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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 04/10/2026

Lots of fun watching the Manchester Half Marathon today. It’s always great to have a traffic-free A56 and a peaceful Stretford, without the constant rumble of traffic. It has got me thinking about running the HM myself, next one in Manchester is in May 🤔

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 03/10/2026

Imagine having the money to buy a McLaren and choosing to spend your Saturday sat in traffic in the middle of Manchester

McLaren in a queue of traffic on Deansgate

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 03/10/2026

Back from the run and a ride into town, via the docs for a flu jab. Talbot Rd closed for the Half Marathon (maybe next year…). Pizza 🍕 and beer 🍻 then a wander down to Deansgate for pudding 🍰 Got to make the most of those 1800 additional calories I’ve burnt today!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 03/10/2026

Another 15k run this morning. Managed to get caught up in the Sale Parkrun by accident 😂

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 03/10/2026

Some people reckon they killed Deansgate, installing the cycle lanes and trees. Absolute nonsense, I’ve never seen it so busy, ever. It used to be full of parked cars and gridlocked traffic, now it’s full of people. Now let’s remove all the traffic and remodel the whole street 👍

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 29/09/2026

Thought we were getting a new bike share for a minute!

Quest bike share bikes, assuming fake for filming ongoing in the area

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 27/09/2026

The running continues with my first 15k yesterday. 3/4 of the way to a half marathon now 🤔

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 27/09/2026

Been a while since I’ve been along the Mersey river path to Stockport, so I was glad to see a few of the A frame barriers have been replaced with something much more accessible.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 24/09/2026

One for Jim. Though he won’t be there obviously, as it’s not Monaco.

Sticking the finger to Man Utd, specifically Jim RATcliffe

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/09/2026

Briefly passed the CyanLines popup on Nicholas St in Manchester at lunch today. Good to see things like this happening, in addition to the work done on Deansgate. Shame it’s just for two days though. Let’s make it 6 months, then permanent.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 15/09/2026

Morning commute, breezing past all the cars 🚲…

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 15/09/2026

Trafford Rd, Salford. The usual lack of thought for people cycling. No safe alternative provided, not even a way to get back to the cycle path from the main carriageway after the obstruction. No idea how long this is going to be here for, but it looks like a while.

Sign saying cycle lane closed ahead, use dual carriageway

Cycle lane closed sign in front of the blocked cycle path

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 14/09/2026

In fairness, there was evidence of some of the vehicles being ticketed, but it really was a tiny fraction of them. Clearly, there’s a timing issue.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 14/09/2026

Every new football season, Trafford Council tell us about how they’re cracking down on illegal, antisocial and dangerous match-day parking. But then every match, the streets look like this.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 10/09/2026

Even where there’s no cycling infrastructure (and should be), and so many bike share bikes!

Lots of people on bikes, waiting at the lights

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 10/09/2026

Seems like every time I go to London, there’s more and more people cycling!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 04/09/2026

Impressive how quickly this has been installed. Just shows what can be done.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 04/09/2026

That really was quick! Trees, planters and cycle parking now in place on Deansgate. This is such a big improvement, more of this please!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 03/09/2026

Well that was quick! Pop-up trees, planting and cycle parking going in on Deansgate

Temporary barriers in place while work is carried out

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 02/09/2026

Great to see this end of Deansgate getting some much needed greenery as well as finally some cycle parking. 8 spaces isn’t a lot though. I suspect once people know they’re there, they will be regularly full. cyanlines.com/treesondeans...

Visualisation of Deansgate with trees and cycle parking

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

Part of the reason for starting running was to be able to keep exercising, when I couldn't cycle. So my plan was to keep my runs going in Lisbon. I ran early to avoid the heat and along the river, where it's flat. I did manage one run up to Parque Eduardo VII, but it was a bit more challenging!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

To cope with some of the hills, there's various funiculars and lifts. Many of these are now tourist attractions, though some are definitely functional. Our apartment was up the hill, just below Castelo de São Jorge. Handily, there were two lifts, making it much easier to get up there.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

Lisbon is quite a walkable city, in terms of distances, but it's a question of whether you can cope with the hills. Also, it's fair to say many streets have pretty bumpy and narrow pavements, where motor traffic should really be removed.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

Ride over to Chorlton Water Park for lunch at the Meeting Place Café - Tibetan Kitchen, then off to do some shopping in Chorlton

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

I have a Spa D’Tour I got a few years ago and have been really pleased with it. It’s solid and I find it very comfortable to ride. They were really helpful in terms of choosing a spec in my budget and I was able to take one for a test ride on the nearby path, which really helped.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

One of the few streets that was ok to cycle on in the central Baixa area was Rua da Prata. This is traffic free, with the space divided up for trams and cycles. This would work well in Manchester.

Waiting behind scooters at Praça da Figueira

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

There’s also a pretty good route along the river that’s flat and separated from traffic. It is a bit patchy though, with some sections having a really poor surface and lots of conflict with pedestrians in the busier areas.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

Infrastructure-wise, I wasn’t expecting a lot in Lisbon and there certainly wasn’t any in the old town where we were based. Out of town in the newer areas, there was some pretty decent protected cycle lanes and even some cycle streets. Not a big fan of the lanes down the middle of the street tho.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

Cycling-wise, we did an organised bike tour on e-bikes, which made riding up the hills a breeze. I also had a go of the Gira bike share, which was decidedly mixed, in terms of the maintenance of the bikes and the absolute woeful docking station situation.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

It was very much a multimodal trip, with us making use of the various public transport options, including the metro, trams (old and new), buses, ferries, funiculars and lifts. Though we did end up taking more Bolt/Uber rides than I'd have liked.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

Back from a week and half trip to Lisbon. A little different to our usual Netherlands trips, especially the weather and hills! There was also much less cycling than usual, but we did manage a bit while we were there, on e-bikes thankfully.

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 22/08/2026

Parkrun number 10 done! 🥳 Reasonable time, given I’ve had two weeks off while I was away (more on that soon) and had way too much to eat and drink

Waiting to set off, on the running track in Longford Park

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 30/07/2026

Early start to vote in the GM mayoral election. A vote for a greener Manchester, safer streets and more investment in active travel. #bikesatpollingstations #manchester #gmmayoralelection

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 11/07/2026

Back for my 6th #parkrun after a few weeks away. Absolute scorcher, surprised I managed a reasonable time 🥵 Big queue of people getting selfies with Dame Kelly Holmes!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 06/07/2026

My first 10k🥳🎉 Was surprisingly alright, even with the heat. Made a change running round Sale Water Park and not the quays!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 27/06/2026

Riding the Mancunian Way, it’s closed till Monday!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 27/06/2026

Riding the Mancunian Way, it’s closed till Monday!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 21/06/2026

Evening ride to Carrington Moss. Usually my summer regular, but it’s been a while since I’ve been over. So muggy, but at least it didn’t rain!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 21/06/2026

Back at @grubmcr.bsky.social again today for Father’s Day lunch. Really pleased we have this in Stretford now!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 21/06/2026

Trying out the fantastic new @grubmcr.bsky.social Stretford yesterday. Great atmosphere down there, definitely a worthy replacement for the Foodhall!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 17/06/2026

Great to see Grub Stretford open! 🥳 No ticket for tonight, so just had a nosy through the door, hopefully get down at the weekend, when it opens properly. Great to see more great things coming to the new town centre!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 16/06/2026

It’s quite pleasant having John Dalton Street closed. Should be permanent.

Selfie looking back on an empty John Dalton Street

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 15/06/2026

My second 8k, running to the quays and back. No PB, but after a bad night’s sleep, long day and humidity, I was just glad to get round. 9k next week, onwards to 10k!

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 13/06/2026

5th #parkrun today and another PB! I’m now 4 minutes quicker than my first one 🥳

Waiting to set off, particularly busy today

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 09/06/2026

Dark skies on the ride home, but no rain 🙌 #winning #manchester #cycling

Riding along the cycle lanes on Deansgate with dark skies ahead

Riding along the cycle lanes at Deansgate Interchange with dark skies ahead

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 03/06/2026

How much better the parade on Barton Rd, Stretford is looking now. The installation of bollards, planters and cycle stands makes it somewhere you want to linger, rather than park your car. Shame it took this to stop people parking here.

Looking much better after the installation of bollards, planters and cycle stands

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 21/05/2026

Opening date is 4th June, so they’re not wasting any time! I went for a look earlier and tables and chairs are being installed and lights.

Boards surrounding the multi-storey car park

Looking through a gap at the work going on under the car park, with tables and chairs and lights being installed

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 19/05/2026

What was interesting yesterday on my commute to Birchwood was the number of school kids walking or cycling across Irlam Locks. Makes all the more sense why Wellacre Academy has such high numbers of kids cycling, given how much slower driving/public transport would be for those over the other side.

Approaching Irlam Locks on the Flixton side

View of the lock gates and Irlam Railway Viaduct

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 19/05/2026

Outside the Co-op Bank on S King St. We should definitely have more of these anchors where spaces is limited (caveat, assuming they can’t be easily removed).

Cyclehoop wall anchor attached to a wall

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Dom Cycling @domcycling.com · 18/05/2026

Thankfully back onto the nicer bit of the A57, then across Irlam Locks again and back along the sorry state of the old 1930s cycle paths on Lostock and Barton Roads.

Cars blocking the old cycle path on Barton Road

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