I'm moving to north Manchester and I don't know what I'm doing

There definitely used to be a divide but I think it's gone away recently, both areas are pretty good, perhaps there are larger houses etc in Whitefield even. There's been an emergence of independent cafes and bars that have sprung up in Prestwich recently too, which definitely helps. As for areas to avoid within these two, it's not very clear cut as the areas are quite small.

Nice one, ta. We're gonna go and view some places at Easter I think.

I wish I hadn't subscribed to this thread. Every update, plus having gone back to Manchester this weekend, is making me think I want to go back....

At least down here you don't have to pick sides in the least edifying football rivalry since records began.

Surely everyone just picks Rochdale?

FCUM fam. No club gives you license to look down on others from such an ivory tower.

Also looking forward to watching Warrington storm the tail end of this season.

Made me chuckle... https://rochdaleherald.co.uk/2018/02/21/panic-rebel-corbynistas-take-west-didsbury/

Real talk. What's it like to cycle around Manchester? Seeing as we're looking north, I did a little street view of Bury New Road and it looks well tight. No room.

On road or off?

BNR isn't too bad, i used to ride it most days when I worked in Bury. It has a nice profile so is a good workout too.

The roads are mostly tatty with potholes tho - has made the m.e.n., and in S.mcr you might get kicked off your bike by a gang of schoolkids.

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P.s. Bury one of the first councils to talk with Boardmans people, with BNR identified as an important bike route:

https://bangingonaboutbikes.wordpress.com/2018/03/04/on-when-boardmans-team-met-bury-council/amp/

On, sorry. Mainly in a getting about sense rather than a "road cycling" sense. Like what's traffic like, what are cycling provisions like, bike security, attitude of drivers etc.

I mean, my wife will be cycling (some days) to Bury from Prestwich (or similar) and looking at maps you can do that on or off road or mixed. I've no idea what I'll be doing for work - probably freelancing so working from home - but I'd like to get out and explore the area. I'll obviously cycle into town as needs be.

Off I'm less concerned about because I hear there's good trails nearby. Not that I have time to do it.

Thanks @rhb. Should probably change the thread title.

I like it!

Strava heatmap might be useful for this.

I'd usually try to avoid the A56 (and also A58). Routes via Unsworth (Oak Lane, Mersey Drive, Hollins Lane) might work, but Croft Lane when you get to Hollins is a bit of a rat run since it leads to the M66.

Cheers - what's your commute?

Farnworth to Knutsford, but by "I would" I meant general riding on roads.

I've put on weight since buying a van 2.5 years ago, but I'm now a way better mountainbiker.

I used to work in Bury. It's busy but not the worst I've seen. I used to ride the outwood trail all the way to Manchester, but I can't think a way to go Bury-Prestwich that isn't road
*Edit: You can still go Prestwich via Outwood trail, not the shortest route but nice and quiet
*

All good advice, ta. Now my wife is also talking about living in Bury itself. Elton, Tottington, Lowerscroft (apparently). So maybe we're coming back to the Ramsbottom idea? I'd rather live closer to town so I can ride in and meet mates who live in Hulme or in town itself.

I kinda think that living 8 miles out of town (like we do now in Streatham) is my limit.

Just ramblin'

Sorry

Tottington and Greenmount are nice. The latter is on NCN Route 6 which passes through Bury, Radcliffe, Philips Park, Salford, Manchester...

Being from the other side of the valley I always assumed that Ramsbottom was in Rossendale. You learn something new everyday. Guess it was probably changed when they re-did the boundaries.

Rawtenstall, which is about as far from Ramsbottom as Bury is, is actually reasonably nice nowadays. It's even got a mirco-pub.

Great takeaways round there but pretty dodgy. Worked late one night, had a flat on my BMW parked in works car park on a dimly lit street behind a load of rhododendron bushes, garage said it had been stabbed 22 times. Think they were looking to hold up the accountants opposite.

Properly in the midst of a property search right now and the quality of listings/photos is an absolute joke. More than half look like they were taken on a disposable camera in 1995 by a pissed-up squid with no eyes.