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I guess firstly, is it worth a 3 hour drive? It looks like it from what I can tell.Â
My ebike is fixed after 3 months of being broken and it's my birthday on Monday so I'm thinking of a celebratory ride/ something to take my mind off the fact that I'm getting old.
I started trying to piece together a route based on other people's strava and komoot but having no idea whatsoever what the area is like makes it a bit difficult to know what I doing. I'm looking at the Flattyres route here.
With the moorland bits, it looks like it's going to have an old school XC vibe which I'm fine with but am I missing anything on that route that I absolutely should do?Â
Is it worth adding in Stoodley Pike? I've seen a couple of references to heading to Gaddings Dam and then following the ridge along to Stoodley. Is that doable? Looks like once I'm up there, it's a case of pick a way down the west side and pick up the PBW at the bottom to rejoin the Flattyres route.Â
Are there any more detours worth adding in? It's only 23 miles and 2.5k so there's plenty of headroom for adding stuff in. Between the bike and I, we're good for 6k but probably not when it's 30'c so do want to go too crazy.Â
I'll be on an trail bike(150/140). Ideal ride for me is a bit of XC with some natural descents and trails thrown in along the way rather than up and down the same hill all day. I'm happy on steep(ish), tech(ish) natural stuff. Much prefer that to swoopy, jumpy trails.
Has anyone got any pointers (or GPXs)?Â
If you're following that Flattyres route, you can easily add in couple of quick fun extras at Hurstwood Reservoir:
"Follow the track by the side of the reservoir to a junction at the far end (GR889314)" There is a short purpose built trail-centre type track that starts on the left just through the gate here, come back up road when you're done. Continue on the described route, looking out for singletrack heading off left where it levels out before the track goes right and starts dropping down. Follow that off left until you pop back onto the main track by the reservoir.
Definitely worth going up the pike. Where described route turns left onto London Road / Pennine Bridleway, turn R, go to end, then L and then L after gate to climb the packhorse trail (permissive bridleway) up to the top. Left along the top to the pike and take your pick of descents from there to London Road. From here back to Hebden you've got loads of fun options; the described route is scenic and legal but that's about all it has going for it.
The above would be pretty much an exact match for your "Ideal ride for me is a bit of XC with some natural descents and trails thrown in along the way rather than up and down the same hill all day. I'm happy on steep(ish), tech(ish) natural stuff. Much prefer that to swoopy, jumpy trails."
Gaddings and route from there to pike is also nice if you can be bothered to go that far off route.
If you still have energy to burn when you arrive back in Hebden - unlikely for most - head up towards Horsehold, Heptonstall or Old Town / Pecket Well for another fun descent or two.
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Some ace riding around there. Would I drive 3 hours there and 3 hours back to ride it? Absolutely not. The moorland/XC type riding is superb but its superb elsewhere in the Pennines that might be a lot closer to where you're coming from. The hidden techy stuff is also superb but is it any better than stuff elsewhere? Nah, its steep tech on a hillside.
Yeah, I forgot to answer the six hours driving question. With a nice car and to see somewhere new maybe, but it would definitely be better to stay in the area at least one night.
Anyway, bit late as he should be on his way or riding by now.
Happy birthday bens and let us know how it went.
Cheers guys.
the idea was to ride on Sunday but the small amount of time I had to plan a route on Saturday night was taken up frantically trying to replace a broken spoke and wrestling with a Rimpact.
Finished that about 10pm and gave up planning Hebden. Went to Wales instead to do a ride I'd done before that needed no planning. The was 100% worth the drive!Â
I'll definitely head to Hebden soon though. 6 hours of driving is a lot but I like exploring new places. I'll just make sure I plan ahead rather than leaving it to the day before!Â