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2/3rds of the way down I stopped to point everyone in the right direction and Dan came flying past with a
big smile on his face, happy he wasn’t last. The horse rider appeared before the last of the group who, she
let me know, were fixing a puncture. She also ask me to pass on her thanks to everyone, as the whole
group had passed slowly so as not to frighten her horse.
We regrouped on the outskirts of Hebden Bridge and the heavens really opened but it didn’t matter, we’d
had a great ride and there were dry clothes and a pint of beer just round the corner.
For details of how to buy a full size digital original of any of these photos, click here.
big smile on his face, happy he wasn’t last. The horse rider appeared before the last of the group who, she
let me know, were fixing a puncture. She also ask me to pass on her thanks to everyone, as the whole
group had passed slowly so as not to frighten her horse.
We regrouped on the outskirts of Hebden Bridge and the heavens really opened but it didn’t matter, we’d
had a great ride and there were dry clothes and a pint of beer just round the corner.
For details of how to buy a full size digital original of any of these photos, click here.
Although I was finding fatherhood a wonderful, if tiring, experience it had taken a big chunk out of my
riding. This helped remind me that any day was a good day to ride, even in a week when bridges had been
swept away in none too distant parts of the country. Yes, it was cold and yes it was raining but I was glad to
be getting out on my bike. I assumed, as the car park filled with riders, I wasn’t the only one to have this
revelation.
riding. This helped remind me that any day was a good day to ride, even in a week when bridges had been
swept away in none too distant parts of the country. Yes, it was cold and yes it was raining but I was glad to
be getting out on my bike. I assumed, as the car park filled with riders, I wasn’t the only one to have this
revelation.
| (left to right) Anne and John, Ian, Kev at the start of the long climb from Hebden Bridge |
The riders may have
been willing but some of
the bikes weren’t.
Devious tactics were
employed in an attempt
to be taken straight back
to a nice dry garage.
Before we left the car
park Vince suffered a
broken chain and
Ritchie's forks collapsed.
While the chain was
easily fixed the situation
with Ritchie’s forks was a
bit more serious. They
wouldn’t hold air and he
been willing but some of
the bikes weren’t.
Devious tactics were
employed in an attempt
to be taken straight back
to a nice dry garage.
Before we left the car
park Vince suffered a
broken chain and
Ritchie's forks collapsed.
While the chain was
easily fixed the situation
with Ritchie’s forks was a
bit more serious. They
wouldn’t hold air and he
had to turn back
before we left
Hebden Bridge.
He was gutted,
as well as
missing the ride
there would be
an expensive
repair bill. The
only silver
lining was it
happened
before we were
out on the
exposed moors.
before we left
Hebden Bridge.
He was gutted,
as well as
missing the ride
there would be
an expensive
repair bill. The
only silver
lining was it
happened
before we were
out on the
exposed moors.
| Dan C halfway up the soggy climb |
| (right) Henry and (far right) Ian, still climbing |
To reach the moors we first had to tackle the long climb out of Hebden Bridge. It started with a steep
incline that got our cold legs burning before a long steady drag to the top. Dan C was having a hard time at
the back and admitted it usually took him a good few miles to warm up. Fortunately, with 3.5miles to the top
he had more than enough time to find his climbing legs.
| (left) Dan H (above) Vince (right) Peter and Cubby on the short descent at Four Gates End |
We emerged from the
shelter of the valley and
the weather really hit us.
As the climb finished at
one of the highest points
for miles around we got
to see all the rain that
was heading in our
direction. It didn’t look
like it would improve any
time soon. Still, nobody
complained, in fact I can’t
remember anything but
smiles. It just goes to
show you don’t need
sunshine for a great ride.
shelter of the valley and
the weather really hit us.
As the climb finished at
one of the highest points
for miles around we got
to see all the rain that
was heading in our
direction. It didn’t look
like it would improve any
time soon. Still, nobody
complained, in fact I can’t
remember anything but
smiles. It just goes to
show you don’t need
sunshine for a great ride.
| Henry tackling the broken packhorse trail on Keelam Heights |
| (left) Steve (right) Dan H and Paul on the slippery mud at the start of the long descent into Calderdale |
I would never put a route together that didn’t have a decent payback for a big climb and this was no
exception. We headed into Calderdale on a long series of descents that were mixture singletrack and
packhorse trails. A coating of mud, dead leaves and standing water made it hard to find grip. There was
little clue to how deep the puddles were or what was hidden under the leaves, which all added to the fun
as we fought or way downhill.
exception. We headed into Calderdale on a long series of descents that were mixture singletrack and
packhorse trails. A coating of mud, dead leaves and standing water made it hard to find grip. There was
little clue to how deep the puddles were or what was hidden under the leaves, which all added to the fun
as we fought or way downhill.
| (left to right) Cubby, Dan H, Paul and Steve CT on the bumpy slabs of the packhorse trail |
By the time we reached the bottom of the valley all thoughts of the long climb had disappeared. Well, that
was until the buzz wore off and everyone realised they were in the bottom of a steep sided valley. I
became worried of possible mutiny as we passed a burger van on the way to the next climb. The smell was
hard to resist but if we stopped it would be difficult to get going again, so I just kept riding.
was until the buzz wore off and everyone realised they were in the bottom of a steep sided valley. I
became worried of possible mutiny as we passed a burger van on the way to the next climb. The smell was
hard to resist but if we stopped it would be difficult to get going again, so I just kept riding.
We climbed out of the valley to be greeted at the Mary Towneley loop by a tail wind. Its welcome push
helped us up the trail beneath Stoodley Pike monument. For a while the rain stopped and we were even
treated to a very brief glimpse of blue sky. To celebrate John handed round his Jelly Babies before the
next descent, a blast down through the woods that would take us back into Calderdale.
helped us up the trail beneath Stoodley Pike monument. For a while the rain stopped and we were even
treated to a very brief glimpse of blue sky. To celebrate John handed round his Jelly Babies before the
next descent, a blast down through the woods that would take us back into Calderdale.
This left just one climb, a tarmac climb that wound its way up the steep side of the valley. Despite his
difficulties at the start Dan was still with us and although at the back he wasn’t far behind, which was nice.
The weather was closing in again and nobody wanted to hang around. As the next wall of rain approached
it got so dark I wondered whether Kev, with his bar mounted Hope light, would be needed to lead the way.
difficulties at the start Dan was still with us and although at the back he wasn’t far behind, which was nice.
The weather was closing in again and nobody wanted to hang around. As the next wall of rain approached
it got so dark I wondered whether Kev, with his bar mounted Hope light, would be needed to lead the way.
The lack of light turned
out to be the least of my
worries. At the start of
the 2 mile descent back
to Hebden Bridge the
fast rocky descent
quickly disappeared
behind a layer of brown
filth that built up on my
glasses. I really do need
to get a front mudguard
sorted. At least the
horse and rider were big
enough to see.
| (left to right) Alex, Cubby and Steve on the waterlogged Golf Course singletrack |
| Anne on the Tunnel descent |
| Steve and Vince on the Tunnel descent |
| Henry giving Kev a lesson on climbing |
| John grinding up to the Mary Towneley Loop |
| (left) Cubby and (right) Steve CT riding above Calderdale on the Mary Towneley Loop |
| Peter in Charlestown woods |
| (left to right) Henry, Paul, Vince and Alex descending through Charlestown woods |
| Steve starting the final climb |
| (left to right) Anne, Paul and Simon at the start of the final descent |
| A 'Social' Ride by www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |