Even with the week being a wet one the
Shop Ride theme continued with blue
skies greeting us at the Hardcastle Crags
car park, to the north of Hebden Bridge.
There was another good turn out with
some new faces as well the regulars.
Shop Ride theme continued with blue
skies greeting us at the Hardcastle Crags
car park, to the north of Hebden Bridge.
There was another good turn out with
some new faces as well the regulars.
While getting ready there
was some annoyance that
the toilets were closed
but thankfully the National
Trust had supplied both
'Ladies' and 'Mens'
bushes for some pre-ride
relief. The ride started
was some annoyance that
the toilets were closed
but thankfully the National
Trust had supplied both
'Ladies' and 'Mens'
bushes for some pre-ride
relief. The ride started
| Chris, Rob, Jim, Sabine, Yvonne and Me tackle the muddy climb up onto Shackleton Moor |
| Sabine, Peter, Yvonne, Chris, Rob and Jim on the first climb of the day |
hack up onto the edge of Shackleton Moor
but this was rewarded with a fast grassy
descent then a steady double track and lane
ride to Widdop Reservoir. After a brief stop
but this was rewarded with a fast grassy
descent then a steady double track and lane
ride to Widdop Reservoir. After a brief stop
| A quick break before resuming the ride along Widdop Dam |
| Maca meeting some other riders on the climb from Widdop Res |
| Rob, Peter, Steve, Jim, Sabine, Maca and Chris starting the descent from Black Moor |
Maca, Peter, Yvonne and Rob starting
the descent from Black Moor
the descent from Black Moor
at the dam it was time to tackle the
climb onto Black Moor, hard but worth
it for the following fast rocky descent.
climb onto Black Moor, hard but worth
it for the following fast rocky descent.
With it being wet there was a brief detour off the Singletrack loop, arriving at Cant
Clough Res. via the Hurstwood Res. on the Mary Towneley Loop. After the
Limestone Way and a bit of a road hack we then started the long descent into
Todmorden. There were a few muddy bits that made the going difficult but I
selflessly found some of the deepest bits for the others to avoid. The mixture of
Pack Horse Trail, singletrack and tight rocky switchbacks had everyone grinning in
the car park at the bottom. This lasted till the climb up the other side of the valley
Clough Res. via the Hurstwood Res. on the Mary Towneley Loop. After the
Limestone Way and a bit of a road hack we then started the long descent into
Todmorden. There were a few muddy bits that made the going difficult but I
selflessly found some of the deepest bits for the others to avoid. The mixture of
Pack Horse Trail, singletrack and tight rocky switchbacks had everyone grinning in
the car park at the bottom. This lasted till the climb up the other side of the valley
| Steve wins the muddiest leg competition |
| Start of the road at Coal Clough Wind Farm |
| Yvonne, Chris, Maca, Sabine and Steve taking the dry route |
| Steve, Yvonne and Chris in the mud |
| Steve lies down after taking his time deciding to crash |
| Rob, Sabine and Maca on the Pack Horse Trail |
followed the gritstone track to the descent into
Hebden Bridge, finally coming out on the cobble
stones. This was followed by the final climb
where the group split into those who needed to
get home and those who had the time to get the
Pecket Well descent in (obviously involving
more climbing). This excellent rocky descent
was a great end to the ride which finished at the
car park and the ice cream van.
Hebden Bridge, finally coming out on the cobble
stones. This was followed by the final climb
where the group split into those who needed to
get home and those who had the time to get the
Pecket Well descent in (obviously involving
more climbing). This excellent rocky descent
was a great end to the ride which finished at the
car park and the ice cream van.
| Peter on the singletrack above Castle Street |
Sabine leading the pack
on the climb
to the Mary
Towneley
Loop
to the Mary
Towneley
Loop
View over Calderdale
| Sabine, Peter, Peter, Maca and Chris on the Mary Towneley Loop |
to link up with
the Mary
Towneley
Loop again.
We then
the Mary
Towneley
Loop again.
We then
with a long climb
that ended with
a steep muddy
that ended with
a steep muddy
| Peter (above), Peter (below), Jim, Chris on the Pack Horse Trail |
| Maca, Chris and Jim on the steep switchback descent to the Rochdale Canal |
| Rob and Jim on the last off-road climb of the day |
Thanks again to those who turned up and my apologies to those who had turn back early due to
mechanicals and not feeling too good, which is why I always appreciate Maca taking the rear and making
sure no-one is left high and dry. Thanks also to Jim for taking some of the photos shown here as I now get
to feature occasionally on my own site.
A description of this ride can be found in the routes section of this site.
mechanicals and not feeling too good, which is why I always appreciate Maca taking the rear and making
sure no-one is left high and dry. Thanks also to Jim for taking some of the photos shown here as I now get
to feature occasionally on my own site.
A description of this ride can be found in the routes section of this site.