Riding the Most Exposed Roads Ever!

What happens when you attempt a 100-mile cycling challenge from Hull to Manchester during one of the UK’s most powerful autumn storms?
This documentary-style cycling video follows the full journey across northern England during Storm Amy — a brutal day of relentless headwinds, exposed roads, steep climbs, and sheer determination.

From the Humber Bridge to the Snake Pass, this endurance ride tested every bit of resilience, teamwork, and mental toughness. Battling crosswinds, freezing rain, and exhaustion, the goal was simple: reach Manchester before nightfall.

If you’re into long-distance rides, cycling challenges, or training for endurance events, this video captures the reality of riding through extreme weather conditions — no filters, no shortcuts, just honest, hard miles.

Follow the daily rides and behind-the-scenes training here: @phil.level.up

0:00 – The Ride Begins in Hull
0:27 – Early Start and Setup Challenges
1:14 – Crossing the Humber Bridge
2:08 – Battling Relentless Headwinds
3:01 – First Fuel Stop and Struggling to Keep Pace
5:34 – Sheffield Pit Stop and the Cold Sets In
6:44 – Climbing into the Peaks
9:14 – Discovering Snake Pass
11:38 – Final Push and Reflections on the Ride

We have taken a mini pit stop. This wind is relentless. Let’s start, shall we, by discussing Storm Amy. Very good morning to It’s the first name storm of this current season. Storm Amy. Storm Amy. Storm Amy. Storm Amy. Storm Amy. I’ve never ridden on a road so exposed in my life. Look at this. Just open fields road. [Music] Good morning and welcome to Doncaster Services. We have been up since about quart 5. We’re on the road. We’re going to Hull to do a really long bike ride. Let’s get on the road. [Music] How you doing? Yeah, we’re okay. How are you? Well, I did think that there was going to be a place for me to change, but it turns out there’s not. So, now I’m having to get frantically changed in the back of a Tesla. Not the best. Not the best. We are just riding over the Humber Bridge and it is windy. So, a couple of weeks ago, Kay had a bit of an accident on holiday on a banana boat and has damaged some ribs. So, today we’re out here trying to get her all the way to Manchester. It’s a windy one. It’s going to be a tough call. Bit of a slow start for us this morning as we try and get ourselves organized, but hopefully we’ll get there soon. Pit stop in Sheffield, then on to Manchester. This wind is absolutely insane. Oh my goodness. It’s like a crosshair wind. It’s just blowing us everywhere. It’s making it really difficult to try and stay together. I have no idea how these two behind me are feeling. Cuz even I’m feeling this is brutal and I’m used to it. They must be absolutely hating it. I can’t even describe this winds here. It is insane. Get a little pit stop. They’re going to get on ahead while I’m uh fueling. Emergency stir of bar. Let’s get it on. Apple and cinnamon. [Music] [Music] We are about 30 mi in and this wind is not letting up. It is slow going, slow going. This is not an experienced bunch of riders and we are all over the place and not really working very well together, but we’ll get there. Part of the problem is that we’re so exposed. It’s just wide open spaces and there’s no barrier from the wind at all. The gusts are unbelievable. And if it was raining, I’d call it. It would be too dangerous. We have taken a mini pit stop. This wind is relentless. I’ve never ridden on a road so exposed in my life. Look at this. Just open fields road. [Music] Oh, get me a coffee. So, we are about 45 mi in and there is some suffering going on behind me. It has been brutal so far. We’ve got about 15 miles to our next proper pit stop. All I could do is some food and a coffee. [Music] Can you put it on the line when the stakes high? Will you let up on the grind when the stakes high? Do you still put in the time when it stays high? When the stakes high. When it stays high. I add you break. Huh? No, never that. At it every moment I live it so I can tell them that. Now I’m at the businesses acres where I can settle that. I don’t use my credit for the fact. I do never tell them facts. I do never give them gain. We just about managed to make it to our first stop, Sheffield and Meadow Hall. The hunger has hit hard. All the food. Right, food consumed. We need to get back on the road. I am getting cold already. So, we have now left Sheffield on our way to Manchester. Things haven’t got much better. We are still going really slow. And now we’ve not only got wind, we got hills. And with the hills come some beautiful scenery. I may be the only one who’s admiring it. Downhill’s better though. Yeah, baby. You got it. We’re nearly there. You though. It’s the only thing that takes It’s the only takes the pain away. Got to enjoy the view. You don’t enjoy the view. There’s not a lot of fun about it. One thing I will say for going slower though, you do get to admire the scenery a lot better. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the scenery so much. Beautiful. How’s the ribs? Yeah. Breathing all right? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, these ones are a bit of a drag, aren’t they? Oh, dear. It’s all right. We’re still moving forward. It doesn’t matter. As long as we’re moving forward. You’re all right. Just go at our own pace. Can’t push harder than we can push. Killing it. Most people wouldn’t get up these hills, let alone in this wind. Oh, it’s so hard on yourself. The big hills. It’s very windy. Oh, that’s nice though. Just the stop of the noise. Oh, it’s only the noise all the time. This is more like it. Now we’re moving. Hey, we got a downhill. Woohoo. Oh dear. I’ve just seen a sign that says we’re going up a road called Snake Pass. I haven’t told her. I don’t think it’s a good idea. I take it all back. Snake Pass has been amazing. What a beautiful road. It’s got everything. streams, rivers, lakes, you name it, this thing seems to have it. It’s been an absolute beauty. I am also getting pretty flipping tired. It has been a long day. Snake Pass might be one of the longest roads in the world. Certainly feels that way right now. We are losing light rapidly. Oh dear. [Music] Well, it is night time. Yeah, we are rolling into the night. So, we are about 13 miles outside of Manchester. We are nearly there. It is late. I have got a train to catch after this as well. Absolute madness. But we’re nearly there. It has been a tough old slo, I’ve got to admit, but fair play to her. She’s still going. Absolutely killing it. We left it. They have called it 103 miles and we are now at a point where we can’t get onto the path that we’re meant to go on. It’s done. [Music] Right. I need some food. I need to get on a train. [Music] Well, I guess we end this one the same as we end all of them at the moment in a train toilet. Although this one is quite fancy. But let’s try and sum up today. What an incredible effort from the people today. For an experienced cyclist to do that kind of ride. Absolutely unbelievable. Should be super proud. But it was an incredibly long day. And now I’ve got a 2-hour train journey home. Unfortunately, my wife is going to pick me up at the train station so I don’t have to ride home afterwards. What a wonderful woman. Right. I’m going to leave it there. We’ll pop some stats up. It wasn’t a quick ride cuz it was just just horrendous if I’m honest with you, but we did it together so that was awesome. Right. Okay. Love you. Bye. [Music]