Thinking of moving. Manchester vs Cardiff

[Bit of a Unit]

jamesj197 said:

paulrockliffe said:

I reckon Manchester wins for biking, it's what I was doing when I was there so I know it like the back of my hand.

There's lots of good stuff in South Wales, but where Manchester wins is really riding from your door. If you start from Reddish Vale there are decent off road tracks and trails that link up various parks and housing estates out through Stockport, Werneth Low, through to Etherow Country Park and Marple. You can get a good evening ride in just with those trails. From Marple there's slightly better stuff that gets you as far as Hayfield and from Hayfield you're into the peak District proper. All from your back door if you have the energy. I used to get the train out to the Peaks and ride home. Really miss those trails as I've nothing comparable up where I am now :-(

If you've time to drive, you've got the Peaks, Calderdale, Rivington Pike all close enough in an evening and if you've more time on your hands North Wales, the Lakes and Yorkshire are not very far away. Wheelbase in Staveley can be got to in an hour and a quarter from South Manchester if you go first thing in the morning, from there you're straight into proper Lakes riding.

If you have to live in a city and you're into mountain biking you won't find a better place than Manchester.

I used to ride with a great club while I was there, www.meetup.com/manchestermountainbikers great for finding your way around and meeting people to ride with.

Thinking about it, if you want any type of cycling you're going to struggle to beat Manchester. National Cycle centre with velodrome, BMX centre. National standard BMX facilities in Platts Field Park. Really really good road riding, all hilly if that's your thing, or there's all the little lanes around the Cheshire Plains if you want flat riding. Great road racing scene and lots of road clubs too.

Thanks that's really helpful, Manchester's looking good. It's going to be a tough decision.

Another vote for Manchester, but look north, I lived in Didsbury but got dragged north for a woman. Prestwich is on the tram for night life, has a dedicated mountain bike park called Phillips Park with ties to the velodrome, also only 10 minutes away and routes like the one below are within 30 minute ride.

[stuartmmcfc]

Manchester

Pros: Home of the PL Champions
Cons: that other lot pop up now and again (luckily they're actually in Salford)

[okie592]

English living in cardiff here and love it, it's a lovely city and very easy to get around. I've never had any abuse for being english. Or any trouble at the rugby etc.

Less than a hour to the Brecon Beacons, less than a hour to some of the best mountin bike trails in cymr


Plus free prescriptions!

[stuart313]

stuartmmcfc said:

Manchester

Pros: Home of the PL Champions
Cons: that other lot pop up now and again (luckily they're actually in Salford)

Salford City? I suppose they are similar clubs in terms of size.

MUFC is in Trafford, which is where a lot of the players live, both from city and United.

If anyone does move to Manchester then residing somewhere in Trafford is a pretty safe bet, its just about the only borough to have a Tory council, hence cheaper council tax. Although in and around Old Trafford is a bit ropey. I would say Urmston or Flixton are nice areas without the price tag that comes with being around Altrincham.

Daveyhulme is nice but there is a big sewerage works near by that stinks quite a few times.

[CRB14]

blueg33 said:

Car thefts in Manchester seem high. I have an office there and every single employee has had their house broken into in the last 2 years, car keys liften and cars gone

It's not that bad and Manchester certainly isn't on its own. Go through the BMW thread concerning thefts and I'll bet the vast majority were down south.

[blueg33]

CRB14 said:

blueg33 said:

Car thefts in Manchester seem high. I have an office there and every single employee has had their house broken into in the last 2 years, car keys liften and cars gone

It's not that bad and Manchester certainly isn't on its own. Go through the BMW thread concerning thefts and I'll bet the vast majority were down south.

Just saying it as I have observed it. I have 9 offices around the uk from Glasgow to London each with 9 to 15 employees. Non of the others have had cars stolen. All in Manchester have whether they live in Urmston , Bury , Hale or Wilmslow.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Lived and worked here 14 years and not known anyone have their car stolen. There's always a flipside

[blueg33]

Swervin_Mervin said:

Lived and worked here 14 years and not known anyone have their car stolen. There's always a flipside

Indeed.

What I posted is just what the team in my office have experienced. maybe its because they mostly have Audi's.

I leave my Evora overnight in the office car park in Altrincham and its been fine so far, mind you, the car park takes some finding....

[Swervin_Mervin]

Oooh, you don't see many Evoras round here. Spookily just spotted one this morning actually coming out of Wilmslow as I was on my way in.

[blueg33]

Swervin_Mervin said:

Oooh, you don't see many Evoras round here. Spookily just spotted one this morning actually coming out of Wilmslow as I was on my way in.

Wasn't me.....I tend to drive up on a tuesday and go back home wednesday evening. Usually to be seen heading too or from the M6

[Ken Figenus]

Another vote for Cardiff here - its come a long way in the past 10 years and quality of life is great. Its so much less hassle than the SE in EVERY respect.

As with any society/culture if you give respect you will get respect and yes Cardiff IS in Wales so it will have a different and, err, more Welsh culture than with anyone hailing from Oasis! We get the odd wind-up numbnut moaning that the railway station announcements and roadsigns are 'pointlessly' bilingual etc but most inclusive and travelled people aren't divisive like that and we all get on like a house on fire (note I didnt say holiday cottage there!). Yes you get the odd c()ck on match day on both sides - but its pretty rare as its usually a very magical atmosphere for those that travel well be it from Samoa or Southend!

I'd say definitely spend a long weekend in a B&B in both cities as its a big decision. Good luck.

[jamesj197]

Thanks for all the replies, so what areas do you recommend near Cardiff and Manchester. I would like to live in the suburbs possibly a town nearby. i would need to be able to commute in for work.

Thanks,

James

[Wacky Racer]

Have a look at Rossendale, 20 miles north of Manchester, and an easy 45mins commute. Beautiful countryside, low priced housing, (compared to South Manchester) and within two years will become the mountain bike centre of the UK.

http://www.moredirt.com/trail/United-Kingdom_North...





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmdgG4ipgsQ

[Ken Figenus]

James, Cardiff remains fairly motorist friendly (but they are working on it and for 2015 we have big brother invoices for bus lane and yellow box transgressions - progress ehh ) and business isn't necessarily located city centre (its more retail really). So its a lot more spread out which helps a lot. Loads of nice suburbs with a range of prices all within 3 miles of town. Further afield you are in the countryside really. A new way of thinking maybe!

[jamesj197]

Wacky Racer said:

Have a look at Rossendale, 20 miles north of Manchester, and an easy 45mins commute. Beautiful countryside, low priced housing, (compared to South Manchester) and within two years will become the mountain bike centre of the UK.

http://www.moredirt.com/trail/United-Kingdom_North...





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmdgG4ipgsQ

That look's nice but i would like to have a commute of less than 30mins reallyif thats possible or would i have to live inside the m60?

[jamesj197]

Ken Figenus said:

James, Cardiff remains fairly motorist friendly (but they are working on it and for 2015 we have big brother invoices for bus lane and yellow box transgressions - progress ehh ) and business isn't necessarily located city centre (its more retail really). So its a lot more spread out which helps a lot. Loads of nice suburbs with a range of prices all within 3 miles of town. Further afield you are in the countryside really. A new way of thinking maybe!

What do you think of pontypridd?

[Wacky Racer]

jamesj197 said:

That look's nice but i would like to have a commute of less than 30mins really if thats possible or would i have to live inside the m60?

Rossendale is right at the end of the M66, which is a continuation of the M60. Traffic dependent you could be in the centre of Manchester in around 40mins.

In addition there is an express luxury bus service travelling down the M66, and then into Manchester via Prestwich.,

Cardiff is nice too, no denying that, but there is certainly a lot more going on around Manchester, it's a great upcoming place to live.

[Ken Figenus]

jamesj197 said:

What do you think of pontypridd?

Massive commuter run in from there; bit slow in the morning on A470. Ponty is chalk and cheese to Cardiff really - multicultural developed capital v valley gateway town. Good value property though. Rail links good (biggest platform in Europe!).

[MoelyCrio]

Swervin_Mervin said:

BoRED S2upid said:

If your a fast flying crow maybe! If he's in the centre of Manchester it could take him the first 20 mins to get out then it's at least 90 to decent North Wales coast.

I was assuming a southern suburb, so yes you're right in that regard. But 90mins from the burbs will get you virtually to Holyhead, even at the legal limit. As for whether there's anywhere on the N Wales coast you'd want to get to in an hour, that's another debate

It takes me 90 mins from Stockport to get home to Flintshire, 20 miles over the border. Holyhead is another hour from here.
Ignoring Rhyl, loads of nice places on the coast. Beach at Talacre, start of Offas Dyke at Prestatyn, Victorian splendour of Llandudno, historic Conwy etc

[Sargeant Orange]

See here for ongoing Cardiff housing discussion:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=12...


I've lived in both Cardiff & Bristol & they both have a pretty similar vibe to me. I'm not sure if it helps but if you're looking for something completely different to Bristol I wouldn't say Cardiff is necessarily it