Where to ride NR Ripon

dav1

So I am lucky enough to be spending a few days in ripon for work over easter and wonders where is good to ride. I should be getting an afternoon off and a way to take the bike with me.

Im mostly into XC/AM on my HT so suitable routes. Need to be able to rode there or go by train from harrogate.

Dalby Red has been on my hit list for a long time but it seems to be just out of reach for an afternoon

Any suggestions will be great, havent ridden in yourkshire yet and would love to get the chance.

pemsey

Nidderdale is a good circuit if you just want a XC route - best place to start/finish is Pately Bridge (Pies from the Butchers at the top of the high street are manna from heaven!) - plenty of sites have the route posted - it's something like 22 miles with some ups, some downs and some flat bits

dav1

looks good, isit waymarked? Is is possible to ride there from ripon easily?

pemsey

As I remember it's about 12 miles from Ripon - bit up and down - I'm fairly sure there's a back route that's easier _ someone local might be able to help! Trouble is Ripon is on the flat bit in between 2 areas of fabulous riding - the Dales to the West and the North York Moors to the East!

The route itself isn't waymarked specifically for mtb'ing - but the majority of it follows the Nidderdale Way bridleway - off hand I can't remember which sites have it on - it's been in some of the mags etc.

dav1

Im looking at it and its a 11-12 mile ride to fountains earth, which is about half way around based on this map

http://www.sharemyroutes.com/routes/Uni ... ngmap.aspx

Trouble is that my navigation skills are crap and I cant afford to get lost in unfamiliar terrotory riding solo when my retreat meeting begins that evening. I can upload a GPS route to google maps on my mobile though and whip it out of my pocket when needed.

How long does it tipcally take to ride the route? I would usually ride 20 miles in under 2 hrs but then again norfolk is very very flat compared to the dales.

Would 2 hrs (based on the 17 listed on that map posted) allowance be about right? (thinking another hour each way to get there and back from ripon as well so 4 hr total)

Graham K

I am just bookmarking this as it may come in handy for when I have a few days at the caravan in Knaresborough.