RSF - The Off Road Cycling Club

The Adventure Starts Here

2005

“You always know when you’re going to arrive. If you go by car, you don’t. Apart from anything else, I prefer cycling. It puts you in a good mood, I find.” — Alan Bennett, British playwright

 

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Seeing Hell’s Pool made it all worthwhile, it was stunning. But I couldn’t help wondering if we were going to have to go back the way we came. We already looked like the cast of “Dad’s Army”! “No” said our leader “I think the best way is to continue down and cross the river.” His suggestion met with blank faces and open mouths. “It’s OK” he added reassuringly (he was very good at this) “It’s quite shallow further round. We can form a human chain and pass the bikes across.” (I’m not making this up!!) After another session of even higher ferns and deeper bogs that had been hiding round the bend (oh, joy!) we reached the part of the river that we had to cross.
Local Group News Mid Yorkshire 12th December It was a cold day and rain had washed the old paving and cut the run-off channel deeper so we were braking and dodging along. Green Lane took us to Old Snydale, new tracks from Mill Hill took us to a cold Warmfield. Now we rode high above an oxbow of the River Calder on a leaf strewn path to Heath village. We enjoyed a good downhill before the A638 brought us up short. Once over we joined the Barnsley Canal and on through Walton. I walked the hill to Squires cafe to warm my feet. Never was a hot meal morewelcome
It was the time of year when the days are at their warmest and the evenings are at their longest and exploring the creeks of the north Kent coast should have kept me content. But I was restless and wanted to do something different. And then I read a walking magazine in which it described the South Downs Way as an ideal beginner’s long distance footpath. It also mentioned that it was a bridleway throughout its entire length. Just what I needed. A week later I was getting out of the train at Winchester, and by 1 o'clock I was revelling in my feeling of freedom and adventure. It took me some miles to realize that all the stiles I came across had gates as well
Woke to a wild wet morning - usual ritual; tea and enough oatmeal porridge to keep a Scottish drover going all day! Excited today, tracks right from the tent, first up to Moor Divock to the Roman road coming off High Street, up to a stone circle where I went right on the bridleway to Howtown. This is a desert island track (another one), nearly all rideable. It’s pouring down and I'm writing this while drinking excellent coffee in the Howtown Hotel. Then the good track to Martindale. It is noticeable how these old ways (usually longer) are less steep than the modern roads
The lead-grey sky and driving rain were not particularly inviting and eventually drove me indoors. But who am I to complain? Just a cyclist in the Dales. “Give me a shout if you need help”, said Jim who went on cling-clanging a piece of iron with his hammer on the anvil in the old Gunnerside smithy. A couple of hours ago I was following a maze of paths and minor roads up Argengarthdale. I could have done with a booze but the only thing I found just north of Booze (NZO14024) were the remnants of a disused lead mine
The day started misty and damp as we left Mankinholes Youth Hostel, however as we crested the shoulder of Walsden Moor the weather started to improve and we rode for the rest of the day in brilliant sunshine. We found the route to be well signposted and virtually all rideable. with the notable exception of the track up to the moor above Summit. On dropping down the hill from Watergrove Reservoir we found an excellent roadside food kiosk where the track crosses the A671 at Healey

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