Sale & Stockport Loop

This 26 mile event is suitable for all bikes and cyclists. We'll be heading out of Manchester on the Bridgwater Canal towards Sale; From there we head to Stockport on lots of quiet roads and paths, before making our way back to Manchester via Reddish Vale Park and the Fallowfield Loop disused railway line. The event will mostly take place on mostly quiet roads, cycle path and canal tow path. Please bring a bike lock (if you have one) for any refreshment pit stops, during or after the ride.

Route & Elevation

A map of the route can be viewed at: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/380554

Weather

Please bear in mind cycle rides may be cancelled or postponed in especially bad weather conditions such as high winds, ice and snow, or heavy rain forecast for most of the day. You may wish to take this into account when if booking accomodation, transport or paying for parking. If a ride won't be going ahead, we'll let you know the night before the event - please keep an eye on your emails and text messages .

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!

Covid-19 & Monkeypox

Health and safety of all participants is important.  We ask that any participant who has has symptoms or tests positive for either Covid-19 or Monkeypox  not to attend.

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!