The Edge Cycleworks 'Big' Shop Ride

Hebden Bridge

Sun 17th Apr 2011

As it was the 10th anniversary of Singletrack magazine I thought it would be a good idea to pay homage with a ride starting from their home valley of Calderdale. But rather than start from Todmorden I chose Hebden Bridge for its car parks and post ride refreshment opportunities.

Unusually my guiding duties we called on before the ride began as the town, packed tightly into a steep sided valley, proved difficult to navigate for some. This wasn’t helped by the fact that it was already busy, due to a long hot spell we were having, and the car parks were filling up fast. Eventually we all found a space and indulged in a bit of pre-ride chat while getting ready.

I was asked whether this would be another of my Escher rides, the ones that only seemed to go up. I have to admit I do love a good climb and the start of the ride didn’t disappoint, with a long climb straight out of the town. But I like descending more, which was proved when we plummeted down the other side on a long, fast, rocky trail that had us all wearing big grins at the bottom.

As this was a ‘Big’ ride there was another big climb, on the way out of Oxenhope. I have a reputation to keep up after all. But our burning legs were forgotten on the next descent as we flew down the smooth, dry, criss-crossing singletrack of the Bronte Way, which buzzed beneath our tyres as we threaded our way through the multiple lines. After the rocky beating of the previous descent it was something John really appreciated on his rigid retro Brontrager.

However, it was back to the bone shaking for the next climb, on the cobbles leading away from the Ogden Water. With the climbs, lumpy terrain and the sun beating down we all started to feel the beginnings of fatigue as we rode across the top of the moors. This was especially so for Stu, who by now had run out of water. Luckily for him there was an ice cream van just over the hill, where he got to replenish his bottle while Mark treated us all to a 99.

Suitably refreshed we hit the technical, rocky fun of Pecket Well and made it to the bottom safely, despite arms and legs that were really starting to feel the strain. Despite how we felt there was still some way to go, as we re-rode familiar ground in the middle of our figure of eight route.

Thankfully the second half of the ride had easier trails and less climbing. A steady pace and a leisurely food break allowed us to regain some energy before reaching the Pennine Way, at the lower Gorple reservoir, where the climbing started again. The valleys weren’t as big as those at the beginning of the ride but they were still steep enough for our tired legs.

Eventually we reached the top of the last climb, with nothing but two miles of varied descending to deliver us back to Hebden Bridge. While it was great fun, flying down rocky trails, it was hard on our tired bodies, not least for John, who could only just control his bike with painful, pummelled limbs. Rigid bikes and cobbles are a tough combination.