The Muckers 3 Peaks Tour: Moorland, Monuments, and Memories!
It all started with a simple conversation. While on the Muckers Black Forest Tour in Germany, Thomas from Switzerland turned to me and said, “I would like to come cycling in Bolton, UK.” My immediate response was one of caution: “The roads are too dangerous, you will get killed!” But Thomas was persistent. We eventually agreed that if he came over, we’d stick to the trails and go mountain biking. When Ard and Arno from the Netherlands heard the plan, they were in too. The Muckers MTB Mini Tour was born!
The challenge was set: plan a route that was fun, challenging, and safe from traffic, all while keeping the unpredictable British weather in mind. The local “Three Peaks of Bolton” ride immediately came to mind. I knew from experience it was a brutal day out on the bike, covering some of the most challenging terrain in the area.
The Plan Comes Together
With the route decided, the logistics fell into place. We settled on a weekend and the guys booked into the Red Lion in Hawkshaw, which would serve as our starting point. The next hurdle was bikes. We decided the best option was to buy some second-hand mountain bikes for our international friends to use for the weekend.
Months of planning and a few training rides with Neil (Mucker1974) flew by, and suddenly, the weekend was upon us. I picked up Thomas from the airport on Thursday, and on Friday, Neil collected Ard and Arno. That night, we all gathered for a meal at the Last Drop pub, joined by Matthias Heil who now lives in Manchester. We had a great time trying to explain a traditional English “Sunday Roast” to our guests. “So, Yorkshire Pudding isn’t a dessert? It’s like bread crust?” The night was filled with laughter and anticipation for the ride ahead.
The Big Day: The Three Peaks of Bolton
Saturday morning arrived, and our group of nine assembled for the 9:33 AM start from Bury. The team consisted of: Myself (Kylofski), Neil (Mucker1974), Carlos, Andrew (Fazzo34), Des, Lister, and our guests Thomas, Ard, and Arno. While prepping the bikes, a debate started over tyre pressure. Ard and Arno suggested 20 psi, but knowing the sharp, rocky ground ahead, I strongly advised a minimum of 30 psi. Thankfully, they agreed.
Peak 1: Peel Tower Our ride started immediately with a baptism of fire: the infamous cobbled climb towards Peel Tower. The steep, uneven surface was a real leg-burner right from the off. Drama struck almost immediately. Just one mile in, as we reached the top of the cobbles, Arno had a flat tyre! One quick fix later, we were at the summit, standing beside the historic Peel Tower, a stone monument standing sentinel over the valley. One peak down, two to go.
Peak 2: Darwin (Jubilee) Tower The route to our second peak was a long, scenic traverse across rugged moorland, with stunning views of the West Pennine reservoirs below. This section contained the biggest and most sustained climb of the day, a grueling, lung-busting ascent onto the moors. After what felt like ages, we reached our goal: the iconic, octagonal Jubilee Tower on Darwen Hill. After grabbing our photos, it was time for a well-earned pub stop for beers, coffees, and sausage rolls.
Peak 3: Rivington Pike & Mechanical Disaster Re-energised, we said goodbye to Carlos and prepared to set off. As we hit a short, brutally steep cobbled climb, disaster struck my bike. My rear derailleur got caught in the wheel and snapped clean off. I thought my ride was over.
But Tom and Ard had other ideas! They performed some trailside magic, shortening the chain and converting my bike into a single-speed. The new plan was to make a short detour to Des’s house to swap my broken bike for his son’s. The makeshift single-speed worked brilliantly for the five miles to his home!
Now riding a full-suspension bike that was a good 6kg heavier, I could really feel the extra weight as we began the final major climb. We said goodbye to Des and Lister and pushed on towards our final monument. The ascent to Rivington Pike was a real struggle for me, but the sight of the famous stone Pike Tower at the summit spurred us on. Three peaks done! Just as we finished, a light rain began to fall.
With time getting on, we took the quickest way back. At Bromley Cross, we bid farewell to a completely exhausted Fazzo34. After conquering one “Last Climb,” the five remaining riders coasted back into the Red Lion car park. The ride was done.
By the Numbers:
- Total Time: 7 hours, 12 minutes, 10 seconds
- Moving Time: 4 hours, 53 minutes, 51 seconds
- Total Elevation Gain: 4,475 ft of climbing
- Max Elevation: 1,320 ft
- Total Distance: approx. 42 miles
The Perfect Finish
The weekend didn’t end there. Two hours later, we were out again for another traditional English meal – a curry! This time, we brought our families along to meet our international friends. On Sunday, before their flight, I gave the guys a quick tour of Ramsbottom and the Rammy Rake the steepest road climb in the area and also introducing them to the local delicacy of a warm Lancashire pasty.
It was a brilliant weekend with brilliant people. From a casual chat in Germany to an epic adventure in the hills of Lancashire, it was everything we could have hoped for.
We will absolutely be doing this again next year. Fancy joining us? Just let me know!
what an EPIC weekend this was, wasn’t it!
so where to begin?
I arrvived Thursday evening when Kyle picked me up at the airport and brought me the red lion pub, my basecamp for the weekend. Fazzo, Kyle and I had dinner and some beers and I felt like on my sofa at home. Later Neil joined us for one beer or more.
Friday morning after a full English breakfast I chanched the pedals to clicks ans started my 1st ride with a trek hardtail with 1×10. I planned a route on strava and followd this and the inputs of the locals to find Neil in Bury at his workplace at the Peugeot/Vauxhall garage. After some words with him I followed the route to find the house where Kyle, Vic and Des are working. No signs at the door or the facade so I parked the bike when an kind guy came out and said “hi, you must be Tom?” So I met Kyle’s brother Des. After a coffee I headed to Bolton center. It looked a little bit like a mix of Mumbay, Islamabad and London. But it was nicer as Kyle ans Neil predicted! I followed a nice trial across seven acres alongside of a little river in a wild an green park. After 42km and 3h I retourned happily back to the Lion. A short shower and nap later, Ard and Arno arrived and the evening started well with some local Ales and Lagers.
The big ride on Saturday is well written in Kyles post, so just my conclusion: it was long, steep and sometimes tricky, and always “one last climb” to come, but in one word: amazing and all the people we crossed very kind and friendly.
Saturday evening at the Soho spice was just great! all the families with wifes and teens came to meet this strange Muckers from the continent, that was just heart warming. After some nice sight seeing on sunday I retourned home and felt like I was on a two week holiday trip. Lessons learned: this english people in the north are so friendly and kind whereever we went. And when you are nice and open to the people, they are it to you! So thanks again to Kyle and Neil for making all this happen. I hope I can retaliate me and you find the way to Switzerland for some nice trial riding! cheers Tom
Who’d have thought a slightly drunken night of chatting would have resulted in this! I remember bits of the chat in Germany, but Kyle was really up for this so i made a point in making sure he knew it was “his” doo to organize and i would help best i could.
When we got home from Germany Kyle got busy sorting it all and the route started to take shape, Kyle went out several times testing certain parts and i stayed in! lol. I knew that if i went and did the 3 peaks before the actual proper ride, i wouldn’t have the same motivation to do it once the Muckers came over, so although i went one with him just to test the Darwen Tower part, i kept away for the rest.
Once we knew that 3 of them were committed to coming over, we started to look at bike options. This is where we couldn’t believe it that the nearest bike hire was in the Lakes! and the opening and shutting times meant we would have to go up the weekend before and possibly the weekend after to take them back! So 2 weeks hire for 1 ride. Or do we use a days holiday each to do it… nah! What we figured was Kyle needed a new bike and my son had outgrown his so let me get researching on Facebook Market place for a pair of decent medium bikes! This is where i get very interested as i love searching out a bargain and over a few weeks we got 2 very nice Treks. The third bike we borrowed off a neighbor and that was that. Bikes sorted but this was also why we couldn’t really open it up to everyone as there’s only so many bikes you can have.. right?? Also As it was the 3 international Muckers that pushed for this, if it ended in disaster it was all there fault lol
One Mucker who couldn’t make it suggested the Red Lion Pub/B&B as a base and it was perfect. Great staff, let us store the bikes without any problems and according to the 3 who stayed there, a very nice full English breakfast as well!
on the Friday i went to Pick up the 2 Netherlanders and dropped them at the pub. came back for them later on and we went to the Last Drop for a roast dinner where they discovered yourkshire puddings! We were also joined by long time ROUVY rider (and secret Mucker lol) Matthias Hiel and a great meal and chat was our reward. Also the 20% discount from my son working there helped as well…. its not what you know…. it’s who you know!
Woke up Saturday very nervous and very anxious! Just hoping this was going to be what we hoped it would. 9 riders started, and off we went. Kyles already explained the ride but it was brilliant. Everyone chatting, having a laugh, encouraging each other and i had to just keep pinching myself as i was riding… in Bolton…. with these riders who had travelled all this way to do this! But we do have some stunning views and trails we take for granted. i realized that a lot.
thank you to all the riders that came out and gave this a go! you all made this ride superb for all of us!
5 of us got back to the Red Lion at about 5pm and we didn’t have any time for a well done as we were back out in a few hours for another traditional English meal.. An indian!! Great night again, this time surrounded by friends and family and just left feeling immensely proud of the good old Bolton hospitability and friendliness.
The next day my only duty was the return trip to the airport for the guys so we did that, said our goodbyes and i drove home. I had to ring Kyle on that trip just to reflect on what we’d just done for the last 3 days. We were really happy how it all went and got the feeling everyone enjoyed it.
Can’t wait to do it again!
Great report and it sounds like a big success … next time I hope to join you