leeds2liverpool canal 2 day gravel, any tips (blackburn layover

any tips

Don't stop in Keighley (or riddlesden as the house prices might make you think it is)

i forgot about keighley, do we need security @dangeourbrain

i forgot about keighley, do we need security

Just don't be the slowest in the group. The local yoof are lazy hunters

I've never done it in one hit, but some of the sections are efforts. Tow paths generally well surfaced through the towns, but out in the cabbages you can be following a muddy stripe through some grass (much worse if it's been raining). 2 days ounds sensible, though - if anyone is struggling with it that's still ample time.

i forgot about keighley, do we need security

Keighley is fine.

Maybe swop the dropper Post for a suspension seat post. Last time I cycled on the canal I took a battering. It's not the greatest surface on some sections.

Have you booked an easterly wind?

Two of us on 650b/suspension forks and other two on 700s regular fork so hopefully get an ok ride, was thinking of attaching a Bluetooth speaker on the boring singletrack/ grassy sections, rode up towards settle from barnoldswick on canal last year and that was as described. , tailwind ordered

What tyres for riding over fishing rods?

Mrs used to commute the Blackburn stretch and was always plagued by punctures (mostly glass) until fitting Marathon Plus tyres. Guess tubeless with plenty of goo might be ok. Usually broken glass and permanently sozzled people around Eanam Wharf.

Suspension post probably more use than a sus fork.

A short stretch west after Blackburn (Riley Green to Withnell Fold) is a stripe in the grass towpath for a bit so can be mucky if wet.

Best tip ai can give, is to take a REALLY REALLY BIG LOCK AND CHAIN.

(you'll be going within. about 200 yards of my childhood home and 100 yards of my primary school at one point. That's not the worst bit luckily).

And practice your bunny hops - there'll be loads of expensive fragile carbon fishing poles to jump over 🙈 pushed backwards from the fisher's basket, and not always particularly visible.

Have you booked an easterly wind?

That’s exactly the first thing I thought, no one in their right mind does it east to west because of the wind… you might get lucky

Did Blackburn to Leeds in February, nice enough from foulridge to bingley. Planned to do Burnley to Liverpool on another day to complete it, but strangely I've found other places to ride instead.
There's a bit between gargrave and Skipton where the endless puddles got a bit jarring. No fishers, but dogs on extendable leads aplenty. Make sure you've got a loud bell! Keighley is fine, decent cafe at bingley locks.

There’s a bit between gargrave and Skipton where the endless puddles got a bit jarring.

Weird, that bit was fixed a couple of years back, there is only about 20 yards that gets puddly now.

It's quite possible I'm mixing in a memory of a previous ride😂

thanks for the tips, glass, punctures and carbon fishing rods.

in terms of the wind, we'll stick one lad up front he's done 2x 100 milers in past weekend..

I was going to say the same about the Gargrave to Skipton section, it’s very smooth except for around 500m where a farmer has access so they didn’t cover it. Certainly worse past Gargrave or Farhill to Silsden.

As for stop offs, we like The Boathouse in Skipton, it’s by the canal. There’s a bike friendly tearoom in Gargrave too. Silsden has plenty of cafe and pubs near the canal although it’s a while since I’ve been in them.

If you fancy a change of scenery there’s an old railway line that runs from Carleton (just outside Skipton) to Foulridge.

If you like a curry I can highly recommend a little south Indian restaurant called thira.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kUKzYkd1YyYfupYV7

There's a nice little cafe on the canal near Rishton run by a retired hippy. Can't remember exactly where.

The coke ovens at Oswaldtwistle are worth a 5 minute meander https://maps.app.goo.gl/8im8DSDruLuiE3FH7

2 tunnels that you will have to avoid, confused me first time.

The delightfully named Foulridge, and Padiham.

I'd do Leeds to Foulridge (this side of mile tunnel) and miss the the rest

thanks @MadBillMcMad curry looks a great shout, one of the lads has spent many trips to the kerala, so right up his street.

My dad did Liverpool to Leeds in two days when he was 70 on a hard tail Ti Inbred running 32/16. Stayed at the Premier Inn in Burnley. Seemed to enjoy it.

Don't stop in Blackburrrn unless you really have to.

Foulridge is pronounced 'Foal Ridge' by the locals.

Foulridge is pronounced ‘Foal Ridge’ by the locals.

Nothing is pronounced as you'd expect around there. See also, Barnoldswick, Colne...

You're doing it the wrong way. The wind will kill you. Did it in one go on a 2013 Genesis CdF a two years ago with no training. It was fine, although the section before Gargrave (going West to East) was horrible for quite a few kilometres and then another section after Silsden I think. Limestone baby heads. I remember wishing I'd brought painkillers - my back was knackered.

My dad says there’s a planned towpath closure in next few weeks from Crossflats to Bingley Five Rise locks.

thanks @brant just checked it looks to be just for boats, low water levels.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/13694-closure-bingley-5-rise-to-river-lock-low-water-levels

well at least we know who to pick on about deciding to ride east to west and to stop at blackburn..

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/25944-bingley-5-rise-towpath-upgrade

schroedingers towpath closure.

You missed the chance to meet Hugh Jackman on the towpath at Silsden this week.

wolverine.. damn. although i cant afford too many slashed tyres

any final tips for a cafe stop wigan on to liverpool. TIA a week to go

There are plenty pubs on either side of the canal between Wigan and L'pool. The only one I have used is right on the canal in Parbold: Yours is the earth. Good food, eat there or take away. Do check for towpath closures though, not sure where they are upto with resurfacing.

well 2 days riding, circa 12 hours, 220km 379metres. some headwinds from chorley onwards

blackburn was a bit quiet, headed to darwen for a few beers, as recommended by locals.

had a good sandwich in a very busy wigan saturday afternoon.

seemed like the final run into liverpool would make a good beer run, some nice looking pubs from ormskirk onwards

had rather too many guiness's in liverpool , train home via preston (TPexpress anti cycling agenda, so had to go northern) then a strong headwind for the 10 miles home from sowerby east bound..

two punctures (glass), 5 heron, 1 canoe, one deaf big headphone'd scouser, an angry dog walker and a tanned glamous older lady walking coco and channel.. certainly interesting, yet monotonous..

seemed like the final run into liverpool would make a good beer run, some nice looking pubs from ormskirk onwards

The Ship at Downholland is recommended for next time.

😀

any final tips for a cafe stop wigan on to liverpool

agree  with  anorak, Parbold cafe, just next to the canal bridge, bacon butties are great

for next time       😉

next time ;0)

one thing i noticed pub/cafes are not really signed from the canal. if i had a cafe nearby I'd have a sign put up. some stretches just seemed desolate..