FAQs

Bikes, Helmets & Parking

Do I need to wear a helmet when I ride the Tour de Manc?

It is a rule of ours that all riders must wear a helmet. Failure to do so will result in you being refused entry to the ride and no refund will be given. If you do not have one, they will be available to purchase from our trade partners / mechanics who will be at the start and ride at the main Feed Stations.

Do I have to use a traditional road bike?

No. Mountain, gravel, hybrid, single speed, pedal assist, BMX, Raleigh Chopper, penny farthing bikes are all welcome. However, if you would like to check, feel free to contact us.

Do you allow bikes with Aero/tri bars?

Yes – However we expect all riders to ride according to the highway code and racing or time trialling is not permitted. You must be ready to brake at any time, take immediate avoiding action and prepare for riding in groups; tri bars tend not to be conducive to safe riding under these conditions.

Can I Ride an Electric Pedal Assist Bike?

Yes, as long as your bicycle is UK road legal, you are welcome to ride it. However, you will not qualify for any of our King of the Mountain / Queen of the Mountain prizes.

Will I need a parking pass?

If you are driving to Bowlee on the morning of the ride you will need to purchase a parking pass in advance You can purchase a parking pass HERE. It will cost £10 to purchase a parking pass on the day of the ride.

Registration

Is there a discount to the ride if I’m a member of British Cycling or another Cycling Association?

No – We are a charity ride, run 100% by unpaid volunteers for no commercial gain…if we gave discounts, this would reduce our charitable giving capability…. So we don’t. We hope you understand.

Can you change routes once you’ve booked?

Yes, just click on the rider login button on the top right of this page to make those changes. Or click HERE, If you have any problems please email us at register@tourdemanc.co.uk You can also make a last minute change on the day – no need to let us know.

Can I get a refund?

We don’t issue refunds as we are 100% charitable (run completely by volunteers) and in effect would have to claw back funds from the headline charities.  (Our Refund policy is expressly stated in the Ts and Cs on our website…and is in line with the practice at similar sports as well as most commercial cycling events too).

If you do need to withdraw or cancel, we are able to offer you a change of name or a deferred entry to our next event. Please contact register@tourdemanc.co.uk with your details.

Are there any charity tickets?

Some of our partner charities can provide tickets, subject to their own conditions, please contact them directly.

If you are a Charity seeking to support or partner Tour de Manc, please get in touch by emailing danny@tourdemanc.co.uk

Can I ride if I am under 18?

Yes, if you supply us with a completed parental consent form before the ride. If you are under 16 you will have to ride with a responsible adult and supply us with a completed parental consent form before the ride.

Ride Preparation

Can I go for practice / training rides on the course?

Yes, you can, please do. You’ll be able to find links to the GPX/TCX files on the route pages several weeks before the event.

When can I access the route files (GPX/TCX) to download to my navigation device?

Draft versions are available from the end of March 2022. You may use these for your own purposes when you sign up, but please be aware they may be subject to change. The final versions will be available from the middle of April

Timing and Route

What Time will registration/sign-on open?

We’ll be sending out registration packs prior to ride day. Please ensure your numbers and/or stickers are attached to your bike/helmet. You’ll be barcode scanned through and ready to ride straight away. No registration on the day.

What time will the riders set off on Sunday?

  • Mad Manc (200 Km) Start 07:00hrs
  • Classic Manc (100 Miles) Start 07.00hrs
  • Manc Challenge (100 Km) Start 08.00hrs
  • Norther Quarter (50 Km) Start 08:00hrs

No riders will be allowed to depart before the first stated time of 0700.

For logistics purposes we want to ensure that all riders depart within the stated time of their ride. If this presents a significant problem for you, such as preventing you signing up, get in touch and we will try and accommodate.

Will the course be marked?

Yes. All four of our routes will be fully marked with all kinds of information such as turns, caution, feed stations, route divergence etc. In addition, each route will have a gpx/tcx navigation file you can download.

Can riders in the Mad, Classic, Half and Northern Quarter Manc ride together?

The Northern Quarter (50 Km) and Challenge (100 Km) routes are the same as each other for the first 25 miles, so it’s easy to ride those together with Challenge riders continuing for more when Northern Quarter riders head back to base down Ashworth Road.

The Classic (100 Mile) and Mad Manc (200 Km) routes are the same as each other for the first 37miles.  After that, the Mad Manc adds a few “bonus climbs” to the Classic route, so it’s possible for Classic riders to wait for Mad riders where the routes converge and continue together.  Probably best to have a look at the map to see what we mean!

There is one section (Denshaw to ‘Owd ) where all four routes converge so with a bit of planning and careful timing it is theoretically possible to meet up and ride together, please study the routes, and email us at register@tourdemanc.co.uk if you have any questions.

How long do I have to complete the routes?

You must be back at Bowlee by 17:45hrs

Car Park Closes at 19.30hrs

Where are the feed stations?

Werneth Low.              Between Marple and Hyde (Mad and Classic Only)
Saddleworth Hotel       After the turn on to A62 (Mad and Classic Only)
Norden School              After Rochdale (All Routes)
Belmont Sailing Club     North of Bolton (Mad, Classic and Challenge)
Ashworth Road            After Owd Betts Turn (All Routes)

What happens if I miss any of the cut off times?

You will be diverted down a shorter route, back to the ride finish. The ride finish has a cut off / closure time due to restrictions on our access to the Bowlee site. Please be aware of this, especially if you park your car there.

All ride timings will be published in your Rider Pack, which will be sent to you before the event.

What happens if I don’t think I will be able to complete the Mad Manc or Classic Manc in time?

You’ll be able to divert down Ashworth Valley Road if you think you won’t be able to complete the Mad or Classic routes in time.  Alternatively, you can miss out some of the Mad Manc loops, as they all return to the Classic route.

What happens if I run in to difficulties on the ride?

All riders are responsible for themselves during the event, including making arrangements to get back to the start if necessary.  However, there is an emergency ‘Rider Control/ number you can call, and we will try to assist and advise on how to resolve your problem. We also have emergency motorbike riders around the course of all four rides. We do not however provide a ‘Sag Wagon’ service to pick up those riders who drop out or carry equipment. There are trained bike mechanics at our major feed stations and the ride start.

Other Stuff

Are there facilities for Spectators?

There will be space for spectators and friends to cheer on the riders when they depart and return to the ‘Ride Village’ at Bowlee as well as roadside throughout the course.

How much money has TdM raised for Charity?

Since Tour de Manc’s first ride in 2016 Tour de Manc has helped raise over £200,000 for worthy Greater Manchester causes.

Do TdM run any other events?

In the past Tour de Manc has run the (Willow Wood) Mini Manc along with other cycle events. In 2022 the only event the organisation is running is the Tour de Manc on May 1st 2022

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