ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
NB I've altered the route after Slaithwaite to take out Sowerby Bridge. The distance remains the same, with perhaps slightly more climbing. I don't have time to update the map and description below though.
Hi all.
I bumped into Calum at Leeds station last week and he asked me if I was going to organise another ride soon. I did the Mary Towneley Loop ride this weekend and am riding Season of Mists on October 4th so I thought that I'd suggest something for next weekend. Saturday 26th is the Strines forum ride and I don't want to clash with that, so how about doing something on Sunday 27th?
I have plotted a route from Hebden Bridge taking in Saddleworth Moor. It is about 90 kms in length (56 miles) and features a nice selection of West Yorkshire climbs totalling about 2,000 m (6,500 ft). We will ride the loop below in an anti-clockwise direction.
Route description:
(The first part of the ride follows part of the West Yorkshire Cycle Route - WYCR)
Easy start from Hebden Bridge to Mytholmroyd. Climb Scout Road and over quiet scenic lanes to Baitings Reservoir on the A58. Cross over and continue on the WYCR to Booth Wood Reservoir, and then up to Ringstone Edge Reservoir. Cross the M62 on the B6114 then drop down steeply (*CAUTION!*) and ride round Scammonden Water. Climb up to Pole Moor, then drop down some very steep lanes to Marsden (*CAUTION!*). (Leave WYCR there.) Climb a quiet back road out of Marsden to avoid a big part of the climb up the A62. Rejoin the A62 to complete the climb over Standedge. Soon on the descent, turn left for Diggle and follow some glorious little hilly lanes round to Tunstead and join the A635 above Greenfield to tackle the climb of Saddleworth Moor. Turn left at Wessenden Head and do a very fast 3 km descent to Meltham (*CAUTION!*). Possible shops/cafe stop there. Then there is a 3 km draggy climb to Holt Head, followed by a quick descent to Slaithwaite. Tough climb of Scapegoat Hill then a nice 5 km descent through Outlane, unfortunately immediately followed by a 2.5 km climb back out of the valley through Barkisland to Norland Moor. Very steep, fast descent of Scar Head to Sowerby Bridge (*EXTREME CAUTION!!!*). I'd like to do an easy trundle back mostly along the Calder Valley Cycleway, but we'd have the option of climbing back out of Sowerby Bridge and taking the lanes from Sowerby village, or of course just riding back along the A646 (the Sunday afternoon traffic might be a pain).
Usual rules - fast climbers wait at the hilltops, nobody gets left behind, not for novice riders or impatient experienced riders!
Start time is 10:00 to allow people to come in on the first trains into Hebden Bridge. Sunset will be at about 19:00 so we have plenty of hours of daylight.
Meet at Market Place car park:
It's a long stay car park and is only about 30p/hour. I'd suggest paying until at least 17:00 just to be on the safe side (wardens patrol here and issue £60 fines!)
Rider list:
Hi all.
I bumped into Calum at Leeds station last week and he asked me if I was going to organise another ride soon. I did the Mary Towneley Loop ride this weekend and am riding Season of Mists on October 4th so I thought that I'd suggest something for next weekend. Saturday 26th is the Strines forum ride and I don't want to clash with that, so how about doing something on Sunday 27th?
I have plotted a route from Hebden Bridge taking in Saddleworth Moor. It is about 90 kms in length (56 miles) and features a nice selection of West Yorkshire climbs totalling about 2,000 m (6,500 ft). We will ride the loop below in an anti-clockwise direction.
Route description:
(The first part of the ride follows part of the West Yorkshire Cycle Route - WYCR)
Easy start from Hebden Bridge to Mytholmroyd. Climb Scout Road and over quiet scenic lanes to Baitings Reservoir on the A58. Cross over and continue on the WYCR to Booth Wood Reservoir, and then up to Ringstone Edge Reservoir. Cross the M62 on the B6114 then drop down steeply (*CAUTION!*) and ride round Scammonden Water. Climb up to Pole Moor, then drop down some very steep lanes to Marsden (*CAUTION!*). (Leave WYCR there.) Climb a quiet back road out of Marsden to avoid a big part of the climb up the A62. Rejoin the A62 to complete the climb over Standedge. Soon on the descent, turn left for Diggle and follow some glorious little hilly lanes round to Tunstead and join the A635 above Greenfield to tackle the climb of Saddleworth Moor. Turn left at Wessenden Head and do a very fast 3 km descent to Meltham (*CAUTION!*). Possible shops/cafe stop there. Then there is a 3 km draggy climb to Holt Head, followed by a quick descent to Slaithwaite. Tough climb of Scapegoat Hill then a nice 5 km descent through Outlane, unfortunately immediately followed by a 2.5 km climb back out of the valley through Barkisland to Norland Moor. Very steep, fast descent of Scar Head to Sowerby Bridge (*EXTREME CAUTION!!!*). I'd like to do an easy trundle back mostly along the Calder Valley Cycleway, but we'd have the option of climbing back out of Sowerby Bridge and taking the lanes from Sowerby village, or of course just riding back along the A646 (the Sunday afternoon traffic might be a pain).
Usual rules - fast climbers wait at the hilltops, nobody gets left behind, not for novice riders or impatient experienced riders!
Start time is 10:00 to allow people to come in on the first trains into Hebden Bridge. Sunset will be at about 19:00 so we have plenty of hours of daylight.
Meet at Market Place car park:
It's a long stay car park and is only about 30p/hour. I'd suggest paying until at least 17:00 just to be on the safe side (wardens patrol here and issue £60 fines!)
Rider list:
- ColinJ
- PaulB (maybe + son Liam)
- Bill (mate of mine - only if it's dry and he gets up in time!)
I remember having to work weekends, but that wasn't something I liked doing! 
