Im heading up to Hebden Bridge for an “Alps Prep” skills course with Ed Oxley on friday. Ive never ridden up there before.

Now, seeing as it is an Alps Prep day, I was intending to use my slackened Heckler, as it is my Alps bike. The other option is my 140mm Titus FTMc.

Any ideas? Also is it a Full Muds, or Chunky Alps tyres conditions?

use the bike you’re going to take to the alps.

I’m not sure what Ed takes you on for that course but I suspect it’ll be the steep stuff. I’d take your Alps bike – makes sense to take the same bike you’ll be taking to the Alps?

As for tyres, something that’ll stick to rocks. Lots of rocks… But good in loamy stuff. You won’t need muds…

Ask Ed?

I thought the Heckler would be fine – it climbs ok, but a bit wanders – I am expecting a down-oriented course!

Ive got an On-One Chunky Monkey/Smorgasboard combo on it at the moment, so that should do.

Cheers!!

Im going to be arriving early on thursday – any recommendations for a short ride on thursday evening?

I might be playing out on Thursday evening.

Thursday night, you say???

Im leaving Heathrow at 1230, so should be in Hebden Bridge by 1630, so available to ride from 1800 realistically. Lights?

Still light at 8 at the moment. I’d offer to give you a bit of a tour but I’m planning on a quick session at Stainburn straight from work on Thursday…

Thanks everyone – hopefully catch a few of you on thursday night!! Anyone recommend a b&b? The one I emailed hasn’t responded.

The trails around Hebden are riding really well at the moment. Enjoy 😀

Oooo wheres the course? Might pop up on Thurs pm. Not ridden in the evening during the week for ages.

Try not to speak in your own accent when you get up there as generally speaking they don’t take to southern nancies.

hora – Member

Oooo wheres the course? Might pop up on Thurs pm. Not ridden in the evening during the week for ages.

I’m always inviting you to come night riding during the week. You just don’t love me any more

If you looked like that I’d rugby-tackle you to the ground and have my sweet-way with you binners.

PS. I don’t have night lights so it’d have to finish at dusk if your inviting me binnertelli?

Its This course with Great Rock

I think its full though, as its showing availability of -1.

Marts500 – Its ok – Ive been to Leeds!!!!

So… who fancies a pootle out then on Thursday evening?

Me. Ive no lights tho so will need to peel off before the Wolves are released.

Me, and I can bring extra lights 😀

No lights either, but it looks light enough now at 8:15. I’ll get the disclaimer out of the way now – I not the fastest!

Pub after? Anyone want get a topic started?? As long as I get 1.5hrs riding in its worth the trip for me

Pub after sounds good – in fact I’ll probably be staying in a pub!! 1.5-2 hrs sounds perfect! I wont be going like a rocket either because:

a. Im not a racing snake
b. I’ll have been driving all day
c. Ive got a skills day on fri, so want to be vaguely fresh!!

I can probably manage 2 spare lights, so it means we wont have to bin it due to bad light.

Dantsw…I’m booked in on the same course, so I’ll see you Friday morning.

I’m riding my SX Trail. Reckon you should be fine in the Heckler.

Only downside is that the weather forecast looks a but poo.

It does a bit, but now BBC are saying light showers for Fri. See you in the pub car park!!

I could do a thursday 6ish till 8 sounds like a couple of ups and a couple of downs

I’m sure it’ll be reet!

I can’t wait, I think it’s going to be great whatever the weather does!

If one of you local chaps sets a place, we could call it a 6 o clock roll up this Thursday?

Okay doke – 6pm it is. Have you sorted where to stay?

No, emailed one B&B, Ed O offered help finding accom if required, I’m waiting to hear back from both. The whole thing was a bit last minute!! I was looking for a course in may/jun, but couldn’t make the dates, so jumped into this one instead.

I’m hoping to sort it all tomorrow.

What about the stubbings wharf its got a good sized car park and well placed for riding ?

That’s the meeting place for my course on Friday, so works for me!

Great minds think almost alike… but more for the good beer than riding potential.

Anyone got any route suggestions?

I was thinking possibly a figure of eight? From stubbing, up Ragley, back to Heptonstall, down the blue pig, up though craggs, back to slack, down lumb bank/back of Eaves, and back down to the stubbing for beer o’clock?

Could do heptonstall then pecket well with a few detours should take 2hrs at an easy pace

I am sitting in the sun fettling my bike with a huge grin on my face looking forward to this trip!! Please don’t break me before my day with Ed on friday 😆

Im taking my Heckler out for a shakedown ride with my local group tonight – complete overkill for my local trails with 160 Marzocchi Bombers on it!

Damn, I would have loved to join you on Thursday but I’ve got a parents’ eve at school to attend. I’m sure you’ll have fun. Hebden is great.

For what it’s worth, some of the pics on Ed’s site for that course look like they’re on Stanny’s (AKA Public Funpath) and maybe the lower half of Pecket Well, plus some “other stuff”

Cheers Ecky. I really want to come back in the summer with a load of my riding mates, so hopefully I’ll get a good feel for the place.

Can’t escape for a beer after parents evening? 😈

Bump – for if anyone else fancies it on Thursday…

Sounds great but unlikely I’ll have finished lamb duties by 6pm.

Any chance to do the Blue Pig should be taken though – whilst the road is closed it’s a great run down from Heptonstall without having to dodge the traffic between the two sections.

I’m going to try and get out for this now subject to approval from SWMBO.

6PM at the Stubbing Wharf then? I’d agree with something staying local to Heptonstall too. Maybe up Jack Bridge, down the zig zags (or Slack Tracks), back up to Heptonstall, Blue Pig (or Stannys) and maybe a push up one side of Peckett Well and down the other (good) side?

I’ll confirm later…