April 26th 2024

The Cherry Blossom Ride

The cherry blossoms have been early this year, so were not as spectacular as last year nearly finished now, but it was still a good ride in lovely conditions, with ten people riding. We had a fairly random playlist, but some relevant tracks including a Jethro Tull track in honour of the late Gerry Conway. I also included my own song about the joys of naked cycling, not that the weather has been conducive to that lately.

Videos

Deane Road

Bolton East Cycleway

Bromwich Street

Pictures

Possible Route

Not quite the route we did, but almost. (A more accurate map to come.)

Click the map to go to the route in Plotaroute

March 29th 2024

The Spring Equinox Ride

This year’s March ride fell on Good Friday and, as we were still (just) on GMT, we had the benefit of the sunset to make our pictures look even better.

Five people came along and enjoyed a lovely, gentle cycle ride with friends, in glorious weather, to an eclectic spring music playlist.

Explore the site to find out more about Critical Mass rides.

Pictures

Glorious conditions for the pictures, starting with the top of the Town Hall turned to gold by the light from the setting sun.

Videos

Le Mans Crescent

Queen Elizabeth Park

Bury New Road

Church Bank

Churchgate

The route

We did a slight variation of this route.

February 23rd 2024

The Twilight Ride

Six riders shared a gentle, informal pootle in and around Bolton Town Centre, in lovely conditions, to a mostly cycling themed music playlist, with lots of chat and bonhomie. This was the last ride in (partial) darkness until next autumn.

Explore the site for more background on Critical Mass rides.

Pictures

Pics by Colin Unsworth and Grahame Cooper

Videos

Newport Street Cyclops junction

Bradshawgate

Knowsley Steet

Finish. The joy of cycling as it should be.

The route

This is the route we took.

January 26th 2024

With the catkins out on the trees and the days getting longer, 5 of us washed away the January blues with a short, gentle cycle ride around Bolton with a bluesy and a little bit bicycley music playlist and lots of good cheer. As usual, we retired to the Northern Monkey for refreshments.
(Image credit: G.Hagedorn)

Picture

Only one picture this time. (I accidentally deleted my camera files.)

A Proposed Route

Roughly the route we took (but we cut out the bit along St George’s Road and Bark Street).

Weather Forecast

Looking good.

December 29th 2023

The New Year Ride

Five people on four bikes (one was a tandem) blew away the cobwebs with a last, very short ride of the year, in a pleasant dry gap in the weather, to a Winter and New Year themed playlist, followed by a drink and chat in the Northern Monkey.

The Route

We took a very short route (2.2 miles), but covered all of the protected cycle infrastructure in the Borough. (All 1km of it.)

November 24th 2023

The Pre-Christmas Ride

Five of us enjoyed a pleasant ride in chilly but lovely weather with a jolly winter-themed playlist including a few Christmas ones, albeit a bit early. (This was the earliest the November ride can be because the following Friday is 1st of December.)

Pictures

Videos

St George’s Road

Manchester Road Cyclops Junction

Moor lane. Illustrating why we really need to bunch up and all adopt a strong road position to avoid drivers splitting us up.

Negotiating the new Rothwell Street inaccessibility barrier.

Great Moor Street

The last bit – the shortest way to the Northern Monkey

The route we did

Somewhat different to my proposed route due to some difficulties. (Nobody is left behind.)

October 27th 2023

The Halloween Ride

Usually the most fun ride of the season. A chance to dress up yourself and your bike and ride along to a spooky playlist. This year, because the clocks don’t go back until the next day, we will set off in twilight as the sun will have only just set.

More info on the When & Where page, and explore this site for more background.

A possible route

Just a thought. May be different on the night depending on people’s whims.

Weather Forecast

The forecast is looking great, with very low probability of rain.

September 29th 2023

Ride 26: The Autumn Equinox Ride

In total, 14 participants enjoyed another evening of lovely weather for a great September ride. This was the last ride of the year in full daylight, so we used some of the off-road sections that will be impractical until next spring. Friends, old and new, chatted and enjoyed an eclectic, cycling themed playlist, with most continuing over a drink at a the Northern Monkey Brewery afterwards.

Pics and vids

The starters. We were joined by more later.

Evening sun on St George’s Road

Bolton-Bury Cycleway

Churchgate

Using Newport Street cyclops junction.

Civil disobedience on Newport Street

The finishers. (We gained 5 and lost 2 on the way. 🤣)

The route.

We did a variant of this route. Accurate one to follow when I have time.

August 25th 2023

Lovely evening sunshine

The 2nd Anniversary Food & Drink Ride

This ride corresponds roughly with the second anniversary of the first Bolton Critical Mass, and kicks off our third year.

Starting from the Bolton Food and Drink Festival, seven of us enjoyed a gentle pootle in and around Bolton town centre, in glorious weather, to a food and drink themed playlist. Because of the way the calendar falls, this was the last time the ride will coincide with the festival until the fifth anniversary ride in August 2026.

Pictures

Little Bolton Town Hall

Picture by June Leece

Videos

Tricky end of cycleway on Bradford Street

Churchgate

Corporation Street

The route

The route we followed.

July 28th 2023

Ride 24 – The Summer Love Ride

This ride will mark the completion of two years of Bolton Critical Mass. Something extra to celebrate!

The weekend of the ride is Bolton Pride weekend, celebrating diversity, and working against hate crime and hatred in all its forms. The music playlist reflects that.

Of course, everyone riding may have their own theme for the ride; after all, Critical Mass is anarchic – there is no leader.

Weather

The Met Office

The weather forecast is still (9.30am on Friday 28th July) looking great.

A possible Route

As always, this is just a suggestion. Critical Mass is anarchic; there is nobody in charge.