FECK

[Parrot of Doom]

http://www.hitthenorth.net/

I ride in that area at least twice a week. Usually 4-5 times a week. Its bloody brilliant, I know it like the back of my hand, so does my mate who rides with me.

Typical. I'd have loved to enter that. Oh well, I might go and watch anyway, and take some pictures or something. It'll give me time to think about the huge dent I found under the mud on my frame today :|

[snotrag]

Bummer!

Me and 3 mates are entered in as pairs, really looking forward to it.

Should be a good course then you reckon? How sodden is it over there recently?

[Parrot of Doom]

I don't know the course but I know all the tracks - the Nature Trail is a bit muddy and sandy (outside the M60), but all the trails around Prestwich Clough (inside the M60) are rocky and hard, with plenty of puddles. If they send you under the motorway though, theres a big old field down there that is either muddy as hell, or rutty as hell when dry

I'm working on Saturday so unfortunately won't be able to watch, do be sure to take some piccies

[Son of a Stig]

Looks to be a fun event. I've entered solo

I've done two 24hr race events this year as a team of four, so this will be a good test for me.
Do you know if there is any leg killer climbs in the area that they might use? as im not a big fan of riding up hills!!

[Parrot of Doom]

Yes there are a few. I know for a fact part of the route will be Phillips Park Road as there are plannign notices pinned around, I was reading them today. It runs down the north side of the M60 between J17 and the Irwell. Now if you're going downhill, its slippery cobbles and quite steep, so to be taken slowly as there are also pothills and things. Uphill its quite gentle but also quite long.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.534135,-...

Now they can either use the bridge to get across the motorway, or they can carry on down the side and turn under the motorway at the River Irwell, and head back east maybe. Near the Irwell the surface is pretty awful, loose red sandy clay that will clog your tyres up.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.52985,-2...

The thing is, that link above looks fairly easy - the sandy tracks are all quite wide and nice, you can get some speed. The 'tunnel' they talk about, I reckon that's the short tunnel under Clifton Viaduct (google it, you can also see it on the map, it crosses the river and lines up with a bridge on the M60). Trouble is, if you head northeast back to the motorway junction on the south side of the motorway it is a hell of a steep climb, 1 in 4 gradients in places. The website does mention 'ornamental garden ruins', well Phillips Park Hall used to be on that hill so I reckon that's where they're going.

Oh and see the footbridge just to the west of J17? To get there is an impossible climb. I had my first stitch in about 10 years getting up that, and I only got about 1/4 the way up it. Carry the bike time.

Down the inside of the M60, just behind the garage at the junction, is a really brilliant little track that can be pretty hairy. They've been doing it up lately, maybe in preparation?




It looks mostly like that, although there are some pretty steep sections with big drops to the side, and lots of tree roots sticking out.

I reckon they'll put you on the nature trail too, which is excellent, really good surface, lots of puddles, not too much mud, and you can really get some speed up. I have a crap video of the smooth part of it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aFZUyq4sWE

The nature trail is here:

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.535691,-...

Its just north of Red Rock Road, its the old Clifton to Rossendale train line that heads into Radcliffe. If you also look on the top left of that map, you'll see a wavy track in a field - Hurst Woods. I reckon that will also be part of it. The thing is, to climb from the nature trail into Hurst Woods is a short, but very very steep climb



In short I don't know the route but I do know the area. Its brilliant to cycle around, there are loads of things to have fun on, its beautiful scenery, and you'll have an ace time. Meanwhile I'll be working

[Parrot of Doom]

This may be of use

http://www.bury.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/E8FBEEDC-4CF9-...

[Son of a Stig]

Cheers for all the info

Im really looking forward to it! Luckily i have had loads of practise pushing up hills so shouldnt be too tricky to handle

It's a shame you did not enter as you seem to know the area really well, but if the event all goes well at least you can have something to look foward to next year!

Just hoping the weather sorts it's self out now, its not the riding in the wet that i hate, its the camping

Thanks again for the info and links

[Parrot of Doom]

If you want some decent scram there is a M&S in the centre of Prestwich. The nearest supermarket is Tesco on J17, and theres an Asda in Radcliffe - that's quite handy as you can ride the nature trail up to the train viaduct, the Asda is right below the viaduct.