Has anyone ridden the leeds country way, from calverly woods right through to tong?
If so is it rideable?
Cheers
yeah but your best bet is to make the most of the woods in black carr, bankhouse, etc, speak to the pudsey over the hill lads they ride that way regular, or Christian at hit the hills, he knows it like the back of his hand. I know more of the calverley, ravenscliffe side
Wicked cheers fella your a star.
Ps whats over the hills and hit the hills?
Cheers
ridden it all, it is petty much all rideable.
dont go in the summer tho, cos it is nettle hell.
Cheers guys, not on facebook so will check out the site. Of this saturday, as my club are holding a centre trial, if anyone wants to join me.
Cheers for the mention Sancho.
HRCMONTY - check out this loop I did on Saturday, taking it all in:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/57061870
Muddy as **** though 🙂
All good and there's a nice descent line in Ravenscliffe wood. Loads in Calverley & West woods too. Not too many nettles on the official bits of the route but more on the cheeky/unmarked bits. Check out black Carr and you can get away with using the fp between black Carr and the bottom of keeper lane if you don't fancy the climb up to bankhouse.
Nice one, Looking forward to it all now.
I'm only in Guiseley and useally venture from my house out Otley way, yet there is so much Bradford way.
Cheers Guys Very Help full.
I'm in Raw3on and do most of my riding in Eshol, calverley, thackley.
but bingley has some of the best trails anywhere, speak to Chris as Crosstrax in rodley he is riding with a lot of people in the area.
Hay Sancho, yeah sure i'll nip in.
Do you have any good GPX files?
I took some guys on a good 30 miles route, over Otley, along the river to Leathley, along Leathley Res, upto Swinsty, up and down through Denton, Ilkley morr, Shipley Glen, Esholt home. Thats a superb ride and not much road work. I've got the GPX if you aint already got that.
Chris
hrcmonty, im in menston, and ride locally all the time. loads of riding (unofficial) on Ilkley moor! A good ride over the back of the other side of Ilkley, up to langbar, then a good few mile descent all the way to fewston, and to Stainburn! sadly thats a road ride back though!
Have you ridden up to the Chevin and back down the route that comes out by the ambulance station by st marys?
haha, yeah i have!!!, we usually just nip out from mine on Silverdale,
Up the Drop, along Carlton lane a bit, then up the Track to Suprise view, drop down that rough track to Chevin Park, Around there,Back up to Suprise view. Down the road, Lefdt down by that rather nice House by the Quarry, Right onto the road, then yes down that track that has now just had steps built in. Nice berms going down the first section isn't there!!!! I'm waiting for my Hong Kong Cree light to come then were off out on some evening rides like that.
Hi Wilde,
Just looking at the map around Langbar. Looks good i missed that.
So once you get to Swinsty, you can make it 95% Off road on the way back. you can go back through Leathley Res then follow river back into Otley, Up the Chevin (Killer). Have you got a GPX file of a route you do Ilkley to Langbar?
LOL yea the top of that route is awesome, with the berms, that bring you out to the rocky steps. nice little section, sometimes a bit too fast as the roads at the bottom! haha
been don it a few times at night, its great. i live in high royds too, and outta my window see groups of bikers flying down it every now and again (well, i see the torches)!
is there much behind argos in esholt woods?
haha, that would be funny to See.
My Brother in Law Lives on the Highroyds estate, up top in some flats.
Drives a Blue Van.
Esholt woods is good yeah, Some lads have just built a down hill route with Berms etc and a jump.
You can go through esholt, and get onto the Canal and up into Thackley Buck woods where Singletraction have built a jump park, and skill area.
But yeah Esholt woods is scenic and a gateway to a few good rides.
Is there much in Esholt woods?
Hell yes, its epic in there, a lot of high quality digging been going on with drops, berms, gaps, etc etc. load of technical and lots of mint singletrack, its good to nip through on the way to Bingley.
Chris that route is mint, Ive done that by going over the Chevin to Otley along the river to Pool, Leathley, past the reservoirs and back via Timble along middleton moor to Beamsley beacon where the descent down to Addingham is mental rocky.
then up on to Ilkley moor and back through Shipley Glen and Esholt, its a good all day ride. 45 miles ish last time and mostly off road.
Sancho Fully agree, gutted i missed Beamsley out now. But then i took a group of 4 out. 1 kept up, 1 did a good job, 2 others were dead after Leathley. For some reason they felt no breakfast would ok! Dur! i did say it was 30miles ish!! haha. Listen if anyones organising the route you've said above. Let me know, i loved it. We saw Deer in Leathley woods too, so that was cool. 3 of us got punctures at the same time, so took time to take in the scenery.
I love what i have on my doorstep. 😀
Agree we have some of the best trails in the world out our front door.
Have you checked out the nice descent on the far side of the Chevin, or even the one that goes from the trig point at the top of West Chevin and loops through all the woods and ends up at the bottom corner below the mll stone on East Chevin, it goes on forever.
Nick Craig used to ride with us a few times on the Chevin and around Esholt, he loved the trails we have round here.
We are trooping up to Hamsterley on sunday if you want to come along
right, looks like esholt woods is the place to be!
may check it out this weekend if i get chance.
is there any local groups that ride regularly? guiseley area 🙂
Ah No way, thats my next venture. I've used my Brownie points on going out to watch the lads trial on Saturday. So i'll ride to Tong Park.
But 26th were off for a play at Gisburn. Ham dose look Cock on though, and it's about the same distance as Gisburn.
Wilde there will be soon I intend to get out regularly over winter and do Guisely, Chevin Esholt Rides,.
Check Chris at Rodley he is out regular.
cheers guys.
monty, dont have gps im afraid. il see if i can plot it on a map for you though, and post it on here. from stainburn, i ride back through leathley through to pool, and up pool bank on to the chevin! then back over to menston.
sancho, what bike you on, il keep my eyes open for you!
im organising a trip to coed y brenin and llandegla for sunday 20th/mon 21st if anyone wants to come along?
usually ride the Lakes to be honest, perfer natural big mountain stuff. rode helvellyn a few weeks ago (say ridden, mean carried the bike up, then rode back down) 😉
Im on either a green Maxlight or a white covert.
I hated Helvellyn, so much effort so little reward, not going to do that one again, I cant make the 20th/21st, but Ill have to show you some of the downhill on Ilkley moor, also I fancy a lakes trip, do you fancy a ride from Hawkshead soon?
hmm not seen those bikes around! im on a purple alpine 160.
to be honest ilkley moor is my back yard , so i know all the trails like the back of my hand 😉 love it up there, but theres a farmer on burley moorside that chases bikers these days and hes a bit of a menace! so for ilkley moor, its best to start behind ilkley college and ride up to keighley gate, and from there theres so many paths down and around the moors. do you know the board walks up by the stone circle? thats a sweet descent.
im light-less at the moment so cant ride after dark! but one weekend soon can do a local ride if you want? chevin/esholt/ilkley moor.
was meant to be in the lakes this weekend but the missus is making me go look at houses 🙁
but yea, i know the lakes quite well and am certainly up for that, you have a route in mind?
Matt
oh, and helvellyn was mint! did you ride down dollywagon?? crazy descent - i came off a few times tho 😉
I'm up for a night time ride around Chevin, Esholt ilkley moor.
I'm on a Jamis durango, that i've 1x9'd. Get on pretty well with it.
Wilde, E-bay Cree 1330Lm. £20 from Hong Kong. Mate of mines just got one through. Bloody Bright!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1300-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-Bike-Bicycle-Light-Flashlight-A9-/350484271307?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D5%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D4097603822411935296
I've also got some Bar and Helmet holders from http://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/951357/
Jobs a goodun.
cheers for that, il have a look :)need to get one sorted asap really. was delivery to your mate the same as they say it is online? a mate ordered a light from asia and it came months later...
so youve lost your granny cog ey?? brave move.. uphill definatley isnt my strength lol so il keep 2 rings up front lol
HaHa, I didn't know whether to do it or not, But i did the Bronte Challange this year, and found i didn't need to change at the front. (Good Job Really) It's just a bummer on road sections!
Yeah his came in liturally 3 weeks to the day of ordering.
I've had a few things from U.S and Asia, and delivery has been at the lower end of what they estimate.
Hay Matt, i know your name. But without sounding like a Dating site,
How old are you?
haha im 25 mate. do i know you? lol how old are you?
Don't know, I just know your name.
I'm 29, Chris Bancroft originally of Horsforth, Went to Benton Park.
6ft, Blue Eyes, Likes to Ride, Looking for friendship LOL 😆
Actually i remember Kirsty Wilde! You got an older sister?
A purple alpine 160 shouldnt be too hard to spot.
Yeah came down Dollywagon, but it was just a staircase.
after so much effort to get up it wasnt up to much.
board walks are good fun, my fave on Ilkley moor is the descent from the railway huts to the Hermit, really like that one.
I have a meeting soon with the landowner of the surrounding moors to discuss the permission of cyclists on these moors, mainly the Dick Hudsons path. I aim to get access rights on this path.
Thinking going Skelwith, Langdales, back to Coniston, Grizedale and back over to Hawkshead via the Breasty Haw cottage
Hay Sancho, if you need any Backing, Like combating erosion to any paths. I as am sure many are there for you, to spend a weekend laying stones etc, Digging drainage etc. 😀
the issue with Ilkley moor is the soil erosion caused by bikes skidding (apparently). there would be no option to add bike trials on there as the council simply wont allow it.
The land owner from dick hudsons right over to the stone circle, is classed as burley moor. And the owner is a right little sh1t!
hes put signs all over the moor saying no cycling, and he followed me up the other week. so i got off and walked, pushing my bike for about half a mile/ Just to spite him i wasnt going to turn around, and he followed me in 1st gear in his hilux all the way to the top of the moor! nice waste of half a tank of fuel for him! lol then i rode down the rest of the moor he cant 'control'
chris, hmm i recognise your name too... i went to ilkley grammar, and dont have an older sister!
do you guys use a local bike shop then?
and sancho, im up for that ride! should be good.
need to get something organised, i didnt realise there were so many people so local to me! lol ive been meeting a York based group called All the gea no idea.
HaHa, i reckon there's tonnes of people around the area.
Hmmmm, most of my stuff comes from Superstar, or Pinkbike and singletrack.
When i win the lottery then i'll go to Chevin and CRC etc.
Work wise i do everything my self.
Hmmmm Don't know then, we used to have Bancroft motorcycles in Horsforth? Anyway, probably know some one that knows someone that knows someone haha!!
Yeah Ilkley moor, what a bummer with land owners! So what about all the ruts walkers are making with their Sticks!!!!.
I saw those no cycling signs last time i was up! Whoops i speaka no english sir!
Wilde, Ive had a few discussions with the guy, as part of the access meetings we had with Bradford Council and we got access to Ilkley moor in the end, I have a good feeling Ill be able to work something out, it may well be give and take and yes we may need to do some digging etc, but I think it would be worth it.
a few friends of mine ride with all the gear.
Do you fancy 27th for the lakes?
Hay Sancho, you need help digging etc, be sure to call.
yea, the 27th sounds good to me. was meant to be riding the mary townley loop over todmorden that day, but not sure thats going ahead!
thats really good news, didnt realise you had the council involved. its usually a slow process with them, but keeping it legit is certainly the way forward. Im up for digging too, and know loads of local riders around Ilkley. To be honest, when i ride up from Menston, its on a 'road' from hilltop farm, up past the reservoir, never leavign the path, so i honestly dont see where his issue is. the path is gravel and concrete so no damage is being done whatso ever. I get the impression, the bloke i have encountered is on some kind of power trip, as ive seen him tearing along the moor road threatening runners as well as bikers! moron. lol.
Sancho, whats your name? are you guys on facebook? be easier for arranging rides etc..
Im Ed Battye, there's shed loads of riders in the area, I own Crosstrax but dont hold that against me :).
I ride with loads of people.
That guy is a complete bell end on the Menston side, I dont use that gravel motorway anymore after he tried to ram me off the track in his 4x4.
Being in rawdon I do like to ride up to the BMX track in Yeadon then do the Chevin on a night for a couple of hours.
Im confident that after 20 years of riding the Dick Hudsons Path I'll finally be able to do it legaly.
haha! really?! tried to get to your shop a few times, and every time its closed!! not going to hold that against you though, you were probably out riding/harassing farmers! 😉
so do you attend public meetings then regarding the access issue? id like to get involved.
Yea the guy has pushed me off my bike at Burley Woodhead, when i stood up and he saw the size of me and a few mates, he soon quietened down!
Still though, hes out of order. I think we need a group of up to 30+ to all ride up there together, see how he likes that lol
So Ed, owning a bike shop doesnt make you super quick at riding uphill then does it? 😉 if so, i may have to reconsider a 'big mountain' lakeland ride with you!!
Ha Ha yeah probably off riding somewhere, unfortnately I am slower now since opening the shop but I have more fun on the way down and I got to know a load more cool people who ride in the area. And a load of new routes that I didnt know about.
(Ive just put up a new web site so I will be putting rides and stuff up on it soon)
Yeah I got involved in the Ilkley moor thing for a couple of years, and chaired the Leeds Cycling development plan with the council, but that led to nowhere.(Though it did stop them tearing down Adel again)
However, Im meeting this guy on a one to one, to hopefully work something out, Im thinking if we can do some maintenance in key points he will give access, that Menston side, Im not sure about, but one thing at a time.
Ed was dead helpful on the Ilkley Moor access issue when it all blew up due to some pretty NIMBY attitudes a few years ago. Off the back of this a new access agreement got negotiated with BradMet. It's poorly publicised but, most significantly, legitimises the responsible use of the Moor by bike riders. That is the Moor owned by BradMet which is only part of the wider Rombalds Moor area.
Fingers crossed with the Moorland owner that Ed is talking to about access. SingletrAction is waiting for the call to assist. Certainly we have tools, a volunteer manpower force (ish - being volunteers it's hard to guarantee their presence 😉 and considerable experience of design, specification and construction. There's no point in agreeing this and getting materials to then do poor quality work 🙂
Ed was also key to development of the Buck Woods / Thackley skills spot. That place went from being badly laid out, barely achieving any of its potential to have several jump lines with opportunities for progression and a pump track. Result.
The more people that talk and get involved, the more chance we all have of making Leeds / Bradford and the wider area an even more stonking place to ride.
spot on cheeky monkey (theres something i never thought id say)!
Sounds like we have Ed to thank for quite a bit then really! I had no idea I was talking to some one of such stature 😉
I need to check out my local spots by the sounds of it, as i have never really explored past Ilkley Moor and the Chevin! Ive lived here all my life and dont even know half the places your talking about! 🙁
Ed, Il find you on facebook if your there, and we can organise this lakeland ride for the 27th! anyone else if you wanna add me, (for mountainbiking purposes only - thats aimed at you hrcmonty haha) its matthewjwilde AT hotmail. co .uk
Hey Matt it will be brilliant in the lakes.
And Ive been shown loads of stuff over the years, Ill have to show you Bingley, Cottingley, Harden, that's the shit right there.
Look up singletraction on Facebook or check out our website at www.singletraction.org.uk.
Come up to Stainburn (off the Pateley Bridge Road, north of Otley) and try the trails. Can be a "marmite" experience 😉
Volunteer trail building days are first sunday of every month from c.10am at the main car park (same as the trail head). All welcome.
Tim
Chairman, SingletrAction
A group of us organise nightrides on the SingletrAction forum, in the last few weeks we've done Bingley/Harden, Esholt/Thackley/Calverley, Leeds from Lawnswood and Otley Chevin. We maybe doing Stainburn next week.
We ride throughout the year, generally on Mondays these days but sometimes Tuesdays. New faces are always welcome, 🙂
aaah, my mate james (jay) day spends alot of time with guys from singletraction! so il bob up next time you have a dig day! saw you were up there the other week, but i 'had' to go try the new trails at llandegla! 😉
Tim, i have to say, from looking at the website, your facebook page, and actually riding some of the trails you guys have helped with/built.. your doing a pretty damn fine job! so, thanks for providing me with somewhere to ride! time to help and give something back tho! 🙂
Ed, sounds good mate! will get some dates down and get some stuff organised! you on a motorcross in facebook pic?
yeah that's me on the dirt bike.
I reckon te 27th could be an epic ride, see if a few people want to pop along.
i do enjoy a epic! ridden Skiddaw a few times in the last two months.. now thats an epic! i will see if i can arrange a few others to get involved! Keep us posted on progress with the council, would love to get involved with a dig on ilkley moor!
Chris (monty)cant find you on facebook mate, give us a shout and we can sort a local ride! Looks like Ed has some local trails up his sleeve!
Hi Guy,s sorry i had to dash off to fix a water pump on a friends Aygo.
Matt, Ed, Simon. sorry i've not joined facebook as i was pretty happy being a hermit and my past NOT finding me, but i think i'm going to have to bite the bullet and do it, as it's the only way you find things out these days, or communicate with people.
So once i'm up i'll send you a Friend request.
Cheers guys, looking forward to helping a good cause and getting out on some rides.
haha Chris, well done for lasting so long with out it! speak soon mate
Hey fellas....would like to get involved with any of activities,if your doing facebook contact then would one of you {pref one of the organisers} get in touch with me on FB Garry Preece or at garry.preece1@ntlworld.com thanks . Live in Leeds 15 pref prefer MTB
ride a Trek at moment.