Hebden Love

[ianfitz]

Should have a gpx for you guys tomorrow - will email it to you both.

Cheers Greg always good to have some clue where I'm headed

[GregMay]

Advice is, when in doubt - go up.

[ianfitz]

Advice is, when in doubt - go up.

Until you run out of up. Then go down until...

Yes, yes I get the picture

Bit like the bob graham round!

[GregMay]

You realise this is going to go horribly wrong right? There's 3,500m of climbing now....most of it is ridable too.

[Richpips]

Are there loads of gates?

[GregMay]

Not so far.

[GregMay]

So after chatting with Ian and riding a bit more of the route I've had in mind there is now a firmly laid plan.

Three loops. All from Hebden. Each differing in feel and distance.

A short very techy loop of 36km with 1,200m ascent - Tech Loop.
A medium moderately technical 54km loop with 1,300m ascent -Easy Loop.
A longer somewhat technical 85km loop with 2,500m of ascent - Long Loop.

Tech Loop is very much focused on difficult riding - it's 100% ride-able up and down by a confident and competent MTBer - <3km road estimate, surprisingly little cheekyness.
Easy Loop is very much focused on carrying speed across "inclement" terrain - around 1km of definite HAB, <3km of road, a little cheeky in bits.
Long Loop is very much focused on distance with some battering descents and some technical terrain - No HAB that I can see, <5km of road, no cheekyness.

I've ridden most of these trails SS (31*21) and geared no issue. Ample supply points en route, and as it blossoms out of Hebden - lots of food options.

I'll be riding the Tech Loop this week to get an idea on time - probably around 3/4hrs I suspect. Easy Loop I rode with Ian on Saturday in a storm and it was 5hrs moving time - 6hrs total with some mechanical issues and nav choices. From memory Long Loop will probably be about 6/8 hrs depending on ground conditions. So probably around 14 - 20 hours all in for 175km assuming you've no mechanical and don't end up walking the downs - which is quite possible if you've never rode around Hebden before :)

My idea will be that the three loops can be done in any order you want. If you're not confident riding tech in the dark...maybe do the Tech Loop first. Scared of wide open fells at night with no resupply option..maybe the Long Loop. Legs feeling like crap after a lot of climbing...maybe the Easy Loop. Either way, at some point you'll be riding something you probably don't want to be on, at night, possibly on your own.

If you're thinking of riding the HTR or CTR and want a technical day out in relative safety, I think I may have the thing for you :)

[DrMekon]

I can't make this, but I'd like to get over that way soon. I'd love a copy of the gpx.

[mikehowarth]

Sounding good Greg!

[GregMay]

No GPX available until it is all ridden to be certain of it :)

[GregMay]

Weather looks like it may play ball for a while this weekend so I'm going to ride the long loop. If anyone is interested feel free to join in. 8am at the Co-Op carpark on Saturday morning.

[ton]

I fancied it...honest
but a weekend of Lakeland shredding and ales swilling, with the sweary northerners beckons.

enjoy

[atk]

How long do you reckon it'll take to get round? Got to be at a birthday/wedding anniversary/other celebration type thing in the evening, will check what time that starts (and what it's in celebration of!) and see if I can fit it in...

[GregMay]

How long do you reckon it'll take to get round?

Honestly, I have no idea. It's about 85km.

It'll also be my on bike birthday celebration :)

[atk]

Ooo! Happy birthday!

I'll find out what the plans are tonight and let you know :)

[GregMay]

Roger - sure we can figure it out on Friday over pizza and beer,

[ianfitz]

I'd like to join you for this loop too but don't have a pass for the whole day this time.

Do have new cranks and pedals that stay on though

[GregMay]

Weather is looking pretty bad, so I am going to play it by ear. If I wake up and it's ok, I'll head out for a while, if not - coffee. So a semi organised ride is off.

[ianfitz]

Weather is looking pretty bad, so I am going to play it by ear. If I wake up and it's ok, I'll head out for a while, if not - coffee. So a semi organised ride is off.

Thinking exactly the same about my more local ride. Looks like it'll be windy no matter what else is happening.

Luckily I can get the train into the wind and ride back

[GregMay]

Flooding. Flooding. Flooding. I mostly worked on bikes, made some cakes, and drank coffee.

Lots of bits for the sale section now :)

[GregMay]

So we've had "interesting" weather of late and I've not got round to riding any more of the planned loops in one go.

I've got a day free on Sunday - so if anyone cares to join me, I am planning to ride the longer loop. It's about 85km.

[atk]

Is that the loop you rode last time? Will check plans and trains and stuff in the morning...

[GregMay]

If the cold and dry stays for this weekend I'm going to head out to do one or other of the three loops.

If anyone is interested I'm happy to have some company. There may even be a pie stop.

[GregMay]

Holy thread resurrection Batman!

I teased IanFitz with some of this route a few months back, then took him round a bit more a few weekends ago. It's nearly but not quite done as I want to ride it all before I set a date out for a group bimble.

Three loops of varying distances and technicality - do em in what ever order you chose - Larry, Curly and Moe. You can figure out the final name for yourself.



Looking at the new fancy pants calendar - I'm going to put the weekend of the 10/11th of September down as the date to go with this. Will update when I get some more time to ride it all.