We Accidentally Found the Alps of the Peak District

The original plan was simple: meet up with Alex from Alex Bike Tester, ride some of Ladybower's hidden off piste trails, compare the latest Bosch Gen 5 against my Shimano EP801, and enjoy a great day out in the Peak District. What actually happened was something completely different. While exploring above Ladybower, we spotted an incredible ridgeline in the distance and decided to see where it led. That decision turned into one of the best mountain bike rides either of us has experienced in the Peak District. What followed was over 4.3 km of flowing ridgeline singletrack, grippy natural rock, technical features, exposed mountain scenery and an unforgettable descent that genuinely felt more like something you'd expect to find in the Alps than England. This video really became two adventures rolled into one. We start by riding some of Ladybower's brilliant hidden woodland trails before heading high onto an incredible mountain route overlooking the Edale Valley, finishing near the famous Old Nag's Head before climbing back onto the opposite ridge for more stunning natural riding and another fantastic descent back towards Ladybower Reservoir. Throughout the ride we're also comparing two very different e-bikes. Alex is riding a budget Trek Rail with the Bosch Gen 5 motor, while I'm on my top-spec Merida eONE-SIXTY with Shimano EP801. We chat about how both bikes climb, descend and handle technical Peak District terrain, before giving our honest thoughts at the end of the ride. A huge thanks to Alex Bike Tester for joining me on this adventure. If you enjoy detailed e-bike reviews, real world testing and honest opinions, make sure you check out his channel. If you enjoy mountain biking, eMTBs, natural singletrack, technical descents, Peak District adventures and discovering hidden trails, you're going to love this one. If you enjoyed the video, please leave a like, subscribe and let me know in the comments if you've ridden this area or found any other hidden Peak District gems! 🛠️ Rockstop Bike Protection Running Rockstop on the bike Use code MTBTS10 Using Flymount for better camera angles Use code KARLW-10 🤝 Supported By • 4Play Cycles, expert mechanic advice keeping us on two wheels • Rockstop, keeping the bikes protected • Flymount, helping get better angles on the ride ☕ Support MTB Trail Shredders https://buymeacoffee.com/mtbtrailshre... 🖥️ Watch This Properly 4K, full screen, sound up. That’s where you actually feel the speed, the lines, the terrain, and how rough some of this really is 🎥 Filmed With DJI Osmo Action 5 DJI Mic Mini 📍 Route, Stats and Map https://strava.app.link/36NY3AfgRQb 🚵 What This Channel Is About This is just real MTB riding Most of it is big Lake District days mixed in with trail centres, hidden routes, natural descents, bridleways, and off piste sections you won’t find on a map Some rides go perfectly, some don’t. That’s kind of the point. You get the full ride, not just the highlights You’ll see the climbs, the long grinds, the fast descents, the sketchy lines, what works, what doesn’t, and the bits you figure out along the way A lot of the time it’s about linking together proper routes and finding the best way through an area rather than just riding one trail I’m always trying new things and different bits of tech, so expect plenty of interesting gear along the way When it comes to bikes and gear, I’ll show what I’m running, what I’m changing, and what actually makes a difference over time, not just first impressions There’s a mix of big mountain days, quicker local rides, testing ideas, and sometimes just seeing where a track goes No pretending everything’s perfect. Just riding, testing things, and getting out to better and better places each time If you’re into proper MTB rides, finding new routes, and pushing things a bit further each time, you’ll get it 💬 Get Involved Drop a comment if you’ve ridden this, got better lines, or know somewhere worth checking out 👍 Like if you enjoyed it 🔔 Subscribe for more rides, trails, gear, and whatever happens on the day #PeakDistrict #MountainBiking #EMTB #Ladybower #ShimanoEP801 #BoschGen5 #Bosch #Shimano #AlexBikeTester #TrekRail #Merida #Ridgeline #Singletrack #MTB #OffPiste #Edale #LadybowerReservoir #PeakDistrictMTB #NaturalTrails #MountainBikeAdventure