A Tweed Excursion - September

I suggested this in the Official Tweed Run thread and it garnered a few mutterings of interest so I thought I'd see if it has any legs.

Would anyone be interested in a Tweed Excursion in September, a last jaunt of civilised behaviour at the end of summer? The idea that I have at the moment would be to start in Sheffield, by the Arts Tower and traverse the Peak District by way of Hope, Castleton, the Old Winnats Pass, and then roll into Stockport and under the impressive viaduct.

What you would get:
Another good reason to Tweed up, saddle up and roll out
A visit to some fine eateries and hostelries
65k of epic countryside
The open road
Some fine examples of icons from the heydey of Tweed (Victorian to pre war engineering and design gosh weren't they marvelous)
The chance to bewilder our northern cousins
Maps and routesheets

What you wouldn't get:
Free gin
Goodie bags
The sterling and munificent leadership of Teddy, Jacqui and their host of impecably wonderful marshalls and assistants
Rolling road block
Heavy traffic I hope
The chance to ride some machines that are perhaps too much of a bygone age (unless you really think you can)
The warm glow of supporting a charity (unless you do it yourself)
Prizes

This isn't the Tweed Run, nor ever would it hope to emulate, replace, usurp or supplant that wonderful occurence. However, the only thing that I can think of better than spending a day riding around in good company whilst wearing Tweed is to do it more often.

65k of epic countryside

What kind of unseemly foreign measurement is that, my good fellow?

k refering to kilometre or 1000 yards, a yard being the distance between the King's nose to the tip of his outstretched hand.

That's an English King mind you and the multiplication by 1000 is simply use of the system of metrification as determined by that upstanding fellow of the Royal Society John Wilkins.

You don't get much more English than that.

k refering to kilometre or 1000 yards, a yard being the distance between the King's nose to the tip of his outstretched hand.

That's an English King mind you and the multiplication by 1000 is simply use of the system of metrification as determined by that upstanding fellow of the Royal Society John Wilkins.

You don't get much more English than that.

There are almost 1100 yards to one on those beastly French things. An English idea, maybe, but a French measurement and word. Let's just say 40 miles.

A splendid idea, though.

I'm in.
Let me know the dates and I'll bring the absinthe.

Depending on date, I'd be up for that. Stockport Hat Museum is right by the viaduct...

September 11th is the first Saturday after schools go back so that should mean that the roads are a little quieter. Also most likely to be warmer and more clement than the anything afterwards.

Once I'm ensconced in Sheffield, I'll go and reconnoiter a route and some establishments to visit along the way. Perhaps see if we can get a late afternoon tour of the hat factory.

The Cheddar Cheese in Hope is a great pub. You should definitely stop there. After stopping for a bakewell pudding up the road of course...

Sounds like a great ride - hoping I can do that weekend.

Aha! Full marks, a proper distance with Tweed on. Remember the Sudocream.

I can't do September 11th, because the Tour of Britain is in the North and I'm chasing that around to Blackpool.

Aha! Full marks, a proper distance with Tweed on. Remember the Sudocream.

Padded pants, FTW!

in.

Given an expected earlyish arrival in Hope, I was thinking more along the lines of a visit to the Woodbine Cafe for tea/coffee.

This is the proposed route

. So I'd follow with luncheon in Chapel-en-le-Frith, perhaps another tea at the Rhode Island Coffee Shop in Stockport before a visit to the Hat Museum and a pint or two beneath the viaduct.

I can't do September 11th, because the Tour of Britain is in the North and I'm chasing that around to Blackpool.

Thank you Lucy, I'd forgotten about that.

I too may be on the hunt for a spot of tour action.

Unless anyone is particularly attached to Stoke on Trent then the 12th is an option. I suspect 18th in London would limit interest.

How does the 25th rest with people?

Love it! Some serious riding there, and seriously beautiful to boot.
A list of participants, perhaps?

1. The Seldom Killer
   

25th is good for me.

1. The Seldom Killer
   
2. General Lucifer
   

1. The Seldom Killer
   
2. General Lucifer
   
3. DJ
   
   

assuming i can come and stay with the lucifer household

Gladly, old stick! I can treat you to that roast on the Sunday too!

(Cue scurrilous rumours galore..)

Given an expected earlyish arrival in Hope, I was thinking more along the lines of a visit to the Woodbine Cafe for tea/coffee.

This is the proposed route

. So I'd follow with luncheon in Chapel-en-le-Frith, perhaps another tea at the Rhode Island Coffee Shop in Stockport before a visit to the Hat Museum and a pint or two beneath the viaduct.

Great route. I did my teacher training placement at Hope Valley College & one of my best mate's mum used to own a B&B there. I particularly like the view of the valley as you come into Hope - beautiful part of the country. Also gives me an excuse to finish off my touring bike.

1. The Seldom Killer
   
2. General Lucifer
   
3. DJ
   
4. goodhead
   

Damn and blast it, my dashing dame has gone and thrown a spanner in the works. The 25th is the weekend of the Three Peaks Cyclocross and she really wants to come along for this as well.

Can people do the 4th afterall. It's that or a Sunday (5th, 12th and 19th still free for me so far).

What are people's opinions?

11/12th was good for me, but can't do 25/26th :(

Hat Museum isn't that good, though they do sell some nice hats. Trying to think of any other Stockport sights - Air Raid Shelter tunnels, er, that's about it. To follow Teddy's trend of finishing in cool ex-bathhouses, you can rent Victoria Baths in Manchester...

Damn and blast it, my dashing dame has gone and thrown a spanner in the works. The 25th is the weekend of the Three Peaks Cyclocross and she really wants to come along for this as well.

Can people do the 4th afterall. It's that or a Sunday (5th, 12th and 19th still free for me so far).

What are people's opinions?

The 5th is the Knutsford Great Race for penny farthings

4th should be ok for me.
Depending who's riding the ToB, I'd actually rather amble around the Yorkshire countryside than watch racing, so if 11th/12th adds up as a more reasonable date then I'm still in.