Old Mount Road : Paying The Price

#cycling #pennines #marsden #oakleyjawbreaker
A Tale of Three Turnpikes
1:28 Distance, Time, Velocity
4:25 Buckstones
6:35 Floating Light
8:40 Old Mount Road
13:17 Mount Road
17:43 Back to Buckstones
Uploaded in 4K

[@loydsa]

Lovely ride Gordon, my legs and lungs wanted to protest in sympathy to yours on the incline!.Best regards Sarah

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks, Sarah. Old Mount Road is a bit of a pull but the cold, wet conditions made it feel worse. It's great cycling country, I'll have to go back when summer finally shows up!

[@ianbarbar3869]

Old Mount Road is a regular ride for the reason you gave, often more sheltered. Love the name near the start "Throstle Nest". Floating Light, Great Western and I think the one below Pule Hill was called The Eagles Nest (more of a restaurant) if I remember correctly. Fascinating video, many thanks.

[@clippingin1593]

We've lost so many of the classic roadside pubs and coaching inns over the past 15-20 years. I remember as a kid seeing a coachload of blackface Morris dancers at The Eagles Nest (thanks for the name) and wondering what was going on. I wouldn't have made O.M.R. on the old 39x25 yesterday with cold legs but the compact gearing paid for itself. Cheers, Ian.

[@ajollygoodchap]

These more recent rides you've done which tend to be a little shorter than your norm, and a little more local for you, are very entertaining. Love the history, and like the signposting so we know where you are. Also like how you are filming more of the respective climbs. Gives us a better feel for what they are like. All in all, the thinking mans cyclist.

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks! I find it so frustrating when cycling videos fail to include verbal cues, map inserts, or even captions and you're left either looking for road signs or with a link to an off-site social media app for gpx files. I prefer using the chestcam for the hands-free filming on climbs and descents, but it takes longer to edit so I'm switching between hand-held and this format while time's rationed. I want to fit in a 'Historic York' ride when I can - with chestcam - but I need 6-7 hours clear. September hopefully.

[@mattjohn7700]

Fantastic video Gordon, you know your history. And transport as changed alot in our life times too.

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks, Matt. You're right, transport and travel has changed so much in the last 40-50 years. It's easy to forget that the M62 in this area was only opened around 50 years ago. Wednesday was officially 'lagging it down' 😁

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

@@clippingin1593 I like that. , lagging it down. , Oh England are n Euros Fina. l GT game. I haven't seen them play so well n long time ,!!

[@ianrichardson4558]

great video again Gordon and commentary 👍

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks, Ian. The weather was a bit rough in places but I really enjoyed the outing.

[@Robutube1]

Riding up here is not for the fairweather cyclist! Great ride Gordon, with some interesting historical context too. On the matter of distance being measured by time, my observation as I listened to you was that, since becoming a cyclist three years ago on retirement, I SEE and FEEL much more of the places I ride, even though the distance travelled is much shorter.

[@clippingin1593]

I've always said the Pennine high roads are half a season behind the valleys. I once climbed Holme Moss on a sunny March day and in Holmfirth the people were in shirt-sleeves, yet on the summit I ran into a full-blown blizzard. It's great country though and I absolutely agree with you about the altered perception we experience when riding through and inside a landscape. Cheers, Rob.

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

I always try to think of my rides in time and not distance because it’s all down to the terrain I’ve rode that day 👍

[@clippingin1593]

I'm the same. Once you move into hill country or start going off-road then you wave goodbye to all the high-speed rolling. It's hours of effort that counts.

[@brianandrew9706]

Ive suffered on old mount Gordon...you made it look easy!

[@clippingin1593]

Cheers, Brian. I think I saw your O.M.R. ride on Strava a few weeks ago and that's when I hatched the idea of putting the three turnpike roads into one ride. Yesterday was too wet & cold for wearing shorts and I was getting pre-cramp twitches on the fast A62 descents, that's why I put it straight into bottom gear for the steep section - probably a good move because I'd forgotten how sustained it is.

[@michaeldenton2581]

Some very interesting knowledge of the area Gordon. I’ve done Mount Road a couple of times up past the Golf Course and Cricket Club 😅when the A62 has been busy but never the Old Road tho (looks an absolute brute). It always amazes me that the Canal and Railway run underneath that entire expansive area between Diggle and Marsden. As always, loved the footage 👍🏻

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks, Mick. The ambition of the Victorian engineering projects always amazes me. I didn't see it at the time but I spotted steam coming out of the railway vent shafts as I descended towards Marsden. My legs were getting twitchy with the cold & rain - too cold for shorts in mid-July.... haha

[@michaeldenton2581]

@@clippingin1593 it’s been a miserable summer mate that’s for sure. It’s a strange old sight seeing that steam isn’t it. Going to look at having myself a shot at that Old Mount Road the next couple of weeks tho. Stay safe 👍🏻

[@clippingin1593]

@@michaeldenton2581 You'll enjoy it - hopefully you'll land a nice dry day too.

[@Scrollsaw53]

Great content, thank you!!

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks Graham - fantastic cycling country.

[@NeilLavitt]

Funny enough Gordon, there is a Mount Street in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Not anywhere near as long, but up to 18%. The Pennines are still beautiful in the wet. Like Scotland, I often feel different layers of beauty emerge.

[@clippingin1593]

We did Mount Road last year, Neil. I remember having to stop briefly on a double-parked section for a descending bus. You're right, the rain & mist adds all kinds of atmosphere, and I thoroughly enjoyed this outing. With hindsight I'd have worn kneewarmers or bibknicks because I was getting some pre-cramp on the descents, so much for summer!

[@NeilLavitt]

@@clippingin1593 oh yes, I do remember that one. I’m glad we didn’t fork left onto Old Mount Road then. We had better weather at that time though. Sometimes you just have to get out. It looks like another very mixed summer there in the UK.

[@clippingin1593]

@@NeilLavitt We had the only dry day that week. I remember the weekend was rained off and it was even worse when you went to the Lakes. Last year we had dry & settled weather in May & June which cushioned the blow somewhat, whereas this year it's been grim for months.

[@OldGreyPunk]

Nice route, if you're looking to revisit a few 'challenges from yesteryear' then a few I've enjoyed reacquainting myself with recently are Marsden Gate (Marsden Lane up to the Rose & Crown), Booth Bank (Shaw Fields Lane, next one over from Marsden Gate), and over the other side of the A640, Steele Lane up from Stainland Dean to Ringstone Edge reservoir. All very interesting routes which I'd not been along for years.

[@clippingin1593]

Cheers. I'll look into them - as long as there's no cobbles!

[@OldGreyPunk]

@@clippingin1593 No cobbles 🙂 I've got to say as well, I find Mount Road harder than Old Mount Road, it seems to go on for ages, a real grind, whereas with Old Mount Road once your up the initial steep bit it's much more varied and enjoyable.

[@clippingin1593]

@@OldGreyPunk I see that too. I looked at the Strava climb profiles and Mount Road is solid 10% for ages. Old Mount is more varied and has some wind shelter too. I'll go back to O.M.R. on a warm dry day when my quads aren't twitching from the cold.

[@toddfield4744]

Great video. And Ziggy played guitar

[@clippingin1593]

Like some cat from Japan I believe. Cheers, Todd.

[@andrew300169]

For a moment I thought one of your mid winter rides had come up in my KZbin algorithm 😂

[@clippingin1593]

Haha - easy mistake to make with Wednesday's weather, Andrew. It was too cold for shorts up there & I was almost-cramping on the longer descents.

[@andrew300169]

@@clippingin1593 This was meant to be my 1st glorious summer of cycling having found it mid past year and got myself fitter than I’ve been for 30 years with Swift through the winter, I even bought suntan oil in preparation 🤣

[@clippingin1593]

@@andrew300169 Haha - me too. I bought new SPF 50 and a zinc oxide roll-on for my nose.... both untouched so far. Long range forecast looks promising in a week or so. Fingers crossed.

[@andrew300169]

@@clippingin1593 🤞

[@user-fb3yf2xb2z]

King of the mountains!

[@clippingin1593]

I'm not quite polka dot jersey material, Robin, but it's superb cycling terrain, even when the weather's not cooperating. One to return to.

[@dave136]

Great ride content …shame about the weather 🌧…Will we get a proper summer again 🤔

[@clippingin1593]

Cheers, Dave. It's strange weather for July. Last year it was poor but we'd had two months of hot, dry conditions so it didn't feel as bad. My legs were closing down on the descents today with the cold & rain. I'll be back to kneewarmers or 3/4 for my next outing.

[@ChrisSpriggs-rj2ys]

Cycling and the theory of relativity in one ride😊

[@clippingin1593]

I'll bet old Albert was a mean hill-climber with all his gravitational knowledge.

[@pauljones5066]

Spiders from Marsden - wasn't that a Bowie line ???

[@clippingin1593]

It's from Ziggy Stardust 😁.... couldn't resist.

[@pauljones5066]

I know the origin I spotted it lol p.s. when I cycle through Jump I sing the Van Halen song! lol

[@clippingin1593]

@@pauljones5066 Excellent. I can already hear the Dave Lee Roth vocals in my head.

[@pauljones5066]

lol 🙂

[@pcmjpcmj6854]

Excellent. I need some inspiration while nursing an injury. Are you planning to explore any of the cobbled lanes the area has to offer?

[@clippingin1593]

Cheers. That's an interesting project. I'll have a think about it - probably use my XC MTB with semi-slicks because the quality of the cobbles can be pretty variable, especially with this year's continued wet weather. Earlier in the year a couple of mates recce'd the Ronde Van Calderdale and had to walk some of the 'bergs' near Halifax due to loss of traction - these were hills they'd previously ridden.

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

Well Done

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks, Brian. It was a bit cold and wet for July but the roads were nice and quiet.

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

@@clippingin1593 Thanks Gordon I enjoy my walks in d sunATB🚲🌞

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

Thanks

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

Merci Beaucoup 🚴🚵

[@stevenfreeman7798]

Brilliant effort would have done me lol!!.

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks, Steve. I was on the edge of cramping in those conditions. I didn't think I was doing too badly, then the MTB caught me.... it was a few seconds before I realised it was an e-MTB ... !!

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

Down these days like others don't hv companions of. b4

[@LancashireLarks]

Do you not use the E-Bike anymore, if not what’s the reason? Thanks

[@clippingin1593]

I've never owned an E-bike but I did mention a 'gravel bike' in this video. Outdoor commentary can be difficult with the added noise of wind & rain. My gravel bike was damaged in a fall a few months ago, to the extent that it would cost £700+ to get it running again and I decided to cut my losses and manage without it. All the best.

[@LancashireLarks]

@@clippingin1593 my apologies I got you confused with someone else. Take care and thanks.

[@clippingin1593]

@@LancashireLarks No probs. All the best.

[@Tinker1950]

Judging by seeing your legs - looks like your saddle is too low? 👀

[@clippingin1593]

I agree the opening shot looks that way. Some of that is wide angle aspect ratio distortion but also my saddle height & layback are lower than in my racing days due to chronic injuries. I could nudge it by 5 mm tops but I'm also very aware of having ridden 20,000 miles in 2 years on this position without issues - so it works for me. Cheers for the comment.

[@Tinker1950]

@@clippingin1593 And thanks for the explanation

[@JohnRadford-iy7db]

To steep

[@clippingin1593]

Yes, Old Mount Road is quite fierce at the start. The A62 Manchester Road is much more accessible.