Rights folks - I haven't touched my bike for 7 weeks so it is time for me to stop messing about and to start riding again! A forum ride later in the month will help motivate me to do that.
I want to try and do a metric century a month this year so I have plotted a 106 km (66 mile) route which takes in our usual cafe stop at Country Kitchen in Waddington. I'm aiming to do the ride on Sunday, 22nd January because that gives me 2 weeks to get my legs working again, and a bailout option of the following Sunday if the weather turns out to be awful on the 22nd.
It will on be a flatter route than most of my forum rides. We will spend more time on main roads than usual, but at least they should be ice-free and less demanding on my/our detrained legs!
The route includes a few smaller climbs and long drags but maxes out at an elevation of 240 m so we won't be doing any really big stuff. The worst climb of the day will be that short steep stretch on the Old Roman Road near Read. We will ride out to Burnley on the A646, and use the Padiham Greenway to get into the centre of Padiham. We'll take the scenic route to the Old Roman Road, then continue through Mitton as we usually do, but instead of turning right and going straight to Waddington via Bashall Town, we will turn left and add a little loop below the north side of Longridge Fell, taking us through Walker Fold, Cow Ark and Kitchens and then descending the lower part of Waddington Fell to our cafe stop in the village. After that, we will return to Mitton via Bashall Town, and then return along the same route we took out in the morning.
Usual ride ethos - an easy sociable pace, and lots of chatting, with a relaxed stop at the cafe. Nobody will be left behind but if anyone wants to climb ahead of the slower riders, feel free, just wait at the summits for me and the rest of the rear guard!
You ought to feel fairly sure that you can cope with a moderately 'lumpy' ride of this distance, and carry enough food and drink to get you to the cafe at Waddington after 60 kms (37 miles), though we can call in to refill our bottles at the Spring Wood picnic centre above Whalley after 35 kms (22 miles)
It will be slow, slow, slow. Don't come along and complain about it being slow. IT WILL BE SLOW! (We won't be riding quickly ...
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Let's meet at Market Place car park, Hebden Bridge.
Map showing car parks.
The centre of Hebden Bridge is now pedestrianised and there is a one-way system. To get to the car park turn right up Commercial Street as you come into HB from the Halifax direction, second left after about 100 yards by the White Lion. Follow that road round over the river. The car park is then on your right.
If you are coming from the Todmorden direction, turn left down Old Gate (one way street) at the end of Market Street, just after the Inn on the Bridge on your left. Follow the road round past the Hole in t'Wall. The car park is straight ahead on the right.
If anybody decides to turn up announced (it has happened before) make sure that you get to Market Place car park in good time because we won't be hanging about once all those officially riding have gathered!
We will probably be coming back at dusk so remember to bring lights.
I was wondering whether we should start this ride an hour earlier than normal because the distance has been upped and it will still be getting dark fairly early - what do you think - 09:00, 10:00 or a compromise 09:30?
Who fancies joining me?
from the wind/tiredness.
I assume that the cast is off? How has your recovery been so far?
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See you on another ride soon.
