Quarry Bank visit

This is an all day event, but not a super long ride.  Join Zach on a 30 mile round trip to Quarry Bank Mill in Styal. The mill will be just under half way and we will take a few hours to go around the gardens and mill.

The aim is to set off from Sackville Gardens around 9:10 to cyle to Quarry Bank to give a decent lenght of time for us to check out the garden, apprentice house, village and the mill itself. the mill is a working mill with really knowledgable staff on hand giving demonstrations and to talk through the operations of mills in Manchester.

As the floors in some of the buildings will be historic I would suggest either wearing trainers for the ride/visit or bring trainers to change in to if you prefer to wear cleats etc.

What is Quarry Bank

Come and tour one of Britain's greatest industrial heritage sites, set in picturesque gardens and countryside. 

At Quarry Bank you can discover a complete industrial community and experience the very different worlds of owner and worker, who lived and worked here side by side.

In 1784, monumental change was brought to the village of Styal when Samuel Greg established his cotton mill. Powered by the water of the river Bollin and the toil of the workers, the Greg family business was part of a turning point in our history.

You can read more about the mill, apprentice house, gardens and Quarry Bank House on the National Trust website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank

If we get 15 attendees I will try and get a group entry in advence, so dont pre book a ticket

Route & Elevation

A map of the route can be viewed at: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/319264

What bike should I use?

This event is suitable for mountain, road and hybrid bikes, in good mechanical order..  Please have your tyres pumped to the correct pressure and with oil on the chain etc. We highly recommend you carry out an 'M Check' before coming on the event to ensure you and your bike will be safe - watch this 4 minute video to see how to do this.

IMPORTANT: Pace and finish time   Please note all our bike rides are primarily social events, rather than focussed on speed. If necessary, we will stop regularly to allow people to catch up and we never leave anyone behind, without their permission. We always try to cycle at the pace of the slowest rider, therefore finish times are estimated, and could finish later than planned. Please keep this in mind when paying for parking or booking advance train tickets etc. Naturally if you need to leave the event at a given time, we'll do our best to signpost you on if needed.

First event?

We know it can be nerve-racking joining a new group or event where you haven’t met anyone before… even for the most confident of people. We’ve all been in the same boat before, so we want to make everyone feel welcome. If you’d appreciate chatting someone before the event or having a buddy to meet you prior to going to the start point, please let us know by sending an email to hello@prideout.co.uk with the subject line ‘request a buddy’.

Who's welcome to attend the bike ride?

In a nutshell, everyone, as long as they are respectful of other attendees. PRiDE OUT is an LGBTQIA+ cycling group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex and asexual/ace people. We welcome allies with open arms.

Refreshment breaks

There will be opportunities to stop at shops along the route for snacks/drinks. We may decide to stop at a café/pub/supermarket for lunch so please bring some spare change and a card. Alternatively, feel free to bring your own food if you prefer. There will be a lunch stop around half way at a shop, pub or cafe so bring some money. please bring a bike lock to keep your bike safe! At the end we often like to have a drink which is a great social opportunity to chat to other people that you didn't get chance to during the bike ride - it would be great if you could join us … don’t forget to bring a bike lock to keep your bike safe!

What equipment do I need?

Wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable; Lycra is optional. Please wear/bring waterproof, warm clothes which are suitable for the weather forecast and time of year. You will be exercising so lightweight layered clothing is best. Please have footwear that is appropriate for your bike. We recommend you wear a helmet for your own safety, but it's not compulsory.

You may also wish to consider bringing some of the following items: fully charged mobile phone with spare battery pack, front and rear lights (especially in winter or dull conditions), 1 or 2 inner tubes, a pump, tyre levers, a multi-tool, any special tools that your bike needs, food or snacks for keeping the legs moving, a cycling bottle attached to your bike and plenty of water, bike lock and eye protection. Don't forget sun cream (if it's spring/summer) - you just never know with the UK weather!

Any finally…  Have fun on the event. We promise to make you feel welcome and we’re sure you will have lots of opportunities to meet amazing people. Please try to avoid cancelling at the last minute - it could deny someone else the opportunity to attend the bike ride.

If you have any queries or need assistance, please email hello@prideout.co.uk and we will put you in touch with the event leader. We look forward to meeting you on the ride!