Mary Towneley direction

magic johnson

Can someone advise the best way round MTL please. I've read that either clockwise or anticlocks good but which is best? Rather ride the ups than push em.

Cheers

Magic

stubs

I have done it both ways starting from Lumb and there is no better way in my opinion. Whichever way you go there are some grinding climbs out of the valleys particulary out of Hebden Bridge.

The only thing I can think of that made any difference was that the shops in Hebden seemed to appear at just the right time when we did it Anti clock from Lumb. We were just about dying on our arsses when the cake shops of Hebden appeared. I was too knackered to even ask for a cake I just pointed at what I wanted and the woman understood. They are probably used to speechless sunburnt sweaty wrecks staggering into the shop in dire need of calories and E numbers

If you havent seen it yet this is a good sitehttp://www.idonohoe.com/mountian_bike9.htm

stumpyjon

If you want to ride the climbs then go clockwise, that means steep descents off Gorple stones and particularly down from Cragg Quarry. Downside is the grinding but rideable climbs up to Gorple Stones and up Rooley Moor road. If you do it anti clockwise you are likely to push more but then you get long sustained downs which I think means you go faster overall (for me riding some of the climbs isn't much faster than pushing so overall length is more critical than steepness).

Mancunianfightingcat

I've only done it anti-clockwise, and like Stumpyjon says, you get longer descents, unlike him though(), I can only recall having to push once and that was only because it was a charity ride and there were already people off and pushing in front of and around me. Don't get me wrong. they're bloomin steep and loose in places, but they are do-able!

stumpyjon

I remember pushing up to Cragg Quarry (at the start), about halfway around after Callis bridge and I had to push the last bit up to Gorple Stones. Mind you I did it in 7 hrs many others did in 5 to 6 hours :shock:

stubs

Didnt do any pushing in either direction but I did do a lot of sitting on walls and stones panting waiting for the world to stop wobbling

My best time about 8 hours

magic johnson

Thanks all.

Clockwise, methinks then.

magic johnson

We went anti-clock in the end......hell, thats a tough route. Did a bit of pushing, a bit of moaning and plenty of grinning.

The Ram pub half way round was excellent for re-fuelling.

I wont tell you how long we were out....you'd laugh!!

Ade

stubs

magic johnson wrote:

We went anti-clock in the end......hell, thats a tough route. Did a bit of pushing, a bit of moaning and plenty of grinning.

The Ram pub half way round was excellent for re-fuelling.

I wont tell you how long we were out....you'd laugh!!

Ade

Well I wont laugh at your time well done for completeing. I agree about the Ram Inn beer and food is fantastic and sitting in the beer garden admiring the view is well worth the ride.

daveaasmith

Yep, it's all about the Ram !

I've done it twice clockwise - don't particularly fancy doing it anti-clockwise. Leech gets easier, then you get to play in the quarry - altho don't play too hard or (depending how far from base you are at that point - Hebden for me) you'll not have much leg to get home!

A fantastic ride, very little compares.

homers_double

I was planning to do it with a mate this summer, however his broken shoulder has scuppered our plans.

stumpyjon

Do it in September, the local mountain rescue run an organised event each year. Costs around £ 20 but it's for a good cause and they provide fuel at the check points. Good craic too, usually around 200 to 300 riders.