 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I was told by a local to avoid the Dovestone/road over the tops to Holmfirth as dangerous so chose this route via Uppermill etc:
(Having trouble linking- if you click on it shows the last leg going on the M62- but of course I am going through Marsden etc).
Any probs/comments or amendments?
drive it and see
I"ve ridden over the A635 from Greenfield many times and been ok. The cars do come past at quite a speed on the top though so you have to be ready for it. It's very similar to Snake Pass or Cat & Fiddle if you've ever done them. Think your route looks better though. Never actually ridden the road from DIggle to Marsden but can't imagine it's any worse than the Greenfield road.
Huddersfield Road up and through Marsden and Slaithwaite is a really nice route, specially if the wind is behind you 😉
1. The Greenfield road is fine. It's wide but shouldn't present a problem. Great climb up to Wesenden Head from Dovestones. Great open scenery, bit bleak in crap weather. The descent to Holmfirth from Wessenden Head is superb, with some quality bends. The last few miles into Huddersfield from Honley are smoothish with a cycle lane.
2. The A62 to Huddersfield from Diggle via Marsden has a stonking climb up to Standege cut. The descent the other side down to Marsden is smooth and quick. Same sort of traffic as the Greenfield Road. Watch our for stray sheep. Downside is that the last few miles into Hudderfsield centre from Slaithwaite is through dull and busyish bits of town.
3. An alternative would be the A640. Good climb up from Denshaw to Buckstones, and a good ten miles of mostly descent into Huddersfield via Outlane. Scenery is superb, and the final drop through Salendine Nook to town is fun (my morning commute!)
4. Another suggestion would be to climb to Wessenden Head on the A635 from Dovestones and turn left towards Meltham, down Wessenden Head road. 3 miles of 8% flying. Little traffic that way. Then onto town via Netherton, and Lockwood.
Everything scapegoat says is true. The A635 is worth avoiding during rush hours as it's a popular commuter route, and in bad weather. Fine apart from that. The A640 New Hey Road is my preference. For a while I lived in Manchester and commuted to Leeds, usually by train, but I sometimes rode home.
To be honest crossing the hills is the easy bit, I used to focus all my efforts on avoiding Ashton. The dual carriage way and the dumbo cycle lanes/motorway junctions by Ikea are time consuming or terrifying. My preferred route out of Manc is Ancoats > Newton Heath > Failsworth > Royton > Shaw > Newhey (over the top of Oldham) or you can skirt round the south of Oldham using a route I can't really remember and emerge on the A62 avoiding all the mega roundabouts.
Also, if you're on a bike that can handle canal paths there's a few other Manc escape options.
Its Sunday morning- I'm leaving about 10am so should be ok. I'm riding over for Le Tour in Hudds 8)
@hora - cool. In that case try the A635 for Holme Moss/Holmfirth, A640 for Ainley Top/Elland and A62 for all points between 🙂
Have fun!
I'm just worried that I get lost- end up in the Pelaton and Pwn'ing those darn Tour riders 😉 😆 😀