustrans Rangers on National Network Route 55 from Brindley Ford to Macclesfield to assess the signage along the route and at all access points.

18th October 2008- social ride to Sandbach, Alsager and Kidsgrove and survey of station facilities

We continued our survey in order to report to the authorities concerned.

This survey work is important in getting information to the train operating companies, the local authorities and to the sustainable transport charity Sustrans to provide better bike parking at our stations.

30th August 08 - social ride to Holmes Chapel and Goostrey and survey of station facilities

This was the first of our two social ride/surveys into local cycle parking provision at stations for those who want to cycle to the station to catch a train to work, school or the shops.

Riding from Congleton Station to Holmes Chapel and then to Goostrey the group of riders were confronted by what could only be described as 'poor provision' at each of these stations.

Congleton Railway Station has three 'wheel-bender' clips mounted to a wall outside the main building in an area that is usually used as a car park. If the cyclist could actually get to the parking provision they would stand a good chance of finding their bike damaged or blocked in by cars on their return. Cyclists using Congleton Station have had to resort to locking their bikes to road signs outside the station grounds or to the bike racks outside Hightown shops. The latter option does not help people wanting to use their bikes to go to those same shops!

Holmes Chapel Railway Station was a little better in that it had two 'Sheffield' type racks that are regarded as a better way to avoid accidental damage to the bike when it is left. These racks however are tucked out the way in a dark corner under the road bridge over the

station where the security of the bike would be in doubt.

Goostrey Railway Station was in some ways better than the other two in that it had absolutely nothing in the way of cycle parking provision and therefore provided a clean slate upon which to work.

Once the information from both rides has been collated the Campaign will approach the local authorities and the train operating companies to make sure the provision of cycle parking for the residents of Congleton Borough is getting to be as good as is the case in Macclesfield and Crewe stations.

2nd August 08 - regular ride to Rode Hall Farmers' Market

Four of us enjoyed the six-mile ride there on a pleasant day. This market is held on the first Saturday of every month and is an excellent place to soak up the atmosphere and indulge in the best of local organic produce.

Much more satisfying than standing in the queue at the supermarket too....

22nd June 08 - Pedalling Picnic (part of National Bike Week -see below)

Strong blustery winds did not deter the 12 riders who took part in our Pedalling Picnic ride to Biddulph Grange Country Park. The group welcomed riders who were keen to find out more about how they can make better use of their bikes for health and also to find out about the facilities for cyclists in and around Congleton.

We rode from Congleton Park along the Biddulph Valley Way (which is also National Cycle Network route 55), enjoying the shelter from the wind afforded by the trees that line the old railway line. At Marsh Green Lane in Gillow Heath we met the Cycle 2000 group of 39 riders who had ridden from Ford Green Hall in the Potteries. The now greatly expanded group then rode to the Country Park at Biddulph Grange where the long awaited picnic was enjoyed despite the ever present wind.

The amiable chat throughout the group was dominated by the mutual desire to see cycling take a greater part in everyone's daily lives. With the cost of fuel reaching previously unknown heights and the looming threat of poor health brought on by inactivity and poor diet, cycling was mutually adjudged to be one of the positive ways in which to alleviate these problems. Stoke on Trent City Council's successful bid for Cycling City status and the forthcoming stage of the Tour of Britain to the city were also main topics of conversation. See Stoke's website for more details about the winning bid and the Tour of Britain.

As the strong wind worked its way through everyone's summer clothes a premature end was called to the picnic. Everyone agreed that the event was a great success in demonstrating just how much people want to see more use of bikes and less reliance on cars for short journeys. The Staffordshire Constabulary (on bicycles, off course!) was on hand to help the group of over 50 riders cross the Congleton Road and, back on the Biddulph Valley Way the groups went their separate ways. The Congleton group arrived home at 14.00.

What's National Bike Week?

Bike Week Guided by Nokia is the UK's biggest annual promotion of cycling and all things bike-related. Bike Week provides a national umbrella for locally organised events and activities up and down the UK.

Bike Week is all about getting people out and about on bikes. Our mission is to get 'more people cycling, more often', and Bike Week provides a unique opportunity to promote cycling as a great way to 'have fun, get fit, and feel free'.

Families are at the heart of Bike Week 2008. This year we are promoting cycling as a means of bringing families together; a unifying yet liberating activity that will enable family members to get fit and have fun together. Encouraging quality family time and values, cycling will also be shown to help focus minds on the environment, enabling

families to reduce their carbon footprints by reducing car usage and enjoying the great outdoors.

18th May 08 - Cheshire Lanes

Ten riders rode from Brereton Heath Country Park to view the Union of Cyclists sign at North Rode. The ride coincided with the Macclesfield Bikeathon and it was exceptionally pleasant to ride the lanes north of Congleton in the company of hundreds of other bicycles.

A picnic lunch was enjoyed at North Rode church and a welcome drink was taken in the garden at the Swettenham Arms on the return journey.

Altogether the riders covered a leisurely 10 miles and all commented that they were looking forward to the next ride in June.

27th April 08 - Graham McCargo Memorial ride, Congleton - Tatton Park

5th April 08 Congleton - Rode Hall Farmer's Market ride

The Congleton Cycling Campaign's first social ride of the year was a moderate 12 miles from Mossley Village Hall to the Farmer's Market at Rode Hall and back on Saturday 5th April.

Despite the chilly weather, our group of eight enjoyed an invigorating ride via the lanes along the lower slopes of Mow Cop via Ackers Crossing (where we took a break for a photocall).

A warming cup of tea was taken at Rode Hall while the rain showers passed over and supplies from the excellent market were carried home in a variety of panniers and back packs, with a welcome and enjoyable stop at the Horseshoe Inn at Newbold Astbury for lunch.

Read all about the Congleton Cycle Campaign's Sept 07 fungal foray

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