ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I have been a bit poorly recently so have not been up to tackling my usual 100 km forum rides. I am on the mend though and now fancy squeezing in a couple more forum rides this year. I thought I'd do a shorter one than usual to give myself an easier ride and attract people who would be okay with half a metric century.
I have chosen Saturday, 22nd October for the ride, but will keep the 29th in reserve just in case disgusting weather ends up forecast for the 22nd. We will start at 10:30, which should mean that you can get over here by train in time for the ride if needs be.
PS See THIS POST for details of a slight change to the route described below!
The route I came up with starts and finishes in Hebden Bridge. It covers 52 km (33 miles) and is quite lumpy - around 1,000 m (3,300 ft) of ascent. The climbing is all in the first 42 km to our one cafe stop at the scenic Craggies, above Cragg Vale near Mytholmroyd. There is a very easy 10 km run back to Hebden Bridge from the cafe with a nice descent to Mytholmroyd, and then using the flat Calder Valley Cycleway which avoids using the A646.
We will take in the Cragg Vale climb, which claims to be the longest continuous climb in England. You can choose to ride it at a steady pace, or attack it and wait for me at the top! It is mostly a very easy gradient (about 2-4%), although there is a short steeper section halfway up, maxing out at around 9-10%. It averages 3.4% for around 9 km (5.5 miles). There is often a cross-headwind on the exposed moorland section higher up and that can be harder work than the climb itself.
I'll take you round some nice lanes with views of Calderdale. If you don't know it round here, you should get a good feel for the area.
I'll update the thread later, but for now here is a map showing the roads covered by the ride...
The route profile...
A GPX file is attached.
Sign up below...
GPX viewer
I have chosen Saturday, 22nd October for the ride, but will keep the 29th in reserve just in case disgusting weather ends up forecast for the 22nd. We will start at 10:30, which should mean that you can get over here by train in time for the ride if needs be.
PS See THIS POST for details of a slight change to the route described below!
The route I came up with starts and finishes in Hebden Bridge. It covers 52 km (33 miles) and is quite lumpy - around 1,000 m (3,300 ft) of ascent. The climbing is all in the first 42 km to our one cafe stop at the scenic Craggies, above Cragg Vale near Mytholmroyd. There is a very easy 10 km run back to Hebden Bridge from the cafe with a nice descent to Mytholmroyd, and then using the flat Calder Valley Cycleway which avoids using the A646.
We will take in the Cragg Vale climb, which claims to be the longest continuous climb in England. You can choose to ride it at a steady pace, or attack it and wait for me at the top! It is mostly a very easy gradient (about 2-4%), although there is a short steeper section halfway up, maxing out at around 9-10%. It averages 3.4% for around 9 km (5.5 miles). There is often a cross-headwind on the exposed moorland section higher up and that can be harder work than the climb itself.
I'll take you round some nice lanes with views of Calderdale. If you don't know it round here, you should get a good feel for the area.
I'll update the thread later, but for now here is a map showing the roads covered by the ride...
The route profile...
A GPX file is attached.
Sign up below...
GPX viewer
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