Industrial Fell Biking

I have a weekend off, and what do I find when I get back?
It's gone all cold and muddy!

I don't know what Nick and Shaman looks so happy about!

We started from Elbut Lane Stables - a handy meeting point if you're dropping off a cowboy.
The loop round Rooley looks like this (right-click and open in new tab/window to see the full map):

Scotland Lane always seems to be muddy - it's either beasts in the field or cowboys, or both.
Today is no exception - I can't imagine why we thought it might be any different.

From the end of the lane we head for Croston Close Road. The first section is normally a rough, narrow track under a foot of water.
Today is no exception. But there are signs of council improvement afoot - maybe it's going to be dry next time?

It's pretty damp by the time we reach Cheesden Bridge, and we're soon off downhill on Bamford Road to Shuttleworth. It's a cling-on-for-grim-death-hoping-your-eyeballs-don't-pop-out kind of descent. It's a relief to have a bit of suspension.

Then it's a quick drop down to Stubbins and out along Route 6 to Irwell Vale. Over the railway line (making sure Pete Waterman doesn't run you down in a steam loco) then we head up. The first stage in the three part climb onto Scout Moor. Just a short section up to the M66.

We're joined on this section by a gaggle of other riders:

Then it's down the main road to a right turn at The Quarrymen's Arms. It's no longer a pub - not for at least ten years. Then the sharp climb up to Valley View Farm.

That's the second section completed. Now for the third act. We leave the other group behind and head up Sand Beds Lane towards Cowpe Lowe.

It's only a lane as far Sand Beds Farm, then it's path.

Then we're onto the unique tracks of Rooley Moor.
Stone slabs laid parallel, a cart's-width apart. Smooth to start, but now rutted by the passage of steel rimmed wheels. Great fun to ride.
Then it's on past the windmills, sprouting all over the moortop.
I think they're quite attractive.

And back to the stables.
Anyone recognise the location of the next picture, the valley of the purple trees?

Not the best photos, but it was a bit wet and I struggled getting the camera out in fat gloves - getting the lens cap off was a nightmare!
Oh yeah - and shorts in February? I'm lost for words!

Rain's stopped now and the sun's come out. Typical!

Posted by NoPies at 04:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

What better way than to spend it in the back garden?

A late start - horse trouble, punctures and the general shock at seeing that red ball of fire in the sky.
I knew it would show itself one day!
Can't beat cobbles for giving your arse a good pummelling.
Even when you're only going slowly uphill.

Have I mentioned the Robin Hood's Well descent?
It could be jolly fast, but you need o slow down for the ramblers.
A happy bunch today - must be the sunshine.

From Irwell Vale the only way is up. And today we go up to Valley View Farm.
The owner here opened a little cafe in a small caravan a few years ago.
A top place with real coffee and home-made cakes at a reasonable price - stuck in the middle of nowhere.
Anyone remember it?
The council closed it down because he hadn't applied for planning permission. Shame. No cake stop today.

They can't take the view away.
There's Peel Tower!

And rufty tufty moorland!

There are always people you know in the back garden.
Even when they can't remember your name! Lol!

Will I get in trouble for suggesting that Terrahawk looks a bit like Chipps?

or is it just the glasses....

At the request of Jonnym I've dug out a map of the route - or a close approximation anyway.
For all you geeky buffs out there it clocks in at 28Km, so a tad under 20 miles, and includes 780m climbing.

If you give it a go, let us know what you think!

Posted by NoPies at 05:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Actually it was blinking flip cold in Todmorden this morning!

View from the sky:

We had the wind behind us all the way up the valley, and the track walls provided some shelter up to Sharneyford.

It's nice to see some benefit from the icy blast.
Wind.
Like smells - doesn't show up well on a photograph.

Took the track down from Sharneyford.
Now I know there's a route down through the forest on the right - anyone ridden it?
This is near the bottom, past the erosion from the week before's rain.

You come out at Portsmouth, of all places. Short section of road into the teeth of the wind and then it's up the tarmac towards the Long Causeway - the road from Burnley to Hebden Bridge.

There's some tasty riding ahead.
A bridleway to the right takes us past an old farm and traverses the hill towards Whirlaw Stones.
It can be damp along here but today it's surprisingly dry.

At Whirlaw Stones the track becomes an old causey way - with lumpy rocks sticking out every which way.
Top riding!

It's easy to see why Singletrack Magazine set up office in the valley below!

Once down in the relative warmth of the valley we head along (alright then - alongside) the very full canal.
Then it's up through Ramsden Wood - another ridiculously steep Calderdale climb

that leads up to another Long Causeway - this one leads over to Watergrove.
Into the wind again - hard work!

From the top we take the easy option over towards Whitworth and along the old railway.

What a bracing ride!

Goes something like this:

Posted by NoPies at 08:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)