Calder Divide

This has snuck under the radar.

I'm too fat/rubbish at the moment but would be up for it next year.

Starts just down the road.

You?

Yes, I'm doing the easy gravel route (100 miles).

Mildly concerned about riding for two days in a row.

Did it last year, what do you need to know?

We are local ish so took a few different choices along the way. Once you hit the Greenway near Wyke its all pretty much cycleways/ bridleways, etc after that on Day 1. We did the medium route that day, its a tough last slog up to Shepley.
There is a cafe on the Greenway after Tescos at Cleckheaton if you are ready for food by then.

Alex from Crust and Crumb is doing pizza's on the site this year so should be better than the Chinese in Shepley (Chinese is cash only). There is a pub above the campsite that some lads walked up to to eat last time.

Did medium on Day 2 as my knees were playing up. This day is more mountain bikey. Again, we took a few liberties with the route. Had lunch that day, at the cafe up near the tunnel by the canal at Marsden before the hike up Easter Gate.

All in all, a well run event by Adrian and his team.

Just wondering if anyone was doing it.

Sounds like we don't need much food. Just brekko?

I did it last year on a Stanton Sherpa hardtail, rode with a couple of friends and we were out 16 1/2 hours and did the 100 miler MTB in one hit, the weather was good. It was one of the hardest rides I have done. There aren't many places for food on route although we did find a chippy in a little town. A lot of the route for MTB's is canal tow paths and trails and not to much downhill, a think a hardtail is probably the best bike for the MTB route.

We we were going quite well until we went onto the moors near Marsden in the pitch black, we had a hike a bike for an hour or so and a slow descent down to the canal and the ride into the finish.

My advice would be don't underestimate the Calder, it was hard in perfect conditions, dry trails and good weather. Start as early as you can and take some food as without that chippy we would have found it even harder.

I've learnt my lesson and this year I'm doing the 100 mile gravel ride over 2 days. Good luck

I rode it last year.  Bombed out at 70 miles when I bumped into some mates at the boozer. Slept in a beer garden.

Did it last year too. Great route, atmosphere and set up. Carried all my own camping gear last year though when I do it again (had signed up this year but can’t do it now so it’ll be next year) I’ll take up the camp gear transfer option I think. This year should be better too with a pizza van and beer in the barn, last year me and my mate walked to the nearest pub for some food and a few pints. Day two was tougher than the first day and much less in the way of food and water stops. I was pretty spent at the end of it but it was great riding (did it all on a gravel bike).

There is a Coop in Shepley so you can buy breakfast stuff there if you're happy to take a chance on choice.

Plenty of options in Marsden for food but you will want snacks for the rest of the ride.

Just done this. We did the blue gravel route (100 miles).

I think I have done better routes but really enjoyed the event. It was a brilliant way to get the feel of a multiday trip but with the option of luggage being carried. It was a good laugh and really sociable. Pie and pies and beer to finish and pizza and brekko available at the campsite. Will be doing again.

150 mile MTB route was brutal. Probably around 1000m of climbing in the last 10 miles, all within easy bailout distance from the end. I didn't do it all as a lot of the trails are local and I've done them dozens of times so didn't quite have the motivation. Think a less tortuous end to the black MTB route via the Pennine Bridleway would get more takers. Also the pizza van needed to take more dough so they didn't run out.

I've done the Calder divide on my own, not part of the official ride. 150 miles, not sure how it differs to this.

I did this on my rigid hardtail with 2.3 inch tyres.

From Queensbury to the other side of castleford it was mainly old railway lines, canal tow paths, cycle paths and was about 50 or 60 miles and not much climbing. At first I thought I'd taken the wrong bike.

Then from around Flockton it was roads and lots of climbing. It started to get interesting near Holme moss. (good pub here)

There was a nice off road past the reservoirs into Marsden. Then a brutal hiker bike out. Between Marsden and Todmorden there isn't anything and it was hard going. We underestimated this, it took us longer than we were expecting. It was at this point I was glad I wasnt on a gravel bike!

I found it a strange route. Half of it was tame, cycle paths, the other around Marsden, Todmorden, Hebden and ogden needed a mtb.

I did enjoy it though. Not sure I could do it in one day! So taking gear slows you down a bit. My route had lots of options for food and drink but I have some local knowledge of the route.

I did like being able to see Emley moor transmitting tower for pretty much the whole ride and never seeming to get any closer to it.