Hilly loop from Hebden Bridge *THIS SUNDAY* (8/11/26) - 64 km (40 miles)

[ColinJ]

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Fellow forum riders, I am planning another ride!
@colly, @neil_merseyside, @Sea of vapours, @Domus, @Julia9054, @Spiderweb, @Slioch, @EasyPeez, @Kestevan, @Venod, @Soltydog, @NorthernDave, @Buck, @si_c, @videoman, @FrothNinja, @Vantage, @Dadam, @Jameshow, @Pennine-Paul

If anybody wants their name to be added to the list, let me know.

(If anybody wants their name to be removed, let me know, but... )

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(Yes, I know some are already signed up for this ride, or can't make it, but I copy and paste the list from one ride to the next so I don't want to edit it.)
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Short notice, I know, but my pal Bill just texted me to look at the forecast for Sunday [NOT SATURDAY THIS TIME!!]. It looks like the weather should be better than for last weekend's chilly and foggy ride so we will be doing another lumpy ride from Hebden Bridge.

We will start the ride at 10:00 from St George's Square in Hebden Bridge, meeting up by the sculpture near the Shoulder of Mutton.

It is about 64 km (40 miles) and it is very hilly. We won't be going quickly (probably taking around 4 hours) but you will need the stamina to do it at that pace. Detailed route HERE on cycle.travel.

The climbs range from long and steady to short and steep, totalling about 1,300 m (4,300 ft). Bring a bike with low enough gears to suit your legs/heart/lungs and/or motor assistance!

Bring enough food and drink to get you round. No mid-ride cafe stops on this one but we will pause on the way round for a quick snack. We could get coffee and cake in Hebden Bridge at the end.

Anybody free and up for it?

 

[Dadam]

Not for me this time sorry. I have other things to do.

 

[colly]

I am in the same boat as Dadum. I tried to alter existing plans but it's a no go for me.
Sorry Colin, I hope you get some takers.

 

[ColinJ]

I wasn't really expecting any takers for this one, but it was worth trying!

If it ends up just me and Bill we will probably skip the last bit and ride back on the A646.

 

[ColinJ]

If it ends up just me and Bill we will probably skip the last bit and ride back on the A646.

It was just the two of us and we did take the easier return option!

We had cool misty conditions for the first 2.5 hours, but fortunately not the very chilly fog that we got on last weekend's ride. The mist thinned for the last 1.5 hours but the promised sunny intervals didn't arrive.

It is a very hilly little route - about 1,350 m (4,430 ft) of ascent (including some steepish ramps) in 64 km (40 miles). Most of the time was spent climbing or descending, as you can see from the profile!

My heart rate hit 156 bpm at the start of the long climb up from Hebden Bridge so I had to back off to avoid problems later on. I max out in the mid-160s, but that tends to cause issues so I try to avoid 160+ bpm!

I had one idiot driver insist on overtaking me on a narrow descent despite me doing 50+ km/hr and riding in the centre of the road to deter him! My radar and mirror warned me so when he started the overtake I had to move over to the left despite the poor road surface and minimal free space. Still, he did save the 1.7 seconds which he would have wasted waiting to do a safe overtake at the bottom of the hill, so that clearly justified him endangering me...

I think that I might lower the tyre pressures slightly before the next ride. The ride quality wasn't too bad, but there's room for improvement.

I was glad to get home to a warm room; I remembered to leave the heating on this time!