ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Hi folks.
Since I currently seem incapable of dragging myself out on a bike unless accompanied by other CycleChat members, I wondered if any of you fancy turning out for something a little different this Saturday (9th April)? (I can't make it Sunday this time because that's booked up for walking.)
It's a ride of 3 loops, which gives anybody who would like to do a shorter ride than usual the chance to join us.
Loop 1 totals 28 miles. We'll do a little tour of the hills to the north of Mytholmroyd and then drop down to the town to begin the climb up through Cragg Vale to Blackstone Edge. That is "England's longest continuous gradient". It isn't a vicious climb, averaging just 3.2%, but climbing it would be a good challenge if you haven't managed that kind of thing before. We don't mind how long it takes you. If it takes an hour to do the 5.5 miles, so be it! We'll then do a quick 1.8 mile blast down the A58 and turn off for some nice undulating lanes back to Mytholmroyd, then back to Hebden Bridge for a cafe stop.
Anybody who has had enough can say goodbye after the cafe stop.
Loop 2 totals 22 miles. It goes round to Littleborough with a couple of hilly detours on the way to take us off the main roads and get better views of the local scenery. We'll then climb back up to Blackstone Edge on the A58. That lets us do the B6138 through Cragg Vale to Mytholmroyd as a fine 5.5 mile descent.
When we get back to Hebden Bridge, there is the option of doing loop 3 - a tough 4 mile loop which I have never taken a forum ride up before because there is immediately a very hard climb; not something that you'd appreciate from a cold start. If any of you insist - I'll take you up there! Or rather, I'll set you off up it and you can wait for me at the top while enjoying the views ...
So, would anybody like to join me? Especially anybody who has been put off by my longer, hillier rides. The first loop should be challenging but not a total killer for you if you have done a 20 mile ride with some hills before. Nobody will be left behind, or moaned at for riding too slowly!
[If anybody is interested, I'll edit this post later to add more details.]
We'll be aiming to set off at 10:00 so let's meet at Market Place car park, Hebden Bridge, at 09:45 (Map showing car park). It's a long stay pay-and-display car park and is only about 30p/hour. NB - parking wardens regularly patrol here and issue £70 fines so make sure you pay to at least 16:30! It's unlikely that the car park will be full at that time at the weekend, but if it is, there is a second car park behind it but that costs 20p/hour more (it is privately owned but the council administer it for an extra charge).
If you are really tight and/or skint (), you can usually find a free spot to park on the A646 on the Halifax side of Hebden Bridge near the road to Hebden Bridge station if you arrive before 10:00 (at weekends; all spots taken by commuters during the week).
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 closed-down pub on your left. Follow the road round past the Hole in t'Wall. The car park is straight ahead on the right (not the first little one, the bigger one further on).
If anybody decides to turn up announced (it has happened before) make sure that you get to Market Place car park by 09:45 because we won't be hanging about once all those officially riding have gathered!
Loop 1 on Bikely. Loop 2 on Bikely.
Rider list
Since I currently seem incapable of dragging myself out on a bike unless accompanied by other CycleChat members, I wondered if any of you fancy turning out for something a little different this Saturday (9th April)? (I can't make it Sunday this time because that's booked up for walking.)
It's a ride of 3 loops, which gives anybody who would like to do a shorter ride than usual the chance to join us.
Loop 1 totals 28 miles. We'll do a little tour of the hills to the north of Mytholmroyd and then drop down to the town to begin the climb up through Cragg Vale to Blackstone Edge. That is "England's longest continuous gradient". It isn't a vicious climb, averaging just 3.2%, but climbing it would be a good challenge if you haven't managed that kind of thing before. We don't mind how long it takes you. If it takes an hour to do the 5.5 miles, so be it! We'll then do a quick 1.8 mile blast down the A58 and turn off for some nice undulating lanes back to Mytholmroyd, then back to Hebden Bridge for a cafe stop.
Anybody who has had enough can say goodbye after the cafe stop.
Loop 2 totals 22 miles. It goes round to Littleborough with a couple of hilly detours on the way to take us off the main roads and get better views of the local scenery. We'll then climb back up to Blackstone Edge on the A58. That lets us do the B6138 through Cragg Vale to Mytholmroyd as a fine 5.5 mile descent.
When we get back to Hebden Bridge, there is the option of doing loop 3 - a tough 4 mile loop which I have never taken a forum ride up before because there is immediately a very hard climb; not something that you'd appreciate from a cold start. If any of you insist - I'll take you up there! Or rather, I'll set you off up it and you can wait for me at the top while enjoying the views ...
So, would anybody like to join me? Especially anybody who has been put off by my longer, hillier rides. The first loop should be challenging but not a total killer for you if you have done a 20 mile ride with some hills before. Nobody will be left behind, or moaned at for riding too slowly!
[If anybody is interested, I'll edit this post later to add more details.]
We'll be aiming to set off at 10:00 so let's meet at Market Place car park, Hebden Bridge, at 09:45 (Map showing car park). It's a long stay pay-and-display car park and is only about 30p/hour. NB - parking wardens regularly patrol here and issue £70 fines so make sure you pay to at least 16:30! It's unlikely that the car park will be full at that time at the weekend, but if it is, there is a second car park behind it but that costs 20p/hour more (it is privately owned but the council administer it for an extra charge).
If you are really tight and/or skint (
), you can usually find a free spot to park on the A646 on the Halifax side of Hebden Bridge near the road to Hebden Bridge station if you arrive before 10:00 (at weekends; all spots taken by commuters during the week).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 closed-down pub on your left. Follow the road round past the Hole in t'Wall. The car park is straight ahead on the right (not the first little one, the bigger one further on).
If anybody decides to turn up announced (it has happened before) make sure that you get to Market Place car park by 09:45 because we won't be hanging about once all those officially riding have gathered!
Loop 1 on Bikely. Loop 2 on Bikely.
Rider list
- ColinJ
- potsy
- Pennine-Paul (as far as Littleborough on loop 2)
- Fiona N (if the iffy trains don't put her off)
- phil_hg_uk
- colly (if he can negotiate time on the bike!)
- Steve H on loop 1 (if he can negotiate time on the bike!)
- PaulB (if he can stop coughing long enough!)
- Svendo (if he can negotiate time on the bike!)
