Hi all
As part of yesterdays ride, I visited Hebden Bridge and rode Pecket Well and Blue Pig, both of which I really enjoyed. I'm relatively local and shamefully I know very little about the area.
Please can you good folk name some of the best descents that Hebden Bridge and the surrounding areas have to offer? Ideally I'm looking for steep, long and techy dh's.
If you could also mention where the start of the descent is that would be fantastic.
Thanks in advance
Craig
There are two versions of the Pecket Well descent - both start in the same place, but there’s a fork near the top where you either go straight on over a drain/stream or go sharp right down to a bridge and back up.
Not steep or especially tech, but still fun is Ali’s Zigzags. Look on a map for the bridleway that joins Popples common above Slack to Lumb Bank. Careful across Popples - historic conflict zone with chicken and neighbour issues.
For legal bridleway descents, the only other one is Rodwell End, which comes out in the carpark on the right as your head to Tod. The start is on Cross Stone Road, first bridleway on the right as you head out of Cross Stone away from Tod.
Then there’s the almost legal depending on which map you choose Chipps’ Birthday Present/Ernie’s. That starts just above the Honesty Box at Old Chamber, and goes under the track to Old Chamber and into the woods. Definitely technical - has been washed out by rains and is like a slot canyon. Bear left as you enter the woods.
If you’re not far away, there’s a Tuesday night group that has a splinter group that takes on the steeper/cheekier stuff from time to time. Might be a good way to figure out how things join up and where the angry neighbours are?
Peckett Well you can start over the other side of the main road on High Brow Knoll too for some moorland stuff to kick off with. Legal option spits you out further up on Limers Gate but you can pick up a FP to join onto a BW (marked Deer Stones Edge on the OS map).
The Rodwell End one mentioned above is a good one, especially if you do the top bit from Cross Stone (lightning fast singletrack). When you reach the houses the BW splits - right through the houses is a bit slower with zig zags. Straight on is rockier but straighter. Prefer the left to be honest.
If you want to look at other options in Calderdale (because Hebden isn't the entirety of Calderdale!) then the stuff nearer Halifax is excellent. LOADS of options... legit: Hollas Lane from Norland to the river and there is a legit route through Elland Woods but thats not the point. Explore Norland, North Dean, Elland Woods and Rastrick Woods and you'll find monsters...
Stoodley pike sheep track is probably the longest in the area.
If you’re not far away, there’s a Tuesday night group that has a splinter group that takes on the steeper/cheekier stuff from time to time. Might be a good way to figure out how things join up and where the angry neighbours are?
Is there anywhere to get a bit more info about this group? I can't typically do Tuesdays but it'd be good for the ones I can...
The "problem" with the area around Heb is linking all the good bits together in a ride, as some of them are out of the way, or only really accessible as part of a larger ride. Plus much of the good stuff is legally a bit sketchy and can piss of the locals if you're not careful. I'll add to the list of legal good ones.
Off the front of Heptonstall. From the bowling club follow the obvious BW past allotments to your right and a stone wall to your left, at the junction in the clearing, turn left for super tight tech, turn right for longer not so tight super tech go downhill at every junction. Pops you out on the main road to the left of Colden Close.
Stoodley pike sheep
Good call, apart from the slope off the front of the pike, not massively techy though?
I’ll add to the list of legal good ones.
Off the front of Heptonstall. From the bowling club follow the obvious BW past allotments to your right and a stone wall to your left, at the junction in the clearing, turn left for super tight tech, turn right for longer not so tight super tech go downhill at every junction. Pops you out on the main road to the left of Colden Close.
Not in the least bit legal 🙂 Definitely avoid on sunny weekends, or prepare to go very slowly.
Is there anywhere to get a bit more info about this group?
Ride Drink Pie - they're on Facebook and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ridedrinkpie/
The name is a clue as to their ethos!
Not in the least bit legal
Bits of it are...Stop being so picky 😂 Let's agree to call it "established"
Ride Drink Pie – they’re on Facebook and Instagram> https://www.instagram.com/ridedrinkpie/ < The name is a clue as to their ethos!
Awesome, thanks. I'll see if I can work out something with work to let me skip a meeting every other Tuesday...
At the other end of Calderdale to mentioned above there's some good stuff dotted around Todmorden too, I have no idea what's legal or not though. The descent down the side of Gaddings is quite long, and tech-ish in places but almost certainly a footpath...
The descent down the side of Gaddings is quite long, and tech-ish in places but almost certainly a footpath…
Whats your problem caller 😉
These are all fantastic suggestions, thanks a lot. I also didn't realise there was so much closer to Halifax, so all the exploring should keep me going for a while.
The Tuesday night piss up...sorry I mean ride sounds like a good laugh too. However, I guess I best own up, I'm on an emtb so not sure if they cater for the cheaters among us 😂
I've done my time on analogue bikes, for years I was a huge fan of the super capable steel Blue Pig and used to race DH on one of the burlier builds I had. Anyhow, now I prefer to leisurely get to the top for maximum fun back down.
I've just checked out #RideDrinkPie on Facebook and this is their opening gambit
"A group of mates who ride around in the dark and then drink beer and eat pies"
Brilliant 😂😂😂
Emtbs welcome! There was one on tonight’s ride.
Work have given me the nod to skive my 7pm meeting every other Tuesday :). The facebook group is pretty quiet so is it just a case of rock up at 7pm and assume there'll be a ride on? I'll likely also be on an ebike...