Get on your bike for a wheel-y great way of seeing the Tameside area

CYCLISTS or people who just fancy getting on a bike can now indulge their passion thanks to a new guided ride scheme.

 

Tame Valley MTB Association has started a series of events which encourages people to get in the great outdoors and see what is around, with fitness benefits.

 

And the next one is this coming Tuesday, March 8, with a 12km journey from Stalybridge to Hartshead Pike.

The guided bike rides are the brainchild of Phil Allen from Tame Valley MTB Association and on Saturday, March 19 they will be tackling the full Tame Valley Loop which has just been created, although that is not really for beginners.

 

Even if you do not own a bike, you can head to their hub at Stalybridge’s New Labour Club on Acres Lane and get in the saddle, for a recommended donation of £8 to cover maintenance.

 

Phil said: “We’ve received funding from Cycling UK as part of the Big Bike Revival and the guided rides are to support that.

 

“There’s one on the 8^th and the 15th, then one on the 19^th, which will be riding the full Tame Valley Loop.

“All are led by a level two instructor, who is fully insured and trained in first aid.

 

“We’ve even got bikes that people can use if they don’t own one, plus helmets.

 

“And at our hub, we’ve got bike stands and things like pumps and if anyone needs any little jobs doing to their bike beforehand, they can do them.”

 

Tame Valley MTB Association is a force behind the creation of the Tame Valley Loop – a 17-mile track taking in areas around Stalybridge, Mossley and Greenfield, whose signs have been put in place.

 

But Phil added their work does not end there. On March 15, the guided bike ride will take people around Gorse Hall.

 

And he added: “Every month, we do community rides and on March 19, we’ll be doing a Dr Bike session in Stalybridge, where people can bring their bikes down and check over them.

 

“There, people can do things like change the brakes, put new gear cables, adjust the gears. If it needs major work, they’ll recommend what needs doing and then take it to a local bike shop

“Also, on March 26, we’ll do a ‘bike maintenance show and tell’ where people can learn how to do repairs from Nationwide Cycling Academy approved instructors.”

 

*THE next guided bike ride departs Stalybridge New Labour Club on Acres Lane at 6.30pm on Tuesday, March 8. Anyone looking to get involved can email tamevalleymtb@gmail.com.