Leeds to Manchester

[Calum]

Hi folks!

I'm planning on cycling from Leeds to Manchester sometime in the next month (train back to leeds). - Ideally when we get an easterly wind!
I don't mind riding on a few A roads, but it would be nice to see a bit of scenery along the way. On the other hand, I don't want to diverge off course too much. I have some OS maps, but with virtually zero local knowledge, it'd be nice to get some advice from people who know the area.
Can anyone from either end reccommend some decent roads to use?

Many thanks!

 

[dan_bo]

A62 to holmfirth then A635 over't millstone grit for one of the best descents in the country into greenfield.

 

[Chris James]

A62 to holmfirth then A635 over't millstone grit for one of the best descents in the country into greenfield.

The A62 doesn't go to Holmfirth! The A62 is the Marsden - Oldham road. It is still quite a nice road, although busy between Huddersfield and Marsden.

The A640 Buckstones Road is quieter and just a steady climb.

The A635 as recommended by Dan Bo is a lovely road with the drop into Chew Valley quite spectacular. probably the best way to get to this from Huddersfield would be via Netherton and Meltham.

But getting from Leeds to Huddersfiled would be along pretty crappy, busy, urban roads.

If the roads are any better to the Sowerby Bridge sort of area than another trans Pennine option is over the A672. If you PM ColinJ he may know a decent route that way.

 

[ColinJ]

If the roads are any better to the Sowerby Bridge sort of area than another trans Pennine option is over the A672. If you PM ColinJ he may know a decent route that way.

My ears (eyes?) are burning !

To be honest, my suggestion for a cycle trip from Leeds to Manchester would be to take your bike on the train, do what you had to do in Manchester, catch the train back via Hebden Bridge, and stop off here for your ride ! You shouldn't have a problem breaking up your return journey since there is nobody to take your ticket off you at HB station. I don't think that it would cost much more for a return ticket than it would for a single.

Much of your proposed Leeds-Manchester ride would be through built-up areas and I wouldn't fancy it when there is so much nice countryside round here you could explore instead.

PS I wouldn't leave my bike outdoors in Manchester city centre, no matter how good my lock! Even if thieving scallies don't manage to get the lock off, some evil bastard is quite likely to use your bike as a trampoline just-for-fun ! I went to watch a circuit race there years back (it might have been a leg of one of the last Milk Races, but my memory has let me down). I walked through the crowds on Deansgate and noticed many fine bikes chained up to lampposts along there. I walked the whole circuit to watch the race from different positions and when I got back to Deansgate, I saw to my horror that a whole line of bikes had been rendered useless scrap...

 

[Chris James]

some evil bastard is quite likely to use your bike as a trampoline just-for-fun

This happened in Didsbury to a lad I went to Uni with. He was a bit disappointed to see his 501 frame reduced to a boomerang.

Calum, if you have no particular reason for doing the trip other than sight seeing then you could tag along the Cycle Chat Holme Moss trip mooted for 7th Dec (see separate thread). This covers some of the best / most scenic cycling in this area.

 

[jack the lad]

How about this option
http://www.transpenninetrail.org.uk/template.asp?ID=0&parentID=481

 

[Kestevan]

Head out towards Tingley, then through Hill-head towards Kirkheaton.
Near Huddersfield head up Almondbury (over Castle Hill) before picking up the A616/A6024 towards Holmfirth, striaght up over the A635 and drop down into Greenfield/Diggle.

All reasonably quiet roads with some decent scenery.

From then on your'e in Lancashire and on your own...

 

[Calum]

Thanks for all the replies!

I think i've got it sorted.

1. I'll take the A62 from leeds to Huddersfield. Then i'll briefly use the A616, before turning right, onto the B6108.

2. I'll follow the B6108 to Meltham, then got straight on at the cross roads, up Wessenden Head Road.

3. At the top of the climb, i'll meet the A635, which everyone seems pretty keen on, and turn right, to finish the climb and enjoy the big decent!

4. Continue along the A635, to Manchester Piccadilly station, and jump on the train back to Leeds.

The worst, is gonna be the A62 out of leeds and onto Huddersfield. After that, the roads are likely to be quieter. Should be a good day out!

Thanks for the tips.

 

[ColinJ]

Huh - so you don't actually have anything to do in Manchester ? I assumed that you had some pressing reason for going there and decided to cycle.

I can't get my head round someone choosing to ride into Manchester and then getting straight on a train to come home. Why not get a return ticket to somewhere handy for the Dales such as Ilkley or Horton-in-Ribblesdale?

I lived in Manchester for 3 years as a student 20-odd years ago, and even then I wouldn't have fancied cycling into the city centre. Each to his or her own I suppose...

 

[simoncc]

PS I wouldn't leave my bike outdoors in Manchester city centre, no matter how good my lock! Even if thieving scallies don't manage to get the lock off, some evil bastard is quite likely to use your bike as a trampoline just-for-fun ! I went to watch a circuit race there years back (it might have been a leg of one of the last Milk Races, but my memory has let me down). I walked through the crowds on Deansgate and noticed many fine bikes chained up to lampposts along there. I walked the whole circuit to watch the race from different positions and when I got back to Deansgate, I saw to my horror that a whole line of bikes had been rendered useless scrap...

I've left my bike in Manchester city centre hundreds of times and had no problems. Of course I take the precaution of riding a scruffy though good quality audax type bike with untrendy drop handlebars and mudguards. A good lock is all you need and there are plenty of railings, posts and bike racks for locking your bike to.

 

[straas]

Thanks for all the replies!

I think i've got it sorted.

1. I'll take the A62 from leeds to Huddersfield. Then i'll briefly use the A616, before turning right, onto the B6108.

2. I'll follow the B6108 to Meltham, then got straight on at the cross roads, up Wessenden Head Road.

3. At the top of the climb, i'll meet the A635, which everyone seems pretty keen on, and turn right, to finish the climb and enjoy the big decent!

4. Continue along the A635, to Manchester Piccadilly station, and jump on the train back to Leeds.

The worst, is gonna be the A62 out of leeds and onto Huddersfield. After that, the roads are likely to be quieter. Should be a good day out!

Thanks for the tips.

How did it go? I'm moving to leeds soon and was wondering how easy it'd be to cycle back to manchester by bike. I know the trains are very good but saving money and getting a workout is pretty appealing!

Did you have problems getting your bike back on the train? It always seems to be a busy service.

 

[Bigsharn]

...What's wrong with using the canal network? I'm guessing most of them have towpaths?

 

[ASC1951]

...What's wrong with using the canal network? I'm guessing most of them have towpaths?

There isn't a canal from Leeds to Manchester, so you would have to do some of it on roads. And you can't ride any distance on a towpath on ordinary tyres, because towpaths are generally unsurfaced.