A little Saturday afternoon pootle out, heading towards the West Pennine Moors and visiting a local landmark I haven’t been to in a few years, Peel Tower. On a clear day I think it provides one of the finest views in Greater Manchester; well worth the effort getting all the way up to the top!

Looking at the route on Komoot I spotted the opportunity to add in ‘The Rake’, a top 100 climb which has been featured in the Tour of Britain and the British Hill Climbing Championships. Never seen a road with a handrail for pedestrians before!

Let’s just say I was glad of all the gears on the gravel bike!

Happy cycling, folks!

11 Comments

  1. Great video.. if ever I see a sign for Ramsbottom or the Rake whilst out cycling I will know to do a quick U turn 😂😂😂 Well done, looked tough, keep them coming.

  2. Great video again. And what a great route.
    We must have just missed each other as I took my lad out on his first gravel ride yesterday and we headed up to Ashworth reservoir in the reverse to you and back down through deeply vale to Rammy.
    Well done on the rake though, it’s a killer to drive let alone cycle.

  3. Great video and climb. Vista's look great.
    I removed clipless pedals off my triban rc520 and replaced them with dmr V8 MTB pedals (alloy £30pr). – feel much safer with them. No noticeable difference in performance for me.( I'm 66 and average about 20km hour on undulating routes)
    Do you find your Boardman significantly quicker on climbs?

  4. Chapeau to you for making that climb, it looked brutal!
    It's videos like your's that broadens my knowledge of the UK. I didn't know of Peel Tower so Wiki put me right. Every day is a school day.
    The view from the top looked great, I'm sure even better when you're there.
    Great thought, recording your rides for when you get old. I wish it had been possible in my younger days.
    Thanks for the video of your very hard climb.

  5. You went up and down Holcombe Hill on the hardest path. If you had gone right immediately opposite the Shoulder of Mutton pub, there is Moor Road, which runs to the right, almost parallel to the main road, before doubling back and arriving at the tower from the right. It is a longer route, but it is less stoney and gentler gradient.

  6. Thanks, I thought it was Simon and Garfunkel at first. I will check them out as I find the music relaxing and it goes well with the scenery and commentary. Thanks again and keep the videos coming 😊

  7. Eh what’s wrong with power data 🤣 great effort mate. It’s a tough old slog that hill. I need to go revisit that hill with the camera and my power data on the screen 🙄

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