West Riding Gravel Odyssey

#cycling #offroadcycling #gravel #oakleyjawbreaker

[@mattjohn7700]

Fantastic route Gordon ,brilliant feeling being out in the sticks..

[@clippingin1593]

Cheers Matt, there are some smashing by-ways and bridleways in that area. I'm sure there's scope for additions and alternatives too.

[@sianmorris9015]

Another great video Gordon!

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks Sian. Not too far from your stomping ground this time! A deer sauntered across the trail in Wharncliffe woods and watched me labour past - alas my camera was off at that point.

[@1INSXNE]

Amazing video! That looks like a fun and mysterious tunnel to go into.

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks. It's a strange one, especially when the lighting is intermittent - great fun though!

[@OlgasBritishFells]

Love watching the off road parts, Gordon. Cool bike to be going on different surfaces.

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks Olga. I enjoy these multi-surface rides because you experience different rhythms when you're away from traffic. It's non-technical off-roading which lets you 'drift off' in the best possible sense.

[@onemorecyclist]

Cracking route there Gordon and top video/commentary as usual!, and a good call missing that extra muddy bridleway from your recce! The pre ride certainly paid off. That bit up through the wood near Silkstone looked very much like one of the TPT sections I did where I remember wishing I could swap to an MTB for 10 mins or so. Great stuff!

[@clippingin1593]

I remember you doing that TPT multi-day and thinking it must've been fun on that section! My gravel bike is kaput after a spill in January but I still wanted this route to be 'gravel' rather than MTB so I investigated the two unknown tracks on Sunday. I think there's a lot to be said for non-technical off-roading as a kind of 'rambling on a bike'

[@onemorecyclist]

@@clippingin1593 you've just made me realise I've finally turned into a rambler (on a bike)! 😆

[@ajollygoodchap]

Very varied trails, nice villages, and blue sky. Quite a lengthy route, but it seems to be a route of two halves so very versatile if you wanted to break it down.

[@clippingin1593]

You're right, the route from Bretton is a figure-eight and without the strange road-block detour it should be around 38 miles - the Strava insert showed nearly 70 miles because I have the out & back mileage from home. I wouldn't like to put a figure on it, but 38 miles of that terrain on an off-road bike can feel closer to a tarmac 60. I enjoy the change of rhythm compared to the road, and the lighter traffic is an additional bonus. A couple of deer wandered across the track in Wharncliffe woods and watched me puffing and blowing - it's great for moments like that.

[@hiworldstephensonultranate290]

Great Video. 🚲🚴 n Fun the eerie tunnel

[@clippingin1593]

Haha - it's a strange place! There's even an alternative route for horse riders because their animals can sometimes get spooked in there.

[@gmivisualsjason3729]

Absolutely brilliant

[@clippingin1593]

Cheers Jason, some really peaceful riding on this one.

[@gmivisualsjason3729]

@@clippingin1593 I'm just about to head out myself today.... Absolutely beautiful morning. Shipley, Bailden, bingley, Ilkley, Otley, harewood, Collingham, Wetherby .... Should be a good road ride

[@clippingin1593]

@@gmivisualsjason3729 Superb. The weather looks set - have a good one.

[@gmivisualsjason3729]

@@clippingin1593 62 miles done today.... Lovely ride. Very scenic But still a chill in the air....

[@clippingin1593]

@@gmivisualsjason3729 Brilliant

[@grahamturner4156]

Great video of our local trails looks a good loop too. Some bits not done before just sent you a follow request on Strava

[@clippingin1593]

Thanks, Graham. We should be connected on Strava now. It's a nice circuit - a big day out for me as I rode to and from Bretton - and I should imagine it'll be a lot quicker now with the (slightly) drier trails.

[@grahamturner4156]

Great I’ll check route out I live in Shelley so plenty of routes on my Strava that might be of interest to you too

[@clippingin1593]

@@grahamturner4156 I spotted Shelley - nice, I'll have a dig thro'

[@terrymarlor-gage6214]

Mega loop again Gordon

[@clippingin1593]

This was based on a couple of my old winter rides with a little bit of new terrain to reduce the road content. Slightly more 'off-road' in character than the Wakefield Wheel but still ideal for G-bikes. I based it on Bretton because there's plenty of parking there. Cheers Terry.

[@KM-wl1tp]

Out again eh? Yeh, yesterday was shocking. I got caught in a downpour yesterday evening! Do you have an ebike that you use Gordon?

[@clippingin1593]

No, I don't have an e-bike. It was a 'Specialized Chisel Comp' in this video - hardtail XC bike - sentenced to hard labour ... 😁

[@KM-wl1tp]

@@clippingin1593 nice 👍