Town loop taster

This is a perfect taster ride for anyone fairly new to cycling as it has a quality that is often elusive on bike rides - it’s flat! Most of the route is on tranquil and traffic free riverside cycleways but there is a section on the roads. This is nothing to worry about as it just includes some very quiet residential roads and then a small section in a busier area - but here the roads are nice and wide and we only have left turns! We start off at the beautifully manicured Vickersway Park in Northwich where we’ll have a quick introduction and bike check. Then we will ride along a cycle path that follows the line of Northwich’s dramatic viaduct, over the River Dane and London Road to the River Weaver. We ride under the arches and through a shady copse to Riversdale Bridge, which we go over and head to Hunts Lock. Wildlife lovers may spot some ducks or a heron in this lovely green setting. The route then takes us to a residential area of Castle and our first very quiet roads. From here it is a surprisingly short spin to Greenbank, which we’ll cycle through to Chester Road. We’ll head along Chester Road, past Mid Cheshire College and Hartford High School, and turn left into School Lane just before the church. We’ll cycle along the full length of School Lane before picking up the cycle path alongside the A556, which takes us to the Blue Bridge. This is where we leave the traffic behind once more and plunge back to the river valley, following the Weaver on tree-lined cycle paths past Kingsmead and Jalsea Marine to the viaduct. Then we head back to Vickersway Park, where a free tea, coffee or ice cream awaits us courtesy of Northwich Town Council. This is a great ride for beginners as it’s short and flat and the road section is a simple and safe introduction to riding on the public highway - it really isn’t scary, I promise! It’s also a useful route if you’re researching an easy way to cycle to schools in the area or to bike to Northwich town centre avoiding busy roads. This ride is suitable for all bikes. Please bring a helmet, inner tube and puncture repair kit just in case. It will roughly take 60mins cycling time with a couple of pit stops for a drink, but please allow more time just in case the pace is slower than anticipated or we have a puncture. Newcomers to Breeze rides are very welcome, don't worry if you don't know anyone, we're a friendly bunch.   Dress appropriately for the weather: in cool weather it's good to wear lots of thin layers, so you can add/remove them as needed; a rain jacket is a good idea too. Wearing a helmet is advisable but if you don’t have one please do not to worry you can still take part.  If you enjoy the bike ride and would like to come again perhaps you could look to buy one then. If you have any questions then email [email protected].