Growing up in Maghull/Lydiate and enjoying cycling as a teenager in the early to mid 1990s, it was always an ambition of mine to do this ride. Having got back into cycling last year, having built up the distance of my rides, and having watched this video a few weeks ago, I decided to finally have a crack at it on Saturday 29th May. I did it in the opposite direction to yourself, setting off from the Leeds River Lock at 07:50, and arriving in the Eldonian Village at Liverpool for 22:30. I did it on an old Specialised Rockhopper MTB that was recently kindly given to me that dates from the late 90s. Amazingly in terms of time spent riding (not including stops), I managed to beat your time by just under a minute, coming in at just over 12 hours 43 mins, also averaging 10.1mph - which is about as much difference as having to slam on for one less dog that is trying to run underneath the wheels! However the distance measured on my mileometer was only 128.45 miles. The mileometer I have is not GPS, but it is calibrated against a mate's GPS tracker - admittedly over a considerably shorter distance though. I entirely share your sentiments about it not being easy but that the best things never are. The best part of all was that an old school friend of mine - the same friend that used to cycle up and down the local stretch of the canal with me as a teenager in the 90s - met me in Maghull at approx 21:10 and cycled the last 13 miles with me to help me to the finish. Thanks for making and uploading this video - it played a significant part through the power of example in giving me the belief that it was possible that I could achieve this - albeit nearly 30 years down the line! Thanks again.
Love this! Especially that you did it on retro Rockhopper, a dream bike from my boyhood. Can't believe you pipped me by a minute!! I'll have to go again and find that minute! Thanks for you kind words and pleased you enjoyed the ride 😀
@@waysidewill8118 Thanks for your kind sentiments. It was actually less than a minute difference - I think it was about 49 seconds from memory, but it's a few months ago now! Sadly as a reward for this achievement I managed to catch Covid 19 on the last train that evening from Liverpool back to Preston where I now live! This wiped me out for weeks, and I'm still rebuilding my fitness levels 3 months down the line. Have managed a max distance of 52 miles in a single ride post-Covid so far, and have managed 105 miles over the last 5 days. I am determined to get back to where I was again to convince myself that I've well and truly beaten this virus, so am planning to do this ride again. This will have to be next summer to give me enough time to build my fitness again and to give enough hours of daylight! If you want to do it again, how about cycling it together?
I am 47 this year (July) and back on a bike (I hope). Most I did is about 65 miles in a day bikepacking (as a teenager). I now think I have something for my bucket list - to do this trip if not in one, at least in two parts before I get 50 y.o. But to do it in one trip would be great...
We did it yesterday! My body is crying today! It was really tough going. That stretch just before skipton I almost threw the towel In! 13hrs in total and now I’m not so delirious I’m buzzing! It was your vid that planted the seed last year so Thank-you! 👌🏻
@@waysidewill8118 not half buddy. Was an absolute brilliant ride and your vid made it happen for us, we raised around £1000 for a good cause too so thanks mate and keep up the vids they are great! 👌🏻
I love canals riding. Been doing it since I was 15 years old. I remember I had a youth worker and he hit a bump, went over his handlebars straight into the canal. I've never laughed so much in my life it was hilarious. That was the Lancaster canal at glasson dock Branch. I'll be cycling the Leeds Liverpool canal but I'll be taking my time. I love Skipton so il be spending time there and around gargrave. I want to cycle the branch lines as well. So I'm allowing 4 days and I'll be camping and might do 1 night in a air b+b I want to stop and take plenty of photos. I drink a lot of coffee so I plan on having a lot of coffee breaks. Some narrow boats along the way around Leigh that serve coffee and crepes. Might stop at some pubs along the canal and have meals. I bought a Whyte 901 bike last week and kitted it out with spider racks front and rear so I'll be able to carry all my kit. Ive been living off grid in my campervan for 10 years. I should have made a RU-vid channel like you have done. I solo skydive as well. That along with cycling, kayaking, hiking and surfing are my passions. Love the video thanks for sharing it with us.
Love canal riding ! It's my own special genre lol you get gravel riders, road riders. Cyclo-cross, hybrids. I've overhauled and upgraded my cheap bike based entirely on the canal and I love it.
I love how chilled and interesting it is. One minute you're in a built up industrial centre, then soon enough you're just gliding along with the swans!
Greetings from the Cottage on the hill, West Ireland. Great memories of growing up and walking the canal in the 70's. Also good to here a young lad mention Fred Dibner the fearless one. Thanks
Cheers Sean. West Ireland is a beautiful place, I had a wet time in Galway and Connemara a few years back and loved it! Plenty of old Fred to watch on RU-vid :)
Thank you so much for uploading this. What a fantastic effort. This brings back so many memories of when I ran LLCR130 (Leeds/Liverpool Canal race) in August 2022. This is a continuous race, starting in Liverpool at 6am on the Saturday and running all day and through the night (with headtorch), before finishing in Leeds on the Sunday. Hardest thing I’ve ever done. When you’re running at night, things look very different. Thanks again. Very entertaining video.
I used to live in Burnley and I cycled that stretch of canal daily. It was rather nostalgic to see, it hasn't changed one bit since I last saw it back in 2019. Oh and you're right about people never listening to you ringing your bell, that's just a normal thing in Burnley.
It’s on my list to do ……but not in one go . I’m 77 so I’ll do it stopping in pubs overnight . Been cycling for decades but no need to prove anything . All the same well done lads , I went to college in Liverpool in the 1960s . Fond memories. Cheers Dave H
As a young boy, the L&L canal was my playground, in Blackburn. We fished, sailed,and swam it. great memories of the 60's. Its hardly changed from my day, apart from a lack of coal barges, and cotton mill debris which often littered the canal.
Well done, very enjoyable video, I am now a retired lorry driver of forty years have driven past Saltaire many times. I think I will buy myself a bike, keeping fit at the moment 5 laps of the local park = 5 miles, but when you have done 5 times in a week well, it gets a bit boring, on first name terms with all the pigeons now, some of that country side looked stunning, this is deffo on my bucket list, thank you.
Did it in a day twice 29/8/20 from mates office in Leeds to hotel in Liverpool centre. 5:40am start, 134 mile, 11 hrs 41. Then 26/6/21 same starting place & hotel, 4:55am start, 11hr 28. Same mileage. Quicker second time due to earlier start. Dog walkers and joggers slow you down! Tip: Use a hardtail MTB. eat every 1hr 20mins, have sweets to replenish sugar levels and carry 3.5 litre of fluid.
Epic achievement! I do a fair bit along the Grand Union Canal on my Orange Stage Five Pro and know how hard it can be along a towpath! Plus, my arse would be on fire before I even got halfway! Well done.
A very enjoyable video to watch, I've rode Burnley to Skipton numerous times stopping off at Cafe Cargo for food and a latte, you're giving me the incentive to go further a field, Cheers and Keep Up The Cadence
That was amazing, you more than deserved that pint at the end of your ride. I have to consider this for next spring but from Manchester to Leeds. Great video, BigUp yourself 👍🏾
Awesome effort and great quality vid with some nice historical pieces thrown in. Top job all round. 👏👏👏 It’s now defo on the to-do list - but maybe over 2/3 days 🥴
Very good video mate. Well done. I live in Leeds, so plan to do this. Think I'll bring a tent and do it over 2/3 days to be a bit more leisurely and enjoy venturing into the surrounding countryside.
Beginning is well sketchy, I hope you could see better than the video looked! I am disabled and to be fair could never cycle that far but once managed Shipley to Leeds and loved it. Massive respect.
Enjoyed this. I've been cycling the canals this summer. Eccles - Wigan and back, Eccles - Stockton Heath and back, Eccles - Ashton under lyne and back. Always a couple of beers on the home leg. Peace, nature, fitness, beer.....
Good job mate. ive cycled the L&L a few times, though never actually done the first 15 miles or so on the Liverpool end. Good call going west to east, the Yorks side is better all round. Better riding surface/scenery. And far less noise from roads. I feel a return trip on the L&L for next summer calling me.
Over 120 miles you mad lad! You're far fitter than I am 😂 I'd bet one of the best parts of canal riding is how flat it is. Loving the quality the video so far - keep it up!
Not sure if you heard, but you probably did. There was a breech in said canal between bridge 109 and 110. I've been trying to find out information, oh, it happened back in November, Haven't found out much about how its going on repair wise. Any ways, looks like you had a great ride. I ride a two wheeled recumbent due to back and neck problems, not able to ride an upright bike. But that path looks do able on my bike :) Have a good one and stay safe.
Eyup will, hope you manage to get some more cycling videos out this year, I watched this a while back and completed it myself in a day after seeing you do it. Going to do it again this summer over 2 days I think so I can slow down and enjoy the scenery a bit more.
Nice one on doing it in a day! It's a great day mission.. but agreed that over 2 days sounds lovely too. Yeah I'll be out again soon hopefully.. who knew having a baby would put pay to bike n beer adventures?!
wow this is pretty good piece of material about the canal and I admire you've done that in one day mate! well done! I cycled last summer from leeds to formby and then liverpool in two days, second day me own record of almost 80 miles :) done a video from that trip too. anyways I'm so on to do the same thing, train to liverpool and cycle back in one day. such a great adventure and a really good video too . bravo . see ya on the canal one day maybe ;)
Just watched your video, much better quality than mine! Can really recommended the full trip in one day (if the legs are up for it) really great feeling to see Leeds coming into view
@@waysidewill8118 just like you said, have a few longer rides before, get them legs used to cycling even more :) btw I really like all the history talks of yours, that's building a truly good quality of your movies mate 🤘
Hey up mate just rewatching your video now ;) about to do Liverpool to Leeds on Thursday, will be doing it with me mate, am hardtail like yours ... he's on a gravel bike haha. Will attempt to do it in one day 🤘
Great video. Going to give this ago once we are out of ruddy lockdown. Getting train to Leeds and cycling home to liverpool. Newb to cycling so will do over a few days. Did you spot anywhere half way good for a camp?
Fantastic video and a great effort. I’m a fellow advocate of these mad long-distance canal rides and listening to your commentary was just like hearing my exact own thoughts on doing them. The Leeds to Liverpool has been on my to-do list for a couple of years now and I’m hoping to try it soon. I liked the Half-way marker post - that would be a good landmark to see on the day. Like you I guess, I’ve seen all sorts of weird barges, but I’ve not seen an ice-cream seller like the one you came across. My biggest one was when I did Birmingham to London a couple of years ago - came in at 150 miles, and like you, I set off at 5:00 a.m. and got into London just after 8:00p.m. I’d tried lots of recce rides, getting further and further North from London each time, with Birmingham being the ultimate target, but, I started to find the sections from Northampton onwards were quite rough, so, I decided to turn it around and go the other way to get the rough stuff out of the way first. I spent last Saturday in the Midlands riding the canals up there - including through a two-mile long tunnel (Netherton) which was pretty awesome. I’m in the process of working on my videos for that weekend now. I’m also thinking of going back there soon to do the ‘Warwickshire Ring’ in a day- 105 miles around. How hard can it be? Best of luck for future rides and I look forward to seeing more of your videos.
Just subscribed.. your videos look awesome! Birmingham to London sounds really interesting.... I've been thinking of a Leeds to London canal ride, just not in one day!
@@waysidewill8118 Thanks. Leeds to London would be an interesting mission - over a few days. The Birmingham to London route is nice and straightforward. I'm sure you'd like it.
Always a bit of climb up Wigan Locks. We live on this canal near Adlington, Chorley, a few hundred yards from where you are at 9:48 in the video. In fact, we often end our rides at The Bridge pub seen here. The wife and I recently took the train to Leeds and cycled back along the canal over two days which was good.
@@waysidewill8118 us northerners can handle it haha I am on lockdown again going stir crazy so it’s great I can go out, maybe not the whole canal just yet.
Great video and a wise decision to do it in the summer, apart from the day sunlight hours there are sections that are just a muddy quagmire between Burscough and Appley Bridge for example. Are there any more sections that you think would be terrible when wet ?
Great video. Something I am planning to do soon as well as the Trans Pennine Trail. I am presuming going West to East is better due to the prevailing wind direction?
Cheers Nathan. Yes I believe West to East is generally better for the wind, but it depends on logistics too. I live nr Leeds so wanted to finish there. TP Trail looks awesome!
Very nice video and definitely a route to add to the list. I know parts around Leigh and Wigan from my childhood and it looks even better these days. Hat's off to you, doing it all in a day! Please could I ask whether you got on OK with the gates, e.g. did your bike fit through OK without too much hard work, I tend to have a rack and pannier so tilting the bike upright onto the rear tyre is a pain. When you showed your bike (which looked great), it looked as though the tyre tread was facing the wrong way, it is probably my ignorance but thought I'd mention it just in case.
Hi David thanks for the comment. I don't remember having an issue with the gates, certainly didn't have to lift the bike over anything - remember the canal is right of access for horses and cyclists so any gates etc should accommodate. And yep the tyres probably were on the wrong way round! With my bike tech skills I'm impressed they're not inside out 😀
Great video and epic ride, some people look at you as if you have two heads when you pass them , what are you doing on here, I love canal riding, dog walkers think they own the canal tow path
Great vid mate! Watched this a couple of times and hoping to give this a go before the summer ends. Can I ask which way do you think is easier Leeds-Liverpool or the Liverpool to Leeds as far as gradience? Also what was getting a hotel where the bike can be safely stored like? Thanks in advance Cracking vid mate.! 👌🏻
Hi mate, I went Liv. to Leeds simply because I live nr Leeds so it was just logistically simpler when I finished in a sweaty knackered mess. Gradient is barely noticeable so I don't think it makes any difference, go the direction you fancy (and just hope for no head wind!) Big chain Hotels are nearly always fine with you taking your bike to the room, as long as its clean. I sent my hotel an email just to check before I booked - I do it quite often and never had an issue. Look forward to hearing about your ride!!
I live about 2 minutes away from where you stopped for a rest in Burnley thinking of doing it from Liverpool to Burnley what time did it take to get there?
Absolute belter of a ride, well done sir! Last couple of minutes through all the bars in Leeds I was thirsty on your behalf, glad you got the pint in. Question, how did you find the Transmitter on a long journey? Apart from tyres, did you make any other changes? I'm currently building one up from a frame as a winter hardtail but you've got me thinking about putting some epic rides on it too.
Hi Richard, thanks for watching. The tyres were the only thing I changed but the Transmitter was so comfortable for all day riding. Ok, it's not hard riding going 10mph on the pancake flat towpath but that bike couldn't have been better. I bought it for its versatility, which it has although perhaps as it's not the lightest machine nor the best climber I wouldn't want a long day in the hills on it. All the best with your build!
Cheers Gary. I left Liverpool at around 0530 and maintained 10mph. It took 12hr45. I don't recommend riding in the dark like I did for the first hour so plan it around daylight! Let me know if you have any more planning questions
Cheers Liam. Grab a map of Liverpool and look for an area called Vauxhall, its about 2 miles north west of the city centre. Just a couple of blocks in from the Mersey. The canal starts in a residential area. Let me know if you need anymore info
After years of not riding my bike, I decided one day I was going to ride as far as I could on the Leeds Liverpool canal. I set off from Rodley and only managed to get to Bingley 5 rise locks. It was saddle sore that killed it for me. I was in agony on the way back lol. Is the music you're using Khruangbin? sounds an awful lot like them.
@@wilsonator2008 You want to get on Leeds Liverpool canal. Easily accessible from Armley and it's pretty much all flat riding. Try get to Rodley and then next ride try get to Apperley bridge.
Hi Ross, it's extremely flat so I can't imagine you'll notice a difference either way. I have heard that the wind usually blows towards Leeds, bit don't know if that is true. Go for it, it's a great day out!
For pretty much all of the canal the tow path is either one side or t'other but not both. So you just cross the bridge when the path leads you up over the bridge. I get lost all the time but on this ride its simple to follow
Planning on doing this in a couple of weeks with a friend that hasn’t cycled for a while. How much of a struggle did you find it to do the whole thing in a day?
Hi Liam, I do quite a lot of long distance stuff and I really paced it out (10mph average) and found it tiring but not exhausting. Totally flat of course, and plenty of opportunities for breaks so for anyone in good shape and comfortable on a bike I think it's really do-able! All the best with your effort.. please comment on how you find it :)
Did this journey on Friday a truly amazing day. The different terrain was a challenge and the last two hours in the dark was crazy. We saw 9 Heron on journey!
Hi mate, I'm an avid canal reader and loving watching this. I'm planning to do Atherton to Huddersfield and back along the canals (Bridgewater Way - Huddersfield - Rochdale - Ashton - Bridgewater) and am keen to document it. Wondering, what kind of setup do you use to film?
Hi mate, great to hear. I'm desperate to get out and do this again. It's a Gopro (8 I think?) on a handlebar mount and sometimes a chest mount. I think a mic would be a good shout as well if you can.
@@waysidewill8118 Awesome, thabks. In particular I can't believe how steady the shots are - does the GoPro have good stabilisation or was it from the mount?
Hi Mike, no I didn't realise that all! Just looked it up on the map. Of course it was pitch black still when I went past there. Will look out for it next time, cheers!
Hi, the seat that came with the bike (Sonder Transmitter) check that bike out on the Sonder site and see which seat it comes with. I seem to think it's pretty good
Hi David, not impossible on a road bike, you see plenty of them on the canal. There are smoothly cobbled sections, and a few short lumpy grass sections, that the road bike would struggle with. Also I do recall pot holes where I thought this would be rubbish on a roadie. You just couldn't go road bike speeds, the gravelly surface makes stopping on thin tyres very sketchy. Any one else got thoughts on this?
@@waysidewill8118 thank you. I have a full sus MTB, which is hard work on long distances, and a carbon road bike... I feel a gravel bike may sneak its way into the garage!
Hi mate, good lights as you may be in darkness for some of it and a bell is essential. As that's a Sunday expect there to be plenty of folk on the towpath if the weather is fine so if that's the case be patient. Pace yourself, eat and drink loads and enjoy the journey. If you can, film it and put on RU-vid :)
Hi mare I completed it yesterday in torrential rain lol I couldn't document it like you did as the weather was so bad ,I did get some footage on the go pro but haven't checked it yet , I broke 1 bike and 2 phones aswell, had to get my road bike brought to me to finish it , i uploaded a quick video on my page
The point of this, I'm guessing, is show fast you go on a towpath? Which probably means that you're one of the increasing number of towpath riders who are evidently unaware of other users - boat users, dog walkers, joggers etc - and who selfishly endanger anyone else on the path. The sort of idiots who arrive at speed without slowing and the people in their way will have to move, the sort of rider who tinkle their fairy bells and forget the number of people who are hard of hearing. From the number of times I've been screamed at by selfish twats who refuse to slow I believe there should be a speed limit of less than 10 mph. If that doesnt work we could always cut ruts across the path to slow speed merchants down.🤔
Hi Lew. Not at all the point to go as fast as possible. I do say that its not possible to go fast on the towpath and the need to be slow and respectful around others is crucial. It sounds like you've had some bad experiences of cyclists - I'm sorry to here that, but like any group of people we're not all the same. The L-L is a cracking place, and my day out here is meant to highlight that and I encourage anyone who watches this to only go on the towpath with care and respect for everyone else. I did only manage an average of 10mph! Go safe yourself and all the best.
Avoiding "entering Burnley" is definitely a good thing..... 🤣 Thank god it wasn't Nelson!! And when you say "never far from civilisation", you know it's Lancashire at that point don't you??? 😃😉
