Sun Dance
MBUK featured Nidderdale and followed a long route from Kirkby Malzeard around Nidderdale and back in time for tea. We liked the look of it because
Kirkby is much easier to reach by car than Middlesmoor or even Pately Bridge, due to it's relative closeness to the
Al(M). We made it back to Leicester in two hours flat on a Sunday evening: swift. On the morning of the ride the journey up North was through heavy showers under dark, sullen clouds. Clinging to my faith in meteorology I bravely promised the un-believers (Matt and Tom) that 'sunny periods' had been forecast. Sure enough when we arrived the clouds parted and the sunny period turned out to be the whole day: nice. Tarmac Beggars
On the ride out of Kirkby we all noticed how like Leicester's Swithland the countryside was, as
Kirkby and Carle moors came in to view soon after this illusion was thankfully dispelled. A very pleasant tarmac lane leads you right up on to the moor and I sadistically warned the lads they'd be begging for some tarmac later on. Shortly before the road ends we were treated to the sight of North Gill Beck in full spate, none of us fancied canoeing down that torrent. As we crossed Carle Moor we stopped for an early bite to eat and I pulled two large Bakewell tarts from my sack. You'd think from Matt and Tom's reaction that I'd set up a four course lunch complete with a menu and sweet trolley. Surely there's nothing wrong with treating yourself on a day out? They certainly weren't averse to scoffing some down.
Soon after this the
downhill begins and a rocktastic rolling romp it is too. I reigned in my zealous speed freak buddies just in time to make the right turn before East Side Wood. This is where the trail gets tough and pretty much stays tough the whole way around the upper valley. Although this is a good Winter trail, ruts and the dreaded baby head rocks make getting a pedaling rhythm going harder than drunken tight rope walking. We had taken this masochistic diversion in order to include the amazing descent to Thrope
Farm, a mile North of Lofthouse. Loony Leader
When we reached the impressive Shooting Lodge there was some disbelief from the troops. "What trail?" they said as I pointed over the edge. The general feeling was that I'd lost it and should be relieved of command and quite possibly locked up for my own safety. Truth is the top section of this bridleway is so infrequently used that there's not much on the ground to show it's existence. Add to this the sudden transition over the steep valley side and your friends may fear for your sanity as you point over the edge. As soon as you do take the plunge the grassy path guides you off to the left and then heads straight down at around 1 in 2. Some delicate braking and deft line choices are needed unless your handlebar is a foot higher than your saddle.
Eventually you reach a gated wall and can stop chewing your shorts on the rear tyre, for a moment. Through here and it's off to the left again building up way too much speed for the ninety degree right hand bend and more of that 50% slope. This time there are rocks and one or two roots to add to the general smell of fear and ensuing hilarity. Finally you arrive at another gate in to a farmers field, straight across the middle towards the farmhouse then left on the lane. The farmers lane can be muddy but you'll still be buzzing from the descent, we hardly noticed it. You soon drop down in to the village of Lofthouse then turn right for the steep tarmac climb to
Middlesmoor. Shaken not stirred
Just about now we were already starting to feel the burn, usually reserved for much later in the ride this was a bad sign. We stopped for tea at the local pub and then pushed on up the climb towards Scar House reservoir. This is the first of the really nasty climbs, a cocktail of ruts, rocks and soft ground that sap your strength and severely test your will to keep pedaling, some riders will hate it. My strangely selective memory had snipped this climb down to a quick spin but the reality was more of a slow stumble. Finally we reached the corner overlooking the reservoir and all that effort was repaid with a Winter bonus of golden sunshine and crystal clear visibility. The downhill from here to the dam is a compelling full suspension sales tool, my San Andreas made each high square boulder look like a low round hump. Northern Exposure...
Once at the bottom we crossed the dam, observing as we did heavily dressed, cold looking tourists. We were lightly clothed by comparison but super-heated by exertion and bathed in blinding sunshine it really felt like Summer. We stopped to take some pictures of the starkly beautiful northern end of the Scar House reservoir, then clicked lowest gear for a short section of cobbled road up to the bridleway. When we reached the top I was struck down with the worst case of cramp I've had in a long time. I sat down and stretched out my leg with my right thigh muscle intent on ripping itself apart. It was a couple of minutes before I could go on but miraculously the cramp didn't return in the ensuing battle to climb along the edge of the moor. Shot and blasted
This has to be one of the
toughest trails out there, riders who hated the slog from Middlesmoor will be
cursing on here, bring some Prozac in your first aid kit. At long, long length we passed the shooting house at the top of the descent to Thrope Farm again, with even more concern for finishing before night fall. If trail conditions stayed the same on our remaining miles our collective geese would be cooked. But things started looking down almost immediately, which in this case was a good thing. We flew down one of those tough climbs of earlier on, then up a gentle broken road to one of the longest descents around. We covered more miles in twenty minutes than we had in the previous two hours.
Our super tough diversion had added three miles to the MBUK route but was unanimously deemed well worth the entry fee. Don't miss the Thrope Farm challenge next time you bounce and blast round
Nidderdale.