Hubs, Tracks and Towpaths

Starting from the cycling facility in central Manchester we quickly reach the Ashton canal and travel along the towpath passing a multitude of new developments including the Etihad Sports Campus.  After about 2.5 miles we reach the National Cycling Centre, home to British Cycling, the indoor Velodrome and BMX tracks.  The ride leaders will be happy to take the group inside for a quick look round, there's a distinct possibility of seeing an Olympic gold medallist, we've got loads of them.  We leave the NCC and ride past the Skills Zone Pump track in Philips Park the into and around Medlock Vale Country Park where a series of mountain bike trails have been constructed, today we'll stay on the main path.  We leave the park and in less than a mile we'll be back on a towpath, this time it's the Rochdale canal which has a section designated as a Site of Biological Importance due to the unique and thriving plants.  This canal isn't as developed as the Ashton canal other than a new housing estate with some interesting shapes.  The two canals are in the process of being linked by the New Islington Marina which we ride through before returning to the Hub. City Tower Bike Hub: Hubs are the ideal place to lock up your bike with confidence. Join our scheme and you can park your bike under full cover, with other security measures that include constant CCTV coverage and swipe card entry. They are somewhere to keep your bike safe, secure and dry while you're at work. Find out more at http://cycling.tfgm.com/join-a-hub.htm You can view the location of the Hub at http://cycling.tfgm.com/pdfs/City-Tower-Cycle-Hub-location.pdf Please note, cycle access is only from New York Street not the Piccadilly Gardens entrance. If you’re fairly confident on your bike and ready to broaden your cycling horizons, our Steady rides are ideal. At a comfortable pace, and possibly with some modest hills along the way, rides take place on mainly quiet roads with plenty of sights along the way. Rides are between 6 and 20 miles long, at a moderate pace of between 7 and 10 miles an hour.