Has anyone done either of the routes yet?
To me Day 1 looks a much nicer area and route than Day 2. I'm thinking of doing the Kettlewell, Hawes, Buttertubs, Reeth, Leyburn section, and then back over to Kettlewell.
Are there any other sections that are worth a ride? The Day 2 sections look less easy to combine in to a nice loop without having to go through the likes of Halifax to get back.
I've ridden day one the entire route as per the book.
Everything beyond Skipton is lovely but the A roads before this are dire, avoid.
Same goes for return route up until the A61 at Ripon. The section to Harrogate is awful.
I'd consider starting and ending at Pateley Bridge for a much more enjoyable day on the bike.
That's kind of what I was thinking. How long did it take you?
It was a 10 hour day including stops as I stupidly rode it on the CX bike with Landcruisers into a brisk headwind.
[url= http://www.strava.com/activities/123440046 ]Strava[/url]
I've done Day 1, steer clear of the Skipton/Harrogate road, head for the hills and lanes and take in Boroughbridge/Glasshouses and head into H'gate that way (Menwith Hill area)
I enjoyed it, best part for me Hawes and up/over the hills towards Skipton. The A roads before it are nice rolling stuff so not bad just busy with cars.
Doing it again in 4 weeks with my whippet Mate and I just know he'll drop me for dead as soon as it climbs that hill out of Hawes.. Git. 😆
Looking forward to doing some of this when I'm up there for Mrs. Rusty's annual caver's reunion first week of June. Was planning on following the [url= http://www.cyclethedales.org.uk/tour-de-france-in-the-dales/the-route ]TdF in the Dales route[/url] out of Grassington. 76 miles, 6000 feet including Buttertubs and Park Rash and I'll be on a cross bike (28mm tyres). Should be 'fun'. I'll be ringing ahead to the Muker Tea Rooms and telling them to put the defibrillator on standby.
rusty - thats pretty much the route I'm thinking of doing... on my CX with 32c tyres 😯
Here's a video of Stage 1
It's condensed into 5 minutes, to give you an idea what's in store!
Here's a video of Stage 1It's condensed into 5 minutes, to give you an idea what's in store!
They appear to have taken a wrong turn just after Kidstones and gone back under Kilnsey. And they missed out Addingham altogether!
Planning to do both stages over a weekend at the end of the month. Just to see what the pros will feel like 😉
FFS NO! NO! NO! 😡
It was a 10 hour day including stops as I stupidly rode it on the CX bike with Landcruisers into a brisk headwind.Strava
Impressive max speed there Mr B.
I'm far too skinny to have done 66mph, bloody GPS