Cycling in north Yorkshire
Frank the tank
Posts: 6,553
Just had a weekend cycling in north Yorkshire and I must say that the attitude of motorists was refreshing compared to the usual carry on in my usual local territory. Had not a sing close call and all passing traffic gave our group plenty of room when passing, in four words we were given respect.
We were talking about this and rightly or wrongly we "sort of" came to the conclusion it was due to the number of cyclists on the road and the fact cycling as a sport seems to have been taken to the Yorkshire bossom due to the TDF and the tour of Yorkshire.
Whatever the reason it was a pleasure cycling there.
We were talking about this and rightly or wrongly we "sort of" came to the conclusion it was due to the number of cyclists on the road and the fact cycling as a sport seems to have been taken to the Yorkshire bossom due to the TDF and the tour of Yorkshire.
Whatever the reason it was a pleasure cycling there.
Tail end Charlie
The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.
The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.
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Comments
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Glad you enjoyed it in this neck of the woods,both the moors and the wolds are great places to ride,the moors gave me great training for my last trip to the alps two years ago0
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We were doing it in preperation for a Dolomites trip next month, love Park Rash.eric draven wrote:Glad you enjoyed it in this neck of the woods,both the moors and the wolds are great places to ride,the moors gave me great training for my last trip to the alps two years agoTail end Charlie
The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.0 -
I live up here (near Skipton) and have genuinely found that most motorists are generally quite courteous*, and it has improved in recent years. Presumably as you say because more people are cycling and the people driving these vehicles may be cyclists themselves or have a husband/wife/other member of family who is and so thinks twice about silly manoeuvres. Of course I always try to ride responsibly and wave cars past when I can on narrow roads etc, a bit of give and take goes a long way.
*apart from on the A65. Ride on there and you will probably die.0 -
I've not really got anything to compare by but I lived in Notts for a year (where the OP is from) and cycled *everywhere*, about 14 miles a day on all the busy roads. I was surprised that I found the drivers there quite polite too.....apart from one....., so much as letting me into traffic etc.0
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If you're into MTB'ing too. Dalby Forrest near Pickering is definitely worth a visit. The red trail is over 34km long."The Prince of Wales is now the King of France" - Calton Kirby0
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People you meet in beautiful areas at the weekends are already in a good mood, because they have chosen to visit a beautiful area, and its the weekend.0
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That said, roads are also used by racing bikers at weekends flying at outrageous speed... the police doesn't seem to care too much for themleft the forum March 20230
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Frank the tank wrote:
We were doing it in preperation for a Dolomites trip next month, love Park Rash.eric draven wrote:Glad you enjoyed it in this neck of the woods,both the moors and the wolds are great places to ride,the moors gave me great training for my last trip to the alps two years ago
Nothing to love about Park Rash, I live a few miles away and I bloody hate it. You are right though about the drivers, apart from the odd grumpy farmer everyone is great. As another poster said be courteous back, allow them past when you can, give them a wave or thumbs up. I see these videos of incidents in cities like the butcher fellow and I thank my lucky stars I live up here.0 -
Totally agree, despite living on the doorstep of The Lakes, I tend to head to the Dales as it tends to be a bit quieter and I have never had any problems with drivers, motorcyclists or even farmers!
Being a Yorkshireman I am biased though.0 -
That said, roads are also used by racing bikers at weekends flying at outrageous speed... the police doesn't seem to care too much for them
The Police are trying to do something about this,they have quite a number of unmarked sports bikes,and they run you up to a road block so no way out of it,I no of 6 people this happened to last year, if you are caught doing triple figures you are going to be walking for quite a considerable time0 -
While all you locals are posting on the joys of Yorkshire, what's the verdict on these two sportives. Maybe the wrong people to ask (I refuse to pay £30 to ride on my local roads!) but if you haven't ridden either, what do you think of the routes?
104 miles, starts 9 miles from where I'm staying, 5,361 of climbing, £20, start time bit early at 0700:
http://rtbsportives.weebly.com/
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/622970682/
Or:
72 miles, starts 5 miles from where I'm staying, 4,905 of climbing, £35, start time bit late at 0900:
https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/fundraise-events/cycling-harrogate-sportive-yorkshire
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/434485864/
Alternatively, any welcoming clubs go out from near there on Sundays?
Many thanks0 -
Not my club, but have a look at Ilkley Cycling Club, one of the biggest clubs in the UK.
If you were looking for a Sportive to do then have a look at the White Rose Classic that Ilkley CC run. I rode it a couple of years ago. Excellent organisation, superb route and brutal!0 -
*apart from on the A65. Ride on there and you will probably die.
Yeah.. Lethal road - bad enough in a car - I have never cycled down it and never will - There are much better roads (for cycling) going in the same direction just slightly further north (B6265 anyone) which have drivers on that aren't doing 60/70mph...
I love riding around here, mtb or on the road, and can't wait to be free for the summer so I can get out and enjoy it some more
bob6397Boardman HT Team - Hardtail
Rose Pro-SL 2000 - Roadie0 -
That said, roads are also used by racing bikers at weekends flying at outrageous speed... the police doesn't seem to care too much for them
The Police are trying to do something about this,they have quite a number of unmarked sports bikes,and they run you up to a road block so no way out of it,I no of 6 people this happened to last year, if you are caught doing triple figures you are going to be walking for quite a considerable time
Doesn't seem much of a deterrent. I was on the roads for 9 hours during the Etape du Dales and at times I felt like I was lapping at Donington...
left the forum March 20230 -
Not my club, but have a look at Ilkley Cycling Club, one of the biggest clubs in the UK.
If you were looking for a Sportive to do then have a look at the White Rose Classic that Ilkley CC run. I rode it a couple of years ago. Excellent organisation, superb route and brutal!
I'm just there that weekend so choice of those two sportives only or maybe tag along instead with Cappuccino Cycling Club or Harrogate Nova (both seem to be in Harrogate so quite a lot closer) if they'll have me. Sorry shouldn't have added this to this debate as it's a total sidetrack. I'll shut up now but am looking forward to some proper hills after the tedium of Kent....0 -
We came out one Sunday on a club ride, from a side road onto the A65 which we had to cross. There was a traffic cop stood on the corner. he nodded to us and said "careful out there lads, all the nutters are out in force today". he was not wrong. I once ended up having to ride down it for a few miles. Terrifying! I actually stopped, slung my bike onto the grass verge and walked it. It was that bad. Never again.Nothing to prove. http://adenough1.blogspot.co.uk/0
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The 72 mile sportive is a great route. I've ridden that circuit once years ago, and it was really tough (for me anyway) but very scenic and a lovely ride in the summer.Not my club, but have a look at Ilkley Cycling Club, one of the biggest clubs in the UK.
If you were looking for a Sportive to do then have a look at the White Rose Classic that Ilkley CC run. I rode it a couple of years ago. Excellent organisation, superb route and brutal!
I'm just there that weekend so choice of those two sportives only or maybe tag along instead with Cappuccino Cycling Club or Harrogate Nova (both seem to be in Harrogate so quite a lot closer) if they'll have me. Sorry shouldn't have added this to this debate as it's a total sidetrack. I'll shut up now but am looking forward to some proper hills after the tedium of Kent....
I've just looked at the map again and see that the sportive is doing it in the opposite direction as I did it anti-clockwise from Harrogate. However it should still be a great ride.0 -
I would agree that the Ilkley Sportive (White Rose) is excellent, but the final climb of Langbar just 3 or 4 miles from the end after all those miles, might not be to some peoples liking!!http://www.mallorcacyclinghotels.co.uk
Cycling friendly accommodation in Mallorca0 -
While all you locals are posting on the joys of Yorkshire, what's the verdict on these two sportives. Maybe the wrong people to ask (I refuse to pay £30 to ride on my local roads!) but if you haven't ridden either, what do you think of the routes?
104 miles, starts 9 miles from where I'm staying, 5,361 of climbing, £20, start time bit early at 0700:
http://rtbsportives.weebly.com/
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/622970682/
Or:
72 miles, starts 5 miles from where I'm staying, 4,905 of climbing, £35, start time bit late at 0900:
https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/fundraise-events/cycling-harrogate-sportive-yorkshire
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/434485864/
Alternatively, any welcoming clubs go out from near there on Sundays?
Many thanks
The Wetherby sportive routes are meh
The 72 mile route is through excellent scenery - no-brainer!FFS! Harden up and grow a pair0 -
While all you locals are posting on the joys of Yorkshire, what's the verdict on these two sportives. Maybe the wrong people to ask (I refuse to pay £30 to ride on my local roads!) but if you haven't ridden either, what do you think of the routes?
104 miles, starts 9 miles from where I'm staying, 5,361 of climbing, £20, start time bit early at 0700:
http://rtbsportives.weebly.com/
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/622970682/
Or:
72 miles, starts 5 miles from where I'm staying, 4,905 of climbing, £35, start time bit late at 0900:
https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/fundraise-events/cycling-harrogate-sportive-yorkshire
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/434485864/
Alternatively, any welcoming clubs go out from near there on Sundays?
Many thanks
The sportive from Wetherby is pretty good for a £20 charitable sportive.
Other local club runs to the ones you'vd highlighted include Wetherby Wheelers out to Malham - http://www.wetherbywheelers.btck.co.uk/ClubRuns or Prologue Cycle shop in Harrogate will be running a ride out to and from the shop/ café.0 -
These guys in Knaresborough are meant to be pretty good - I'm going to check it out when I have some more free time.. http://www.knaresborough-spinners.org.uk/
(They are about 15 mins from Harrogate in a car..)
bob6397Boardman HT Team - Hardtail
Rose Pro-SL 2000 - Roadie0 -
Not my club, but have a look at Ilkley Cycling Club, one of the biggest clubs in the UK.
If you were looking for a Sportive to do then have a look at the White Rose Classic that Ilkley CC run. I rode it a couple of years ago. Excellent organisation, superb route and brutal!
I'm just there that weekend so choice of those two sportives only or maybe tag along instead with Cappuccino Cycling Club or Harrogate Nova (both seem to be in Harrogate so quite a lot closer) if they'll have me. Sorry shouldn't have added this to this debate as it's a total sidetrack. I'll shut up now but am looking forward to some proper hills after the tedium of Kent....
Nova have some VERY good riders and are a good bunch, there lot are usually in top 5of the Fred and the like, calls, well, they are a bit "laddish" shall we say all the gear...knaresborough are a good bunch, sort of your sportive type of rider and very friendly0
