Apologies for the later-than-usual posting, but entries are are now in full swing for the 18th annual Colne Valley Mountain Bike Challenge, taking place this year on Sunday 14th May 2023 at 9.00am.
The FULL course is a challenging one (as you’d expect) and consists of approx. 30 miles of local paths, tracks, bridleways and lanes around the picturesque Colne Valley area of Huddersfield – regularly featured on TV as settings for Last Of The Summer Wine and Where The Heart Is. We also have an optional SHORTER course of 20 miles for anyone that could find the full route a bit too much.
This year, after considering the feedback from this very forum, we have 3 entry options, based on whether or not you would like a commemorative T-Shirt.
The standard cost of entry WITHOUT A T-SHIRT is £20 pre-booked (online entry available at http://www.cvmbc.co.uk ),
£23 if you DO WANT A T-SHIRT and £25 on the day - where there will be NO T-SHIRT AVAILABLE.
However, we do encourage pre-booking as it greatly assists the organisation of the event, especially IF YOU DO WANT A T-SHIRT.
We also welcome eBike entries too, as we want to encourage as much participation as possible from any rider that fancies a go.
All participants will receive certificate upon completion, the course will be fully marshalled throughout and will have 4 refreshment stops at designated points. There will also be a back-up vehicle available for anyone who wishes to (or is forced to!!) retire early.
Bacon Butties (bacon sourced from the local independant butcher’s and the bread from a local bakery) will be on sale beforehand at only a nominal £1.50 each, but apart from these EVERYTHING ELSE refreshment wise (bananas, flap-jack, biscuits, coffee, tea etc etc) is FREE. Yes FREE. There is also a brilliant little pub – The Walkers Arms – situated on site, so those that wish to can partake of a pint (or two) if so desired.
So, to sum it up – it’s a 30 mile (or 20 mile) challenging MTB ride, fully marshalled, fully ‘catered’ and absolutely FANTASTIC VALUE, with a pub on site to finish the day off as well. You won’t find a better day out in this area on the 14th May. Come and give it a go – you’ve nothing to lose and we’re absolutely certain that you’ll be well looked after and have a great time.
Sorry I can't make it this year, but I do thoroughly recommend the event for anyone looking for a fun day out!
Ahh nuts.
MrsF is doing the Leeds Marathon that day, so not only do I miss the Etape De Dales, but this too.
Oooh, tempted
Is there camping handy for the course start and pub? It would be for a camper van in my case
There’s no reason why you couldn’t park up in the pub car park overnight, others have done so before.
T minus 4 weeks and counting.
Get those entries on their way and look forward to a cracking event! http://www.cvmbc.co.uk
I'm around this year to give this a bash!
I know the route isn't advertised but i saw a strava record which said 48km but only 341m of elevation - is that right?! Just trying to make my mind up whether to do the long or short route.
Yeah, I appreciate the route itself isn't published but an idea of the height gain of each option would be appreciated
I've done it a few times and it was 30 miles and 4200ft elevation (not sure if the route has changed much)
Yeah that's what we got though we do it in metric so it's 48km and 1300m 🙂
Just over 3 weeks to go, so keep those entries coming folks.
I've already booked glorious riding weather, and now the trails are drying up nicely too, so it's gonna be another great event.
www.cvmbc.co.uk
Roll up, roll up - get those entries in!
Plenty of space for everyone and e-Bike friendly too!!
www.cvmbc.co.uk
A bacon butty for only £1.50? You’d be mad not to!
www.cvmbc.co.uk
Just entered me and the girlfriend - sounds like a great day out and looking forward to it!
Hope some more fellow singetrackworlders enter and support 🙂
Oh bugger it, I've entered. See you next week.
Still time to get your entries in before Friday’s pre-entry deadline.
www.cvmbc.co.uk
Thanks to all that have already committed - we very much appreciate it.
Hopefully
If anyone wants to meet up to form a STW bimblegroup, let me know.
I've signed up. Looking forward to it
Great event. Weather was perfect. Nothing too hard - a relaxed ride in.nice scenery.
Yep, really enjoyed it, proper old fashioned MTB event, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
That field just outside Marsden though - you f___king sadistic b______ds 🙂
Yep, i agree, that field was horrendous (and in my eyes, unrideable) but no doubt the lycra racing snakes got up it!
Many thanks to those that joined us yesterday, glad to hear that you all (mostly) enjoyed it!
As for the field climb - I had to find some way of joining up the offroad stuff or it'd have been a nasty tarmac climb and no lovely trail for the photographer to capture you all on. Hopefully the rest of the route from there was more enjoyable?
Honestly, the route was great, I'm only pulling your leg about the field bit. Those kind of bits are always good as a kinda talking point anyway.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of it, I'll come again.
EDIT - actually, one point, parking is clearly an issue, I'd imagine the local residents might (kind of understandably) get a bit peeved.
When we started back in 2004 parking was much less of an issue. Since then, however, loads of houses have changed hands and households tend to have several vehicles these days. Basically we just have to make the best use of the surrounding side roads now. Fortunately, we've never really had any issues with disgruntled residents - except one. I'm 56 now, and for the entirety of my living memory, this bloke has been an absolute bellend. He was at it again yesterday after we'd set you off, but got the usual short shrift from one of the cricketers.
First time riding the event and must say we enjoyed it - very well organised! Lying on the grass outside the pub in the sun with a well earned pint felt tremendous. Managed sub 4 hours - towards the back but our first ever race and on pretty heavy enduro bikes i'm happy.
Will be back next year for sure. How many riders were there in total in the end?
