The mainstay of the TPCC is the Sunday run, whether it be for general fitness, race training, or even just a potter to the pie shop, it's good to know that you will be with great company on one of the many and varied rides that leaves the Wrens Nest every week. The rides are not usually planned and the routes are usually decided after a little debate dependant on many factors such as the prevailing weather, who and with what ability has turned up, just how far way is that pie shop etc.

As of 2011, the club has a new Sunday run meeting point at The Range, Kingsway Retail Park at the junction of Milnrow Road and Kingsway, Rochdale OL16 5AF at 10am (changes to 9am when British Summer Time begins on March 27th 2011).

For the latest events listing please click here or check out the Peletonian (club monthly news letter)

Here we are at our meeting place, the Wrens Nest. This particular ride was a 'Tinsel Ride', which we undertake every year the weekend nearest to Christmas.

Members are encouraged to bedeck their machines with tinsel, holly, christmas trees, father christmas's, fairy light's and, let's not forget, mistletoe.

This is a poignant photo taken during an Audax ride early in 2005 featuring Captian Contours, Nicole and in the centre our recently departed member Graham Richards.

The Silvery Moon Ride

On a cold November evening when the moon was full and the darkness had fallen a strange group gathered at Hollinworth Lake. They were there for the first ‘Moon Ride’ which was to follow the much ridden ‘Silver route’ of ‘Over the Edge’ fame. Mittens were donned and lamps switched on as the small contingent of Richard, Pauline, Steve, Colin, Howard and Austin rode up Blackstone edge in temperatures that were already well below freezing.

However the wind chill was low as we ascended and we were all warm by the time the summit was reached. It was a different story going down the other side though, and the cold air bit into our faces like icy fangs. It seemed an eternity before the ‘Blue Ball’ lanes were reached, but thankfully the pace settled down to a gentle meander under the stars as we gazed across the moors picking out sodium lit features that would not be noticed during a daytime ride. At one point we stopped at a handily situated bench whilst Steve whipped out his binoculars and imparted his knowledge of the heavens. As we gazed up at the spangled jewel studded firmament we could see constellations, stars and, apart from the moon in its fullness, Mars as it outshone all else

But all too soon the frost began to bite and on we sallied. My feet, bereft of overshoes, were beginning to get numb and I dropped back and rode a while with Steve. Suddenly the ghostly apparition of a barn owl fluttered over a dry stone wall only inches away from us, its white form being instantly recognisable to Steve’s expert eye, with my daft assumption of it being a pigeon thrown into sharp relief.

By the time we rolled into Todmorden my feet were frozen and I hit upon a novel but effective solution (see picture). I had to wait a while for the agonizing thaw as the others carried on, but we all finished the a group – lit by silver moonbeams and watched from above by Mars, the bringer of war; red like the fires of hell.

Richard.

Steve's tour of Manchester

On a cold March morning the club gathered at the Wrens Nest and headed for the centre of Manchester and assembled in Albert Square for Steve’s much anticipated ‘Historical Tour of Manchester’. We were enlightened by his knowledgeable oratory which kicked off with a look at the town hall and the very beginnings of Manchester itself. Taking in famous buildings such as the Midland hotel and the Free Trade Hall we were shown the site of the infamous ‘Battle of Peterloo’ as we made our way to the Bridgewater Basin to view the restored industrial features of the canal.

Taking the healthy option, we plumped for a Subway but disaster struck as the kettle was broken. Luckily there was a Macdonald's a little way down the road who's kettle was in full fettle. Refreshed, we visited the new ancient Roman ruins of Castlefield, before spending a couple of hours inside the very excellent Manchester Museum of Science and industry.