Mills n Moors Series - Blazing Saddles
Info: New entries for this event closed on Friday 19th April 2024 at 20:00.
| Entry Fee | £15.00 |
Mills n Moors Series '30 for 30'
Join us as we celebrate 30 years of the Blazing Saddles bike shop with three routes of approximately 30km and 30 miles that take in some of the best trails above Hebden Bridge in the Calder Valley, West Yorkshire. You will receive all 4 gpx routes in the week leading up to the event and so you can choose which route you fancy nearer the day (and do the others later in the summer if that suits you).
1.'Blue' grade route - London Road (21km)
The center piece of the route is London Road, the wide gravel track that runs just below Stoodley Pike and takes you to Mankinholes and the stone sheep. 400 meters of climbing.
2. 'Red' grade route - Wizard of Whirlaw (31km)
From the shop its up to Old Chamber and a loop to Withens Clough before dropping DOWN the Penny Steps, a very long and steep bridleway made up of stone setts to arrive at the 'stone sheep' in Mankinholes. Then its onto Todmorden and a big climb up to see the Wizard before a blast along Dukes Cut and an ace descent. 31km gravel / mtb route with 820 meters of climbing
3. 'Black' grade route - Top of the Stairs (41 miles/66km)
Big day out with 1400 meters of climbing. We take the same trail as the 'red' route to see the Wizard but after Dukes Cut its onto Gorple, the House of Muck and the climb up the rough track to crest the moor overlooking Haworth. NB: the original idea was to send riders across Midgley Moor but with all the rain the track is a bog and a large group of riders would make a real mess of the moor so the 'black' route is slightly longer than planned but it does take you on an excellent series of tracks with an interesting descent down Luddenden Valley on a little known bridleway.
4. 'Black' E-MTB - Great Rock (74km / 1,600m)
As the red and black route involve a section of trail where you need to lift/carry your bike up a steep and rough track this E-MTB takes riders on a descent over the Whirlaw Common causeway and then up to the Great Rock. A superb route. Very techy in places. Full suspension bike a very good idea. NB: this route can be done by any rider who feels capable its just labelled as an E-Bike route given the distance and elevation and it'll be good to see riders back at the yard for the party between 1-3pm and an e-bike will whizz around this route.
Giving something back to the Calder Valley
The event will aid the work of Calder Valley Search and Rescue and Slow the Flow
Event details
- Sign on between 8.30am - 10am on the Sunday
- Pick up your embroidered cloth badge
- Head off when you're ready as there is NO ‘mass start’.
- Tea / coffee / cake at the start line at the back of the shop
- Artisan pizza van from 10am till 4pm offering fresh pizza
- DJ with selection 70's and 80's soul and indie
- Calder Valley Search and Rescue vehicle on hand / meet the team
- Beer from 11am - 4pm
- Everyone is invited to the party in the yard at the back at the shop after their ride
- Maps and a description of the three routes can be found on the Yorkshire Divide website: https://yorkshiredivide.co.uk/mills-n-moors-series
The rides on the 'Mills n Moors Series' are a personal challenge. They are not races, there is no ‘mass start' and the route is NOT way marked. Both routes start form the lane at the back of the shop, head along the canal towpath and then its up to the tops. The routes use bridleways and tracks of gravel, peat and stone and whilst they are challenging, as we cross large areas of cross open moorland and there is no rescue vehicle, they are NOT techy enduro or downhill mtb style routes. Any one of the following bikes would get you around the route: Gravel bike / Mountain bike / E-bike. The terrain is not suitable for road bikes.
The group social ride departs at 10.10am from the back of the bike shop taking the 'RED' grade 30km route. If you aren’t in a hurry to get around the route and just want to ride with a bunch of other folk on a bike then join us (minimum age of 18 years old). There is no fixed speed we cycle at. We will be stopping and waiting for each other and we can take turns opening the many gates!
It should be note that there the group ride will take between 3-5 hours and it is not a 'guided' ride. It is a group social ride. It is not lead by a profession/qualified outdoor instructor and there is no mechanical backup except the fixing of the occasional puncture. NB: riders should take out there own personal and /or bike insurance as non is provided. Any question about the ride then please contact: yorkshiredivide@gmail.com
The organisers do not provide insurance: Therefore it is advisable to have your own insurance. Being insured through either British Cycling, Cycling UK or other appropriate body would help cover you for your personal liability and any possible bike loss/damage or injury.
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View the Event Cancellation / Refund Policy.
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