Nice weather and plenty of quiet looking waterways and bike-trails. Picking the right bike and/or tyres is a tricky one but it looked like you'd found a good match for most of the terrain. These conceptual projects always turn up some pleasant surprises and your experience strikes me as being similar to mine on the 'Wakefield Wheel'. I thought I knew the area but there's a huge difference between knowing the lie of the land and exploring it at off-road cycling pace.
Definitely had that Wakefield Wheel feel to it and I do like the new-routing stuff every now and again (but not too much :)). I might have a crack at the Greater Manchester boundary if and when the fitness ever returns - or maybe do it over a couple of rides. We're spoilt for choice really as cyclists 🙂
Thanks, Jay. It was a fun ride. That Komoot bike touring setting is waaaay off though for anyone actually on a tourer with front and back panniers. I think we all learn that the hard way! 🙂
Cheers, Sean. Completely agree. It's a bit of a cliché but I remember once standing in the Gobi dessert (long story) and the complete and utter silence was absolutely deafening. There will be many thousands of people in Manchester who hear that motorway 24/7 but who are probably so used to it now it doesn't register.
Thanks, mate. It's beyond my capabilities but you're such a strong rider you could probably get round the Greater Manchester boundary on roads (which would be a stunning road ride I think)! Hopefully sorting out the road bike later on today! 🙂👍
Interesting. I never thought of doing a ride like that, i.e. following the route of the M60 motorway. I live in Bury, so I mostly look to riding into the Pennines. I wouldn't want to risk my best wheels on my road bike, but I could bet a pair of gravel tyres to fit those that the bike came with. I wonder how much of a detour I'd have to take if I was to stick mostly to the outside.
I know what you mean, same here I mostly head more into the Pennines. It was fun to try something a bit different though. I think there's a much bigger loop to be done following the Greater Manchester boundary, which probably runs just north of you there in Bury. If I were twice as fit I might be tempted to try it in one go - probably better road options. Thanks for the comment and happy cycling!
@@onemorecyclist The whole of Greater Manchester? I'd probably start with the whole of Bury Metropolitan Borough. That's big enough for starters (for me).
Strange, the RAC says it's the only circular motorway, I wonder what makes it different to the M25? Keep Smiling camped on his ride around the M25, not sure if he got any sleep with the traffic noise! I agree about finding roads you don't know but are quite local. I use CycleTravel to plan rides. If I can't think of a destination I use the 'suggest a ride' feature in the app. This has taken me down lanes and tracks I didn't know about, some less than a mile from home. It is always a surprise to me just how much green space there is around UK cities if you travel by bike. Thanks again for the video.
Thanks, Colin. Agree, there's often more green spaces in and around cities than you would guess, albeit some can be in a bit of a sorry state and/or feel a bit unsafe. Not heard of Cycle Travel before so will have to check it out. Komoot has a 'discover' feature but I've always found it a bit naff and not the kind of UX I'm looking for. Happy cycling!
Hi Neil. With a load more planning than I did I think you could make a very rider-friendly 'tour of Manchester' out of the route, with detours to places of interest, great cafe stops etc. My Strava hiccupped a bit at the start but the 'motorway loop' I took is in tact I think (link in my profile here on YT). It's a bit of a left-field ride and hand on heart there's better/more scenic cycling in the area but if you ever try it let me know how you got on - even if to say 'god, that was awful!' 😉
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I watched a guy do the same around the M25 bike packing, a really great route!
Well done on this one mission accomplished
Great concept matey! Some familiar sights...
Nice weather and plenty of quiet looking waterways and bike-trails. Picking the right bike and/or tyres is a tricky one but it looked like you'd found a good match for most of the terrain.
These conceptual projects always turn up some pleasant surprises and your experience strikes me as being similar to mine on the 'Wakefield Wheel'. I thought I knew the area but there's a huge difference between knowing the lie of the land and exploring it at off-road cycling pace.
Definitely had that Wakefield Wheel feel to it and I do like the new-routing stuff every now and again (but not too much :)). I might have a crack at the Greater Manchester boundary if and when the fitness ever returns - or maybe do it over a couple of rides. We're spoilt for choice really as cyclists 🙂
The great explore, brilliant video.
It was indeed. Thanks, Matt!
Another great video. The smug feeling of crossing a motorway jammed up will never get old.
Cheers, Jon. A bit of smug on the bike is nice every now and again! 😉
Great training route for longer cycle packing adventures, thanks for sharing Martin 👏 👋
It was pretty good route finding practice too. 🙂 Thanks for the comment and happy cycling!
Leaving things to Komoot will always give you an adventure. A great video and undoubtedly Mission Accomplished.
Thanks, Jay. It was a fun ride. That Komoot bike touring setting is waaaay off though for anyone actually on a tourer with front and back panniers. I think we all learn that the hard way! 🙂
This is great! My partner and I live at opposite sides of the M60. Maybe we should pursuit race round to each other's houses.
Thanks, that could be a fun challenge! Happy cycling! 🙂
Great video it's good to have no cars around you just the sound of the bike.
Cheers, Sean. Completely agree. It's a bit of a cliché but I remember once standing in the Gobi dessert (long story) and the complete and utter silence was absolutely deafening. There will be many thousands of people in Manchester who hear that motorway 24/7 but who are probably so used to it now it doesn't register.
U should ride from your hometown to London
Great video matey. Started in my childhood town. Got me thinking to maybe try this but via all the roads
Thanks, mate. It's beyond my capabilities but you're such a strong rider you could probably get round the Greater Manchester boundary on roads (which would be a stunning road ride I think)! Hopefully sorting out the road bike later on today! 🙂👍
That looks a great ride , especially as your local to me. Might have to give that a go myself
One of those 'something a bit different' rides it's fun to try now and again. Thanks for the comment and happy cycling!
Great ride! Enjoyed the video. 👍🇦🇺
Thanks and for following along, Francis! 🙂
Interesting. I never thought of doing a ride like that, i.e. following the route of the M60 motorway. I live in Bury, so I mostly look to riding into the Pennines. I wouldn't want to risk my best wheels on my road bike, but I could bet a pair of gravel tyres to fit those that the bike came with. I wonder how much of a detour I'd have to take if I was to stick mostly to the outside.
I know what you mean, same here I mostly head more into the Pennines. It was fun to try something a bit different though. I think there's a much bigger loop to be done following the Greater Manchester boundary, which probably runs just north of you there in Bury. If I were twice as fit I might be tempted to try it in one go - probably better road options. Thanks for the comment and happy cycling!
@@onemorecyclist The whole of Greater Manchester? I'd probably start with the whole of Bury Metropolitan Borough. That's big enough for starters (for me).
Strange, the RAC says it's the only circular motorway, I wonder what makes it different to the M25?
Keep Smiling camped on his ride around the M25, not sure if he got any sleep with the traffic noise!
I agree about finding roads you don't know but are quite local.
I use CycleTravel to plan rides. If I can't think of a destination I use the 'suggest a ride' feature in the app. This has taken me down lanes and tracks I didn't know about, some less than a mile from home.
It is always a surprise to me just how much green space there is around UK cities if you travel by bike.
Thanks again for the video.
The M25 has a start and end point. Both the Dartford Bridge and the tunnel are actually the A282.
Thanks, Colin. Agree, there's often more green spaces in and around cities than you would guess, albeit some can be in a bit of a sorry state and/or feel a bit unsafe. Not heard of Cycle Travel before so will have to check it out. Komoot has a 'discover' feature but I've always found it a bit naff and not the kind of UX I'm looking for. Happy cycling!
@@GibboLPThanks, a friend suggested that was the reason.
Another great idea. Next time I come back to the UK I might try this route. Do you have a GPX of the route by any chance?
Hi Neil. With a load more planning than I did I think you could make a very rider-friendly 'tour of Manchester' out of the route, with detours to places of interest, great cafe stops etc. My Strava hiccupped a bit at the start but the 'motorway loop' I took is in tact I think (link in my profile here on YT). It's a bit of a left-field ride and hand on heart there's better/more scenic cycling in the area but if you ever try it let me know how you got on - even if to say 'god, that was awful!' 😉
@@onemorecyclist thanks so much 😊
Were my eyes deceiving me or did your shirt and hat change 😉 I may be wrong as I didn't check back
No, you weren't seeing things Brian 🙂. The gilet and cap came off and went in the rucsack somewhere round the Trafford centre (if I remember right)!
@@onemorecyclist cool, I thought you might have done it in two different go's 😉
Just joking 😁
Errrr ........... isn't the M25 around greater London also a circular motorway with no start nor end?
yup
No it isn't. The Dartford Bridge and tunnel section is actually the A282, so the M25 has a start and end point.
@@GibboLP well, you learn something every day ;)
@@djpablo73 Im like you, I thought the same but Google told me different. 😁👍
@@GibboLP same here until I was looking at this ride. It's got the makings of a great pub quiz question, hasn't it? 🙂