Tour of the roses - train Leeds to Morecambe

[jamesofyorkshire]

I took the Morecambe-Leeds train a few days ago.

Every 3rd hour the train is direct - no changes.

No reservation for the bike, and no need for a ticket for it, as on some routes.

Train is supposed to carry 2 bikes but there were 4 on the train I took....it's up to the conductor.

Price on line, or at the station is the same - £22.80 one way. Another 8 quid or so for return.

Nice journey.... though not quick - 3 hours. I can peddle it with bags in 4........

[gloomyandy]

Hi James. Thanks for the update... I've changed my plans a little and now intend to simply ride to the start. I rather like the idea of setting off from home without the complication of trains etc. In fact I should be on my trip now. Unfortunately a last minute check of my bike discovered a rather large crack/split in the tyre, which I managed to sort out. However my rather heavy handed tweak of the disc brake calliper resulted in damage to the mounting system which was not so easy to sort out, so my trip has been delayed by a week (had to order some bits to fix the mount)...

Where did you head from Morecambe? Did you do the Way of the roses? How did you find it?

Andy

[jamesofyorkshire]

I live near Pateley Bridge....and have a lady friend in Morecambe! So I do that end of the WotR quite frequently.

I usually peddle both ways but last weekend the weather was OK for me getting there but horrendous coming back....but I hadn't seen my friend for a while so........enough on that.

Morecambe to Settle isn't bad...a bit lumpy - but not too much. Settle to Brimham Rocks is tough! Very scenic, but very hilly. After Brimham Rocks it's 100-miles of flat except for one long but not difficult hill.
To give you some idea of how hilly it is - I use a GPS so I know how much I climb.....Morecambe to Pateley is about 5000ft of elevation gained......going up to Brimham Rocks is another 1000ft of climbing. The hill out of Settle onto the moors, and then Appletreewick to Greenhow, are particularly long with some steep bits. Just take it very steady, don't push, as they go on for ever! Pateley to Brimham Rocks is a long drag also....and in between the long hills are plenty of small ones!

Take the wind into consideration. It usually blows out of the West, so starting at Morecambe is a good bet. However a lot of the route is exposed, and a stiff headwind will be very demoralising. Wind from the East usually doesn't last more than a day, so if you're struggling into it...find a pub and call it a day...next day should be more favourable.

The whole route is very scenic, especially from Settle to Greenhow. On a clear day you can see forever. It really is a very nice ride if the weather is on your side.

Only one thing spoils it for me and that's the ridiculous bit from Austwick that you need a mountain bike for. Why on earth they put that stretch into what otherwise is a road route is beyond me. Do yourself a favour and go through Eldroth towards Settle and skip Clapham/Austwick. If you do that off-road bit from Austwick - don't be surprised if you break a spoke. I don't know what they were thinking of to include that section. Bloody stupid.

Earlier this year I decided to do the whole route when we had that nice week in March (that was summer). I had done the West end of the route many times and wondered how the whole ride would be. I really enjoyed it apart from Austwick-Settle....and the other side of York the route takes you through a field for some reason, but it's not that bad (if you don't mind pushing your bike through mud).

I'm not a racer. I'm not all that fit actually. My bike weighs 35lbs empty.....it's heavy-duty, including the wheels. I did it in 2 days from Morecambe to Brid....got a cheap (read grotty) B&B in Brid, then went back to Morecambe, also in 2 days. The return leg was much more difficult as I had a headwind, though not a stiff one.....plus I was knackered....
So it can be done. A younger, fitter, cleaner-living version of me could do one way in one long day.

Many times I see cyclists doing the way of the Roses as I go to Morecambe and back.....usually pushing the bikes up the first 1/2 mile east of Settle.....not a bad idea. That first 1/2 mile uses a lot of energy, especially if you're carrying too much luggage, as most seem to..... (Do you really need to haul a pair of jeans 170 miles ?)
I carried a saddle bag and bar bag and left my panniers at home...and glad I did.

OK. Enough. I seem to have written a book on it........zzzzzzzzz

[MarkF]

I use the Transpennine regularly, often there can be several bikes on the trains. As long as you avoid rush hours, then your bike won't be in anybody's way and the guard/conductors are always sensible about it.

[cycloret]

If you don't want the steep climb out of Settle, there's a reasonable alternative that goes via Hellifield and rejoins the WofR route at Airton.

Michael's Rosy Way from Morcambe to Bridlington
http://www.bikemap.net/route/790457#lat ... ts_terrain

...and as for climbing up to Brimham Rocks, that seems too masochistic for me but then I also missed the delights of Greenhow hill.