I've got a weekend in Leeds coming up visiting friends, and I'm going to grab the opportunity to ride in a different place. Probably just one day on the bike.
Obvious choices are a blast around the urban bike park, just because it's there, then drive to stainburn for an afternoon session. Any other local top tips I should consider?
Bike park in the morning, stainburn in the afternoon would be a decent day (though it’s an hours drive between them) alternatively there’s loads of stuff around Morley/birstall/gildersome. How long a ride are you wanting?
How soon?
If its soon and one of those lovely hard frost days then Ilkley Moor would be a good choice.
If not then Wharncliffe and Grenoside aren't too far away.
LUBP is a great idea but not enough for a day.
Stainburn is definitely worth a visit to see if its up your street, but works best when its a little drier, so you can make the most of the unsurfaced trails across the road too.
Lots of great riding out in the Bingley direction if you can find someone to show you round.
You can put many an xc route together passing through Leeds centre on the Aire & Calder canal.
Try Strava route planner or get a map out & leave the car at base.
Leeds centre canal, west, Meanwood Valley Trail, Eccup, Harewood, Leeds Country way, Bramham, Aberford, Temple Newsum, canal back to start.
Red Kite Trail
Avoiding the mud, ride the tow path from Leeds Centre to Bingley Five Rise Locks & back. Its a nice ride with lots to see. (Cafe at 5 Rise)
Thanks all. That's all useful info for sure.
Meanwood Valley Trail, Eccup, Harewood
This used to be my local XC loop when I lived in Headingley, passing through Scotland Wood - https://discoverleeds.co.uk/things-to-see-and-do/outdoors/scotland-wood/
The bike park isn't worth a trip in my opinion.
Wharncliffe isn't that far and loads more to do there.
The bike park isn’t worth a trip in my opinion.
Whaaaat!
Surely that depends where you're tripping from? I'd agree it's not worth a trip from London, but if you're already in Leeds its well worth a trip. As said above it's not a day out but you can easily kill a couple of hours there.
Staiburn is great, but it is muddy at the moment. The main syuff will be ok as it's man made, but the good stuff the other side of the road is pretty wet at the moment.
Ilkey moor is great but a bit more of a trek out of Leeds if you're limited on time.
and yeah, Warney and Greno are only 40 minutes away from LUBP, so probably quicker to get to than Stainburn.
Honestly; I wouldn't bother. LUBP is for kids - and taking your kids (or people new to mountain biking). Local to leeds stuff (immediate) is just bike paths linked by roads. Stainburn is ok for an after-work blast, but I couldn't spend more than an hour or two there.
It's only 45minsish from LUBP to Ladybower reservoir...
Lolz
That said I haven't been to calderdale and I'm told there is some excellent if brief and cheeky riding there.
Just checked Google and even stainburn is only 8 mins closer to my house in Leeds than the ladybower Inn...
gasp shock horror as revelation that lubp isn't whistler !!!!!!!!!
its worth going for a if you've never been
most trails round gildersome/tong are quite muddy/boggy at the mo fyi
