I know what it's like, therefore I dress appropriately. I wear my cyclig gear for my commute, as I know I will have to change clothes at work. I also have some good cycling lights, in order that I can commute by bike year round.
In the dry (usually in summer), Rollins lane is fine.
in the wet (spring, autumn, most of winter and ocasionally in summer) Rollins Lane - like many other "cycle routes" in Stockport such as Dark Lane and the new path from marple Hall to Chadkirk - is a wet, muddy mess.
As I said, I know what it's like and I'm prepared for it. I keep a change of clothes at work, and we have drying cabinets which I can use so that my cycle clothes are ready for my homeward trip. Not everyone wants or needs to change clothes after a cycle commute - if I was only commuting to the station for instance, I'd wear my office clothes - but I wouldn't be able to do that though muddy puddles