Manhoc ride to medieval Th’Owd Tithe Barn

The days route was the same, but to the fascinating large Barn pub, with plenty of “antiquities”, overlooking the canal, which is just around the corner from Guys.  Departure was from Rising Bridge, in quite a cool 5 all day temperature, although starting from home it was only 3 degrees, but dry. Heading to the A49 and cross-country on great roads to Longridge, then taking on a large loop around the beautiful Fylde, then onto Tithe Barn for lunch. It was warm inside the fascinating barn, service was great and the food and chat excellent, especially from Andrew about his overseas adventures in his twenties. That was to be the end of the day, for the gang was not for moving and returning cross country to Macs. at Clitheroe in the forecasted rain!!!  So, it was final goodbyes and hugs in the carpark and homeward bound!!! Great day.

Sunday 5th November 2023, ride out to Half Moon Café

Departing from Rising Bridge at 10 .30 am. in surprising but excellent weather conditions, dry with clear skies, and a bit of sun, we headed for Clitheroe. Then it was over and through the beautiful Trough of Bowland twisties with the spectacular views, especially over the moor tops of Morecombe Bay.   The route continued on to the seafront at Heysham, then further along was the café, on the beach front overlooking the Bay with outstanding distance views of the Lake District.  Return continued up along the coast to Carnforth and across to Hornby. Then it’s back to the fab roads of the Trough of Bowland heading for the A6 to Guys Thatched Café at Bilsborrow. for final drinks, cakes and hugs.   A warm welcome was given to our new member Malcolm on his red Crossrunner (snap) and a heartfelt welcome back to Tiger Alan. Another good Manhoc turnout and fun day’s ride.

And below we have Rob & Stacey's fabulous video - see what we REALLY get up to.

Sunday 15th October 2023,ride out to Yonderman Café

Departing from Poplar was to be at 10 .30 am, but the weather was a bit on the cool side, but with glorious sunshine so setting out was delayed until 11am, for those leaving frosty Manchester. Heading for the scenic Peak District National Park through Knutsford, we do a left at Macclesfield and ride over the beautiful countryside of High Peak onto the biking Yonderman Café, whose is speciality is their hearty breakfasts!!. Return continued in the National Park south to Ashford, then right homeward via Buxton and over the challenging Cat and Fiddle, and onto the Bears Paw pub a few miles just before Pops, for final drinks, cakes and hugs.  A great welcome was given to our new rider member Dan, and Stacey who has just passed her test and was on her new bike. Another great Manhoc ride out.

Here's a short clip of us "moseying down the highway". Thanks Juels.

Sunday 24th September 2023 Manhoc ride to Food Stop Café

A visit for lunch at the famous biker’s café just outside of Bridgenorth. The weather forecast was mixed, and it must have persuaded other Sunday bikers and others to leave their wheels at home, as the cafe was more than half empty. But our Carol, BBC weather girl in the morning, reported fine, with rain from 11am for an hour - and she was so right. So, while it was all quiet everywhere, we revelled on the peaceful sunny Cheshire and Shropshire roads. Setting off it was biking heaven down A49 to Shrewsbury with a slight left onto the fast-winding A458 to Bridgenorth, with a mid stop at the Raven at Whitchurch. Following a hearty dinner, return was north, twisting and turning through the lanes passing Nantwich and Northwich. However, there was to be an earlier “Shepherds deviation“. We turned right and found the A519 through Eccleshall and what a fab new road that was!! Another mid-stop at Falcon at Woore for coffees then it was back to Poplar for final drinks, cakes and hugs. Another great Manhoc ride out, enjoyed by all.

Sunday 3rd September 2023 Manhoc ride is the B Road Blast

Starting from Mac’s, Haslingden/Rising Bridge 10.30am. With an excellent turnout, without any sight of an A road, it was “back roads” to Settle via the scenic Trough of Bowland, and onto Hawes for lunch. Now in the picturesque Yorkshire National Park, it was not quite up to Nateby, due a road closure, then across the striking scenic open moor roads to Leyburn. Whic included also the passes of Buttertubs, Swaledale and Coverdale and continuing the Shepherd’s theme of B roads only, its down the twisting road to Skipton to finally meet an A road home. Some most interesting and challenging roads were encountered. Final hugs and coffee stop at Macs, Clitheroe. “Devastated”, as Rich put it, there were no cakes to be brought at our afternoon stops, but we were treated to amazing weather of high 20 degrees plus days topping at 23 degrees!!!. Another great route by our Shepherd and fully enjoyed by all.

Sunday 13th August 2023 Manhoc ride to YR HWB Bala

“it’s a must that you click on the video and photos captured by our team, of the gang fooling about on the adult playground”. This was at YR HWB café, our shepherd’s favourite café and lunch stop, you can see why.  It’s a large well converted barn with great food and slides etc- paradise! It was an early start, leaving Poplar 2000 at 10am, with a good turnout and 3 new Sunday riders.  Down the twisty A49 – left for a coffee stop midway at Broxton – onward, passing Wrexham and cross country on some of the best Welsh country biking roads, south to just outside Bala for lunch.  Return was over the moors and hills, riding east through the pretty village of Ellesmere and homeward. There was a mid-way stop at The Bradford Arms for coffee, more cakes and much ice cream, but hereafter it was not to be straightforward. The road was closed midway at Knockin and following a sharp left at the barrier we headed blindly into open country and we spent a good hour “green lane-ing”.  We finally popped out, surprisingly, on the main road to Ellesmere.  Were we lost, worried, or delayed? No! Thanks to little help from Richard’s GPS, we were saved and back on route. The final stop was at The Sun Inn, after Ellesmere for final coffees and hugs. Here, we were treated to fantastic stories from Martin and Erica about their recent 18 months, 34,000 miles trip from Alaska to Chile.  Apart from a downpour just after we had set off, the day was dry and warm.  An hilarious Manhoc day out on fab Welsh roads.

Sunday 30th July 2023 Manhoc ride to Pooley Bridge

I had my breakfast with the attractive Carol Kirkwood (BBC 1 morning weather girl).  She told me then, earlier in the week, that the forecast for Sunday should be OK and not the horrid rain of last Sunday, when we had to cancel the ride out. So, it was an early start at Haslington/Rising Bridge leaving at 10.00am for the ride to the scenic village of Pooley Bridge at the head of Ullswater in the Lakes, for lunch. Heading north, our Shepherd’s route took us through the spellbinding Forest of Bowland, coffee stop at Devils Bridge, and onward through Kendal, on and over biking heaven, the A6 over Shap, for the dinner time stop at the Sun Inn - it would have been rude not to have Cumberland sausage!!! Return, was south over the Kirkstone pass through Windermere onto fast A591 and back to the twisting A6 to just north of Preston, on to The New Inn for coffees and final hugs and goodbyes and ride home in the first rain of the day. Happy Days.

Ride to IronBridge - Sunday 2nd July

Starting from our usual Poplar Services at 10.30am we headed down the never boring A49 for a mid-stop at Rich’s Lockside café. It was an early stop, where I could not refuse my mother’s favourite lemon meringue pie with cream, with the rest following suit with their delicious choices!

Then riding further south on the fast-flowing roads through Shrewsbury onto Ironbridge. Iron bridge is a cast iron arch bridge that crosses the River Severn.  Opened in 1781, it was the first major bridge in the world to be made of cast iron and there are a couple of museums, of one in the original Tollhouse. The scenic village has plenty of inviting eating places and ours was overlooking the bridge in the day’s sun.

Return home on quiet country roads via Newport A519, with a mid-stop at the posh Swan Hotel/Inn, at Newport for unbelievably more refreshments. Here, we said goodbyes and then it was back north to join the A49  homeward bound. Another great day with an excellent route from our missing Shepherd on this occasion.

Ride to Seaways Cafe - June 11th

We set off from Rising Bridge with seven bikes and three pillions.

We were making gentle progress through Colne, then had to reroute near Barnoldswick due to an RTA. Luckily, Mark knows the area and led us back to the original route. We had a brief stop at The Kestrel Inn near Harrogate, and then Gary took some alternative routes to get to York. We arrived at the Seaways café at about 2 0'clock. The food was great and served quickly.

We found some nice roads back via Thirsk and Ripon and had a brief stop for a drink. At Grassington and past Skipton, we saw the aftermath of a downpour with slippery tarmac and debris on the roads. But we passed it safely and had a last drink at Clitheroe McDonald's before saying our goodbyes. Great company, great day. Thanks to everyone who came.

Manhoc to Sherwood Forest

Unfortunately we missed Robin and Maid Marian on our visit to Sherwood Forest!!

Leaving our new starting off point at the “Mottram Wood” pub, with our stomachs full of large egg and bacon babs, we headed for the Sherwood visitor centre, in glorious morning sunshine. The route took us along the fab roads across the top of the Peak District National Park, on the Woodhead pass, south of Rotherham and then to the centre. On arrival we decided to abort the visit as the carpark was long walk away with a high charge for motorbike parking. So, we headed down road to the next pub, where a hearty lunch was consumed outside under umbrellas, as the temperature had now risen to a soaring 21 degrees!!

The planned return was back through the southern part of the National Park then onto Bakewell, Buxton and finally to Knutsford.  However, on arrival at a complex gridlocked roundabout at Chesterfield, the buddy system completely failed and could not cope, so the flock dispersed all over the place. Unbelievably, on regrouping, the gang was only split into two and we lost no one. Some of us then continued back on the original route and others headed for Matlock (cakes) and home to Manchester. A good ride out in the first of “summer weather” and more to come.

Woollaton Hall – “or alternatively known as Batman, Bruce Wayne, Mansion”

Departing Poplar at 10.30am, with a good turnout of 9 bikes, (including stunning Sue’s new bike), and a pillion, we headed cross country through Leek and Ashbourne onto Wollaton Hall – Elizabethan mansion set in 500 acres of natural parkland, outside of the heart of Nottingham. A stunning Grade 1 listed building, but inside surprisingly every room full of stuffed animals – “we were not in Chester Zoo?”.

Return was more northly, through the centre of the Peak National Park via High Peak and Macclesfield. The weather was good and the roads back were stunning and quiet and if you had the time, you could look up and admire the superb vista. However, unbelievably our Shepherd stuck to the initial route then slightly deviated to Matlock and parked directly outside a cake shop – it would have been rude of everybody not to sample their huge homemade cakes with final coffees  Another great Manhoc ride out. Happy days.

Manhoc ride to Manor Farm Café

A good turnout of 11 bikes and with some regulars missing, but with our new welcomed member Tony, we departed Rising Bridge heading for Skipton. The weather was perfect biking conditions, though some thought it should have been a little warmer than 6 degrees. Taking a left off the A59 we hit the great biking roads of the Dales National Park to Leyburn - the café was just up the road, - “run by bikers serving good freshly cooked food at respectable prices”. Then circulating south, we returned, with a “Shepherd deviation” - (not the route as planned!), but on to new found, fab twisty moor roads on the outside of Ripon. Here, was a welcome extra cake stop and warm up for the “weak” at Stump Cross Caverns, just outside Harrogate. After consuming some “very large cakes” it was back onto the original route. With a final coffee stop (no cakes this time!) at Macs, Clitheroe on the fast A59, where we said our final goodbyes. Another well lead route by Gary. – happy days.

Sunday 26th March 2023 Manhoc Adhoc ride to The Ponderosa, Horse Shoe Pass

A good break in the weather for Sunday led to a last-minute decision to do the Ponderosa café ride, which was cancelled the other week due to the snow. This large café near the top of Bwlch yr Oernant, North Wales, LL208DR, got its name from a feature in the American TV cowboy series called Bonanza in the 1960s. From Pops, after early coffees at 10am leaving at 10.30am, the route to the café was south to Nantwich, right to Whitchurch onto Llangollen and lunch at the café. Return was back to great Welsh roads, to the Lockside café at Whitchurch, where at the request from Rich, it had to be coffees with orange chocolate cake and cream for all!!!, and then final goodbyes. However, our shepherd Gary, did not have the time to indulge, as he had a driving lesson appointment with our youngest club member, his grandson Charlie at 7months old – see photo.

Sunday 12th March 2023 Manhoc ride to Sleap Airfield

The programmed ride was to be to the Ponderosa, high in the Welsh mountains, but unfortunately, 2 previous days of snow put an end to that. It was not until the Saturday evening that our shepherd saw an excellent change of weather forecast – 10 degrees and dry for the Sunday - unbelievable - and said to all “ the rideout is on!!!” We would the head south and keep to the lowlands So from Pops, 9 bikes and riders with 2 pillions headed down the twisty A49, through Wem, and turned right for the destination, Sleap Airfield – an ex RAF air base.  Here, there was a great club house with museum, excellent food (eggs benedict on a hot waffle is a must!), where we watched light and historic aircraft taking off and landing. Return was through Ellesmere and its picturesque lakes, with further coffee and cake stop at Lockside, Whitchurch, and dispersal at Pops. A surprising day then, as we thought there would be no ride out: however, it turned out to be another great Manhoc ride out. Thanks to all.

Sunday 26th February 2023 ManHOC ride to Old Stores Café

If you have never visited the Old Stores, it is the “coolest biker cafe in the UK” near Mold CH7 4HR. It’s paradise, stacked out with bike motor memorabilia from floor to ceiling, as well as having excellent food. Our shepherd led his flock from Pops at 10.30am, with early coffees at 10am, to Old Stores. Where the gang was met for lunch by “Ming the Merciless” (Paul Collins to others) on his outrageous chopper. With full stomachs, the gang’s route went west, circulating Wales on the Shepherd’s favourite roads over the Horse Shoe pass and passing Bangor on Dee, adjacent to a surprisingly small horse racecourse. The Horse and Jockey, outside Whitchurch, was the final stop for coffees and cakes and goodbyes. Perfect biking weather and ride out, another excellent Manhoc ride. Loads of fun.

Sunday 19th February 2023 - Manhoc Adhoc to Derbyshire

This was an extra ride in our calendar, organised by our chairman Phil, “Sir”, when he saw a dry and sunny forecast for Sunday. Starting from Mottram, Hyde - “Let’s have a mooch.  We will go to The Old Smithy, Monyash for coffee and cake then see what we “wanna do” from there". And so it was. Then following another plan, thereafter it was onto the Tram Museum at Crich. Unfortunately, the main road entrance was closed. We followed their detour, only to find when we landed that the place was still closed for winter!!! Where to go next?  Our Shepherd (that's Gary for those who don't know) knew of places in nearby Leek where we could lunch. So, after a hearty pub roast it was then homeward bound, and a final decision to ride in the direction of Buxton, for a run over the Cat and Fiddle and final coffees at Pops. Great day, excellent company,12 bikes and so many “twists, turns and decisions”!!!!

Sunday 5th Feb - Ride to Glasson Dock

well that was a cold one – setting from home was 1degree air temperature on the dash , only to realize there was a minus sign in front of  the one! A text from Al, in Rochdale, read that he was frozen up! But the roads were all dry and the day’s sun soon appeared and then temperature rose to a blistering 3 degrees. Seven undeterred bikers, enjoyed a great day on fab roads following our shepherd, with Kevin and Geri, who only arrived by car and joined us for lunch (sorry no sore ass award points this time!). Gary’s from Rising Bridge route was via Clitheroe, through the scenic Trough of Bowland over the fab moor roads to Lancaster and then onto 18th century Dalton Arms at Glasson Dock for lunch (and thanks to the welcoming landlord who took the group photo for his Facebook) – then back on the bikes for more twisties through the Fylde, left at Broughton onto then the Ribchester Arms pub, for final goodbyes. Another great ManHOC ride out.

Ride to Settle - Jan 15th

“How good was that for the time of year, first ride of the year, 7 bikes and eight people, not a drop of rain in sight and dark visors pulled down due to the low sun”. Great day and with a special guest appearance by our Mr Sharkey. However, one must not forget the early birds, who had a bit of a soaking riding to the start of the ride. From Rising Bridge our Shepherd took his flock for lunch at The Watershed Mill at Settle, then onwards to the picturesque Ribblesdale Viaduct. Then it was down the A59 to Wigglesworth where our Shepherd had other thoughts and took the wrong turning, and his flock were split. Narrow single tracks in beautiful countryside were encountered to get back to the rest, but all was resolved when everyone finally met at Clitheroe Macs on the A59 for final coffee and cakes.