Project Test Ride

Since the Boxing Day floods hit Calderdale and made a devastating impact in the towns of Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and their surrounding community the area has pulled together and recovered with a massive clean-up of streets, businesses and homes.

To celebrate Calderdale is officially open local people are working to together and holding a ‘Calderdale Festival of Cycling’ from 25^th to 28^th March. The mini celebration will feature a range of events including cycling films and guided rides.

On Saturday 26^th March 2016, 79 Health & Fitness have teamed up with Cycle Factory and Singletrack magazine to deliver Project Test Ride a guided mountain bike ride starting and finishing at the Cycle Factory Bike Shop. The route planned for the day covers 16.8km with 345m of climbing and descending, relatively kind elevation for the Upper Calder Valley. The route has been put together to attract beginners and more experienced riders to explore part of what Calderdale has to offer at a leisurely pace.

The route although it features hills, pretty hard to avoid in these parts doesn’t feature a mass of technical mountain bike terrain. There are technical elements that can be ridden around or over for those wishing to practice their MTB skills.

Route Overview

The route will leave Cycle Factory and head east on the A646 for riders to spin their legs and warm up before heading to the hills. The first climb of the day heads out the valley floor on the Strava segment known as the ‘Stoodley Lung Buster’. The aim on the day is to climb this fire style road at a steady pace to the top.

From Harvelin Park the route follows a flat section before climbing up to one of the popular climbs in the area ‘London Road’. This bridleway hugs the hillside and the climb is gradual to Swillington. The wind can feature and be in your face but fingers crossed the weather will be kind. On the final section to the farm gate there is a rock garden that can be ridden or bypassed depending upon one’s mood.

From Swillington the route follows a fast farm style road before heading to high ground on Whitaker Road. This part of the ride forms a loop of Erringden Grange and then retraces the steps back to Harvelin Park. On route the descent of London Road is a feature and rides well the majority of the year.

A short section of the bridleways and Pennine Bridleway around Mankinholes and Lumbutts takes you to the Top Brink Inn. There is a steep cobbled descent on offer for the braver riders and those that don’t fancy it can loop around through the car park. The route continues on the road climbing up to the Shepherds Rest Inn before heading off road for the final time descending into the heart of Todmorden. A simple roll on the main road back to Cycle Factory and you are done.

Project Test Ride

Start time: 11am Cycle Factory, Der Street, Todmorden, OL14 5QY