2011-09-04 - King of the Pennines

^^You could do worse...
North Yorkshire is ace, but the winters can be fucking cruel. Zero income for many, many months.
Still, it's possible. The lads round here love a cafe stop, and a good option would be to offer cheap accommodation specifically for cyclists, such as a bunk barn with bike lock up facilities. Imagine a big barn, soft hay on the planks and hammocks strung between the beams... Riders would flock to it!

well there was that pretty good looking converted barn after the reservoir climb.....
nr semer water? could be abit isolated but a decent spot..i really need to review the demographic, make some enquiries discuss with local clubs, and the likes of ribble cycles and other businesses... not saying it'll be a hub for the dales but away from the built up areas could be something.. this is a few year's away though, my girls are in a decent school in London right now, i don't want to panic the family

there are a ton of other activities in north yorks too.. but as Luci said it is very seasonal.. suspect the winter's are wet snow not that dry powdery stuff good for xc-skiing and snow shoeing about.. maybe spend christmas up there to get a feel for it at it's worse..

anyway i love the LMNH concept and reckon i could put together a northern version.. toasties, cakes, mugs of tea keep it local in flavour but with an alpine twist.. loving the barn idea this is popular in switzerland

we'll call sleep-ont-straw

North Yorkshire is perfect!

i reckon haworth high street time trial to rival swains lane..

Yorkshire and Lancashire are massively into hill climbs. Through Autumn you can't move for them on Sundays. Haworth would be a very tricky town to close, even for a couple of hours. The revenue from the Japanese and Americans is immense, due to the Bronte connection. There are plenty of very close cobbled lanes locally, and there's always a pub nice and near to warm the cockles after screaming at wheezing riders!

our ride was altered due to timetrial nr Muker yesterday..
Haworth is pretty special alright, but early evening when the coaches have gone, shops closed
no chance of a little event you reckon?

Also is the half ironman (oldest and toughest) triathlon still going in the Yorkshire Dales..
swim start was semer water, epic bike ride of 60 miles, finished with a fell run up Pen-y-ghent and back to/from either Hornton-in-Ribblesdale or Hebden Bridge memory is fading :)

Kind of glad I didn't go, would have definitely ended up in the sweeping van.
if you didn't complete you get a free entry next time?

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/112170279

if i set up something like this in kettlewell.. i'd be very happy
http://www.dalesmountainbiking.co.uk/index.php/about-us/
also
http://www.thebikelivery.com/

it'll have to accommodate MTB, cyclocross and road cycling methinks

@almac68, thanks for the Garmin route

thanks route is great

the search for premises begins... also need to get some bike maintenance qualifications in 2012.. there's gold in them hills..

you acually thinking of doing this Al?
i'd be a customer.....

i'm back in yorkshire saturday 17th march, staying in bishop thornton.. the moors and dales is in my blood now..

You made me miss.

I never miss.

Looking forward to the ride!

luci, you have the ride details.. looking forward to meeting you in march with the lads from harrogate.

Al

luci, you have the ride details.. looking forward to meeting you in march with the lads from harrogate.

Al

Now you've made it sound sinister, like you're all gonna do me over or something!

aye the lads from harrogate, an evil bunch.. we'll lead you up to coverdale then steal your flapjacks and energy bars when you are not looking.. hahahaha #evillaugh

seriously though, niall has said that if the weather is foul, Plan B mountain bikes and go offroad, could you do that? Plan A is still road bikes with gears for a 100km hilly ride across the dales with plenty of cafe stops and supper/beers saturday night if you can join us. should have a small squad for company all good fellas i promise.. check your email sent last night and let me know it'll be a good day out.

Al

i've just put in an enquiry with local brewery for the White Lion Pub, Barnoldswick (Earby), for 5 year (short term) lease.. despite county line changes these folk are yorkshire, not lancs.. but good striking distance from the Dales and not competing with established cyclist Pub in Gargrave.

if i ever get my cyclocross team established.. we'll be known as the 'barlick toasters' and fly a huge flag with white lion on navy background.. like we were in flanders ;-)

wish me luck.

A

OMFG I really need to get some gears :(

Dan, you'd make the first team methinks.. the cyclocross is hardcore, and the MTB is excellent too.

in fact i may name my second bottled beer YAL, TGH being the first.

http://www.cyclesportpendle.org.uk/csp-hope-barnoldswick-bash-cyclocross-23rd-october-2011.html

having HOPE and Rolls Royce on the doorstep..
http://www.hopetech.com/
http://www.rolls-royce.com/careers/where_in_the_world/uk/barnoldswick.jsp

will be interesting too.

Just spent the 45 mins looking at cross bikes. Dying for one now, Anyone out there have a nice 'cross bike in 'mens petite' they'd like to sell me?

if/when i sign the lease..
i'll be buying a cross bike and mtb..
for year 'round cycling

Back when I were a lad, someone changed the wording of the road signs.
The butchered versions read;

Welcome to Earby
Please speak slowly

Good luck with the venture.
(Make sure you have a decent cider on draft)