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Me and my brother are looking to come over to the Hebden Bridge area on 19 and 20 March. We are looking to ride Lee and Cragg quarries on one of the days and would love to ride the trails around Hebden etc on the other day. The trouble is we've no idea where to go.
If anyone has any suggestions on where to ride, or would be willing to show a couple of us around then that would be really appreciated.
Thanks, Dan.
If you want something more XC orientated, this is a great loop:
[url= http://www.flattyresmtbroutes.com/HebdenSingletrack.html ]23 mile loop[/url]
Alternatively, if like me you prefer something a little more "fun" than grinding up bleak hills all day, there's a couple of cracking little runs that are quite accessible. The Blue Pig is my favourite in the area (there's even a bike frame named after it). Find your way to Midgehole. There's a little pub called the Blue Pig, it's not too hard to find. You are basically at the bottom of the run here. Look for the path that heads up through the woods, it's about 50m from the pub. Push up and up and up and up until you can't go up any further. No ride back down very quickly 🙂
You can ride a lot of it flat out (as in quite scarily flat out), but you need to be careful of walkers heading up the trail, although it's better in winter because you get a bit more visibility round the corners.
There's also "mmmbop" close by, but can be a bit trickier to find. I'll try to pinpoint it on a map for you. Also has a frame named after it, but I find it can be a bit sketchy if it's been really wet in winter. I've had a couple of bad crashes here, so it might just be me.
If you want to play on a couple of drops, there's a nice big(ish) on called "Don't Look Down" near Midgehole. Have a look on youtube. If you hit it quick enough it's about 10ft of vert and probably clearing about 20ft before you land. It's built onto a hill, so the tranny is as wide as nature will permit, but it can be a bit slimy in winter, I've lost my front wheel a couple of times when it's been muddy. Not a great feeling when you touch down at about 25 mph. 🙂
So basically, you can get a good half days riding by doing an XC loop (there's a couple of good ones if you have a google), or there's a fair bit to play on otherwise.
Bike wise, I've taken everything from a HT to a DH bike. A burly HT or AM bike will open up everything to you really.
I'm surprised anyone replied emmod. Always goes a bit quiet when ever anyone asks about "The Special Place", "they" like to keep it to themselves 🙂
Thanks for the response - I wondered where the Ragley runs were.
I think we'll decide whether to brave the XC or just have a play about around Midgehole a bit closer to the time.
Appreciated! 😀
woody2000 - I know, I was expecting an influx of tumbleweed!
if the weather is bad, avoid the XC runs that pass along the tops of the valley (which from my own experience seems to be most of them), it can get pretty grim.
Oddly enough, HB is one of the places I head to when the weather IS bad, since there is quite a lot to play on which isn't affected too much by the wet/wind etc. Places like Lee Quarry and Stainburn can be a nightmare when its windy. Also, there never seems to be anyone else around when the weather is bad, even the dog walkers stick to lower ground, so you can ease off the brakes a bit.
Just be careful on the steps in the wet. You'll know what ones I mean when you fall on them and your bike hits you on the head 😉
Pushing up Blue Pig only to ride back down? What is the world coming to?