Ride Reports

Nothing beats a days riding in open countryside on a glorious sunny summers day.

Take a look at some of our ride reports below. to see what we get up to on our regular Sunday Club Runs.

Sunday, 16 April 2017 19:18

Wet ride to Cobble Hey - 16 April 2017

Two groups of riders left Springwood Car Park at 9:30 this morning (16 April 2017). It was dry (just!). Both groups were heading to Cobble Hey for lunch, the medium group taking a slightly longer route through Billington, Ribchester, Longridge and Chipping Soon after passing through Ribchester it started raining, but being the hardy types we are, we carried on as planned, adding an impromptu brew stop at the Cobbled Corner in Chipping (toasted Hot Cross buns!) in the vain hope it would dry up. It was still raining when we left, but we carried on to Cobble Hey, to…

Monday, 27 March 2017 19:08

Knott End - 26th March 2017

March finished in a blaze of sunshine, putting everybody in a good mood, and making all those cold winter rides worthwhile. Today was a car assisted ride, starting from Longridge, allowing us to explore a little further afield than normal. Two groups set out, those wanting a longer ride, heading out over Harris End Fell, taking in stunning views including Blackpool Tower to the south-west, Heysham Power Station, and Morecambe Bay to the north-west, and the snow capped peaks of the Lake District in the North.

We re-grouped at the Cafe in Knott End, where, after lunch we followed…

Monday, 27 February 2017 17:48

Rides to Settle - 26 February 2017

The weather is always the deciding factor at this time of year, and with heavy rain and strong winds forecast for the afternoon, today was going to be a gamble. Just three turned up for the short ride, and four on the medium. It didn't rain! It wasn't that windy! The medium ride headed out from Gisburn via Bolton-by-Bowland, Tosside, Lawkland, Austwick and Little Stainforth before meeting the short ride for lunch in Settle. Because of the forecast, we all decided it best to make the return journey more direct, so we all headed back together stopping at Ribblesdale Park…

Tuesday, 22 November 2016 18:54

Short ride to Chipping - 20 November 2016

Inevitably as the days get shorter and colder, so do the rides, and after some heavy snow during the week, it was looking increasingly unlikely we'd get a ride at all today. We were peasantly surprised to wake to a fine morning, and after leaving Whalley the light cloud that there was soon lifted to reveal a cold, but sunny day. There was no snow left on the ground, but the hill tops were still all white in the distance, making for some great views. Heading out through Great Mitton, Chaigley and Walker Fold, we soon arrived at Chipping for…

Friday, 02 September 2016 17:05

100 mile Challenge Ride - 28th August 2016

Despite serious overnight thunderstorms and ominous skies 8 riders turned out at 7am to tackle our 100 mile Challenge ride, our first in many years. From Whalley the group climbed through the Pendleside villages of Wiswell, Worston, Downham and Rimington, crossing the A59 at Gisburn. By the time we reached Settle all the riders were ready for breakfast, and pleased they'd covered 27 miles before our normal start time. Skirting the edge of the Dales at Austwick and Clapham the group then turned south west through the gentler Lune Valley. Fortunately the weather held dry with light or no wind…

Tuesday, 26 July 2016 19:03

100 Km Challenge Ride - 24th July 2016

Sunday, 24th July 2016, saw 19 riders from Burnley and Pendle CTC and Blackburn and District CTC set out from Whalley bus station on our 100km challenge ride. Our destination today was Knott End, heading out on familiar roads through Ribchester and Longridge where we took the B5269 to Broughton, Elswick and Great Eccleston. It was a dry morning, with just the chance of the odd shower in the afternoon. Once the terrain had flattened out, as it does as you head towards the coast, the pace picked up, and we soon made our way through Pilling and over the Toll…

Monday, 06 June 2016 17:35

Hollingworth Lake - 5 June 2016

Taking a departure from our usual stomping grounds, in weather that we hope to get for the rest of summer, our ride for today started at Holme Chapel, heading down through Todmorden into the market town of Hebden Bridge. Our route was to take us over Cragg Vale, made famous in the 2014 Tour de France, the longest uninterrupted ascent in England, rising almost 1,000 feet in 5.5 miles. Respect for this climb could be seen all along the road surface where fans had written the names of famous cyclists, Wiggo being a prominent feature. Other noticeable additions were kilometre…

Monday, 09 May 2016 18:00

Extra Short Ride – 7th May 2016 – Langroyd to Gargrave

The stunning spring weather brought out 15 riders to the start of our Beginners ride. Some were completely new riders whilst others were returning to club cycling. We left Langroyd and quickly got onto the quiet lane behind and above the main road at Foulridge with fine views of the Craven valley. Emerging at Kelbrook we had to do tackle some main road through Thornton in Craven but turned off by the Tempest Arms onto a lovely quiet lane to Elslack and the Broughton estate. Crossing over the A59 we climbed over towards Gargrave with fine views of the western…

Sunday, 27 March 2016 19:18

Short Ride to Cobble Hey - 27th March 2016

Well, the end of March didn't go out with a whimper. We were treated to a varied mix of weather for our run out to Cobble Hey. Setting off from Springwood Car Park in the bright spring sunshine, we knew we were in for a mixed day, but were hoping for the best. Six of us rode out through Whalley and Mitton before heading over Hodder Bridge, up through Chaigley, around Longridge Fell, and up to Chipping. Carrying on through Bleasdale, the weather took a change, waterproofs were donned, but we carried on regardless, battling rain and hail. By the…

Tuesday, 16 February 2016 18:29

Settle - 14th February 2016

Waking up to a cold clear February morning, three riders started out from Higherford, picking up an additional seven at Gisburn for a leisurely ride through Wigglesworth and Rathmell to an early lunch in Settle. Initially disappointed to find our usual cafe stop in Settle was closed, we had to find an alternative establishment. Just across the road, the Singing Kettle did us proud. After lunch, the group split in two, with one half returning, whilst the others, wanting to make the most of the sunshine, headed further north through Giggleswick and Little Stainforth towards Helwith Bridge before starting the…

Sunday, 24 January 2016 20:29

Short Ride to Bolton Bridge - 24 January 2016

It was a surprisingly warm day for January, averaging around 10 degrees. Seven riders started out from Lanshawbridge, and we were soon stopping to discard the winter layers usually required for this time of year.. Collecting Ray at Kildwick, we then headed down through Draughton, where rider leader Ian pointed out the village "trust" library, hosted in a former phone box. We stopped at the Abbey Tea rooms for lunch, where we met up briefly with the riders on the long ride, including two new riders - welcome!. It was too good a day to go straight back, so we…

Monday, 11 January 2016 16:17

Medium Ride - Blue Ball Lanes - 10th January 2016

Although there was snow on the ground at daybreak four plucky riders braved the conditions and set out from Cliviger in wet conditions. Some squally showers through Todmorden and Littleborough justified an early brew at Hollingworth Lake. The rain and sleet relented after this stop and the long climb of Blackstone Edge was tackled with help from a nice tailwind. Descending towards Ripponden we forked left before Baitings Dam into the Blue Ball lanes - so called because of the Blue Ball pub on that road. The pub has now closed and been converted into private houses but they still…