Spring into the Dales
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asterix
Comrade Member
- Location
- Limoges or York
Can't back out now as I have submitted my entry.
All I have to do now is a bit of practice and break in my new Brooks saddle
. Unfortunately my theory that being a Brooks user already would make this easy was wrong.
All I have to do now is a bit of practice and break in my new Brooks saddle
. Unfortunately my theory that being a Brooks user already would make this easy was wrong.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
One thing folks - on the way back, the route takes us via a footbridge over the river Wharfe between Addingham and Ilkley. It is okay if you have flat-soled cycling shoes (SPD or similar). If you use Look pedals or any other system that requires whacking big cleats on the soles of your shoes, consider packing some cleat covers! You have to shoulder your bike and carry it up some steps to the road above.
If you were riding a recumbent, I think you'd have to do a 4 km detour round that part of the route via Bolton Bridge and the B6160.
Another obstacle not mentioned on the route sheet is the Col de Salem Mill. You will ascend/descend this monster twice. The first time won't feel too bad with fresh legs as you go to pick up your card from the top floor of the mill. Doing it again 5 or 6 hours later after winching your way over some choice Yorkshire hills is another thing altogether...
If you were riding a recumbent, I think you'd have to do a 4 km detour round that part of the route via Bolton Bridge and the B6160.
Another obstacle not mentioned on the route sheet is the Col de Salem Mill. You will ascend/descend this monster twice. The first time won't feel too bad with fresh legs as you go to pick up your card from the top floor of the mill. Doing it again 5 or 6 hours later after winching your way over some choice Yorkshire hills is another thing altogether...
asterix
Comrade Member
- Location
- Limoges or York
You get a bridge? Luxury.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Ho ho - you remind me of another cyclist I know. She is even more petite than you (about 5' 1") and she too is always mountain biking, road riding, running, swimming... Most weekends she will be away at some campsite in the Dales or Cumbria with her bike and walking boots. Last year she was with an equally petite friend and their car got bogged down in the field where they'd pitched their tent. She had just uttered the immortal words "Oh dear, if only we had a big strong man to help push the car out of the mud!" when suddenly about half a dozen huge grinning guys popped their heads over the adjacent dry stone wall and shouted "Need some help love?".trio25 said:Surely some nice man will carry me and my bike over it so the type of pedals I use don't matter
5 minutes later the two women were driving off down the lane waving goodbye to their mud-encrusted rescuers...
As for the SITD footbridge - the bridge itself is okay. It is big enough to ride your bike over (though you shouldn't really). It's the steps up to it, and worse, the steps up from it to the road that are tricky when your feet are sliding about.
(found on flickr)
I think that's the one. The picture looks like it was taken from the steps up to the road.
RedBike
New Member
- Location
- Beside the road
trio25 said:Surely some nice man will carry me and my bike over it so the type of pedals I use don't matter
I've just spat my coffee all over my keyboard reading that!
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
trio25 said:
The bridge is in the bottom RH corner, Grid ref: SE 08366 49949.
The official route is shown in red and takes us down a scenic road past Beamsley. It's nicer than the alternative route which I've shown in pink down the B6160. The reason for the footbridge? Answer - it's the only way across the Wharfe unless we went another 3.5 km down the road and then came back up the A65.
asterix
Comrade Member
- Location
- Limoges or York
Shame about that. ..but at least Ben will be taking part.
Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
Good write up, ColinJ.
Just FYI...we stayed at the New Inn in Appletreewick in January. Not great. Cold, unfriendly and not cheap. To make it worse, the MTB livery place is a separate building and you have to pay a fiver for each bike for the night.
Steer clear. The other pub (can't remember the name but has the amazing new barn) is wonderful but doesn't do accommodation.
Just FYI...we stayed at the New Inn in Appletreewick in January. Not great. Cold, unfriendly and not cheap. To make it worse, the MTB livery place is a separate building and you have to pay a fiver for each bike for the night.
Steer clear. The other pub (can't remember the name but has the amazing new barn) is wonderful but doesn't do accommodation.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Well, we can forget about the footbridge! I've heard from Chris Crossland the SITD organiser and he has changed that part of the route for this year's event. Here is the new route on Bikely. I don't think I've ridden the roads on the changed part of the route before so that will make a nice change.
