Last Saturday, Dan was  fortunate enough to be invited along by Charles at Yorkshire Velo Tours to get a guide of some of the legendary cobbled climbs with their inaugural Bronte Cobbled Classic Route. Here’s how it went.

Like the vast majority of people you meet in the cycling world, Charles is in it for the love of the bike, the love of good company and, of course, the love of Yorkshire.  Having been a social rider for over twenty five years, in 2011 Charles was instrumental in the setting up of the now mighty Ilkley Cycling Club.  After spending five years on the committee (during which time the Club grew from a a few people in a pub to an organisation of several hundred members including supporting children, racing and the terrific White Rose Classic sportive), he recognised a needto provide a first rate guiding experience to newcomers to the area.

Beyond guiding, Yorkshire Velo Tours will also hook you up with great local accommodation and the comfort you’ll only get from knowing your trip, be it for a day or a weekend, is being handled by someone with a genuine passion to share the best of the area with his guests.

We chose to join him on the Cobbled Classics route for two reasons.  The first was that it takes place in West Yorkshire, an area which we really have zero personal knowledge of.  The second is that it takes in some of the most challenging cobbled climbs you will ever encounter in the UK.  Inevitably doing so means that it’s at the far end of navigationally challenging – these routes out of the valleys are typically tucked away on the more industrial peripheries of the County.

We were warmly welcomed by Charles and his Yorkshire Velo Tours support staff  of Jayne, Mel and Chris with the opportunity for a full mechanical inspection with resident mechanic Chris as we popped inside for a morning Cappuccino.  With wheels up at 9.30, we rolled out through Ikley and across the Moor.

Preparing for the off

Our first climb of the day was Thwaites Brow.  Tucked out of site behind an industrial zone in Keighley, this is a climb with cobbles that would give a Classics winner pause for thought.  Ascending steeply and turning sharply, you need to ride it with your weight in the right place, your wits about you and hopefully a set of wheels that aren’t too delicate.  Thankfully I was on a gravel bike with 30 mm rubber so no problem for me but not as kind to a couple of other riders in the group, for whom the climb afforded no opportunity for recovery once their toes went down.

Coming out of Keighley, the ride blessed us with stunning views across West Yorkshire and then back in to the Valley on the other side After a quick recovery stop (complete with on-tap water, energy gels and home made sandwiches, flapjack and cake), we headed off to hit the Shibden Wall.

Across the valley from the Shibden Wall with YVT

Coming up the Wall

Shibden Wall was followed by further climbs of Gibb Lane and, of course the famous Haworth Main St before a lunch stop in Haworth.  From here the ride took us back to Ilkley via Priest Bank and my own personal nemesis, Goose Eye before heading back to the Wheatley Arms for a well earned coffee and the added bonus of a commemorative bottle of local ale. All in all a terrific day out and a fantastic tour of the area that we would recommend for anyone looking for a great route and  top guiding from a first rate team.

Charles plan to run further Cycle Saturday rides in June, July, August and September that are all listed on our events section.  As a way to discover the region they are an absolute gem and wholeheartedly recommended.

With cycling fast becoming the ‘go to’ social activity for families as well as the chosen way of commuting for many professionals, our roads are seeing more new and perhaps less savvy cyclists than ever. Whilst most of us lay claim to being able to ride a bike well enough, there’s a side to all this that is often secondary or often an after thought – Safety.

OK so it’s hardly the sexy side the the activity/sport, but safety is something we should all take seriously whether you’re a seasoned hobbyist or just someone who happens to use a bike regularly for convenience. Cycling, your bike and your-self really need to be approached with safety in mind.

So where do you start?

Well to help out, Simpson Millar, a major UK law firm have come up with a quick guide to making sure you’re as safety concious as can be. This great little guide is aimed more towards those newer to cycling but a quick check up and reminder for all never hurt.

Check out there helpful guide by clicking here and even if you’re all set, perhaps forward it on to someone you know who is just starting out.

With the Tour De France seemingly a long distant memory, Cycling in our glorious region seems just as strong if not stronger than ever before. The roads are filling up with cyclists of all ages and life is just happier and more harmonious as a result – ok that last bit might be in our heads : )

Excitement however is definitely building, and with good reason too. It’s almost Tour De Yorkshire time. Yes, over the 29th/30th April & 1st May, our roads will once again be a playground for the worlds cycling elite, and as ever you can not only expect the finest and most thrilling bike racing, but also roads lined with spectators of all ages and from all works of life. Cycling it seems is one sport that brings communities together.

So you want to know more? Well fortunately we have more. YES YES YES we have the perfect route guide for you kindly sent to us from our friends over at www.bluechipholidays.co.uk so click here www.bikingyorkshire.co.uk/ to find out everything you need to know.

A new amateur cycling team has been launched with support from Wold Top Brewery and other local businesses.

The Wold Top Actif Road Racing Team comprises seven talented local cyclists who will compete in British Cycling events both in Yorkshire and nationwide.

The team has been established by Beverley men, Richard Baldwin and David Hought, who have cycled together for years and who organise the popular Wolds 123 Sportive.

Richard Baldwin explained the rationale for the team: “David and I aim to use our experience, contacts and products to bring a professional style attitude to grass roots cycling. We are looking to make this team the best in the area bar none and can’t wait for the season to begin.”

The racing team’s line-up includes: Lewis Jackson, 36 from Bridlington; Rob Hill, 39 from Withernsea; Greg Saunderson, 25 from Burstwick; Josh Ravin, 18 from Hull; Jamie Cousins, 25 from Withernsea; Alex Dalton, 19 from North Ferriby and 18 year old GB triathlete, Ben Baugh from Barrow on Humber.

David Hought added: “Our aim as a team is to be one of the best in the Yorkshire regions and challenge the monopoly that other established teams have held recently. We are very grateful to Wold Top Brewery, Vehicle Livery Solutions, Oriel, Actif Handbuilt Wheels and Pactimo Europe for their help in bringing this project to fruition.”

The team are currently training in Mallorca in preparation for the first race of the season at Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire on 27^th February.

Brewery representative, Kate Balchin is delighted to support the initiative: “Wold Top Brewery has a long association of supporting cycling in the region, including Ryedale Special Families’ Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Challenge, William’s Farm Kitchen Charity Sportives and the Wolds 123 Sportive and we’re looking forward to charting the progress of the Wold Top Actif team.”

Wold Top’s cycling ale, Hello Velo, was brewed to celebrate the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2014 and has proved popular with cyclists and non-cyclists ever since.

Farm based Wold Top Brewery brews traditional real ale from home and Wolds grown malting barley, the finest hops and chalk-filtered water from the farm’s own borehole.

Hard at work

Whatever your reason for wanting to improve your riding strength and fitness, short of having a personal trainer to chase on rides of ideal gradient and distance it is hard to argue with the benefits of well managed indoor training.  Note the emphasis on ‘well managed’.  Spinning your legs around on an exercise bike or turbo trainer with no real mission or consistency will likely yield minimal results and be terrifically boring.  Alternatively, a traditional spinning class can be a fantastic cardio workout and great fun, but it won’t give you the targeted power gains you might want to be improving on, for example maintaining speed over short climbs or sustaining power up longer ones.  The fitness industry is starting to take notice and last week we spent some time with Huw Spacey at the new Lear Fitness gym in Harrogate to learn a bit more about how training indoors with power can get us through the dull winter months and out the other side as stronger cyclists.

Huw has devised a training programme that utilizes the fleet of Stages indoor training bikes at Lear Fitness to deliver structured indoor cycling classes– an evolution on the standard gym bike you might be familiar with in that they also offer specific power measurement.  We went along to a couple of their classes, first of all to have our Functional Threshold of Power (FTP) measured and then to take part in one of Huw’s structured interval sessions.  Neither were easy, making me nostalgic for my school days when a lack of sporting prowess rendered me (and my total lack of effort) invisible to gym teachers.  But they were a lot more fun than expected and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone that is serious about wanting to improve their fitness off the bike and make targeted gains on it.

FTP test – tough but rewarding

Afterwards we sat down with Huw to learn some more about power training and classes that he is offering:

What is the difference between the training classes you offer and a conventional spinning lesson?

The classes that I am running use Stages Indoor cycles equipped with power meters.

The fact that the instruction is based on training zones means that it is specific to that individual, regardless of ability or experience on a bike. The use of power meters by cyclists on the road is just one use, we are using them to coach non-cyclists too and target specific areas of their physiology using specific workouts that are proven to work. This is quite different to a ‘spin’ class where everything is done on feel.

I like to start with a client by doing a Function Threshold of Power test with them in order to determine their current level, spot areas that we can be working on and most importantly, set their training zones to work on during my sessions. I can usually spot troublesome areas with their technique, often attributed to feet, hips or core strength and because I work closely with Lear Fitness’ Physiotherapist and Pilates instructor Elise Mailloux we can address those areas swiftly for the client, thereby helping them further with their physiology and cycling technique.

Giving each client their own specific training zones means that I can have the least experienced cyclist and Bradley Wiggins in the same class, and they will both get the same quality of workout at the same intensity. That leads to a good atmosphere in the classes as everyone is doing the same thing at their own specific output.

And why is power so important rather than using a heart rate monitor for training?

This is a really big question, and one that is asked regularly now that power meters are being used by so many people, but something that requires breaking down into several components. Bear with me here…

The main benefit of a power meter is that you can measure your efforts and gauge them without question.  A power meter is measuring the users output from the bike. If you are performing interval training and want to be sure that you’re hitting the correct zones, then a power meter is the way to go.  Having already performed a ‘test’ with me, we can figure out your limits and training zones which allows you to pace yourself efficiently during efforts.

A heart rate monitor is measuring your body’s input to the bike. There will be a lag response time between your output and your HR rising to its target zone.  A power meter is particularly useful during shorter intervals (under a couple minutes) when your HR spends much of the interval rising to the zone you’re targeting.  You’ll very likely be going too hard at first when trying to get your HR up, and then the rest of the interval you’ll be so tired out you’ll actually be pushing very little power (but your HR will remain high).   When you use a power meter, you’ll notice that when you push a specific wattage it will feel easy at first, but as the interval progresses it will begin to feel harder, yet the power will remain constant and HR will rise.  As your form progresses, you’ll notice that you’ll be able to push a higher wattage at a certain heart rate.  This is when you know your training is working.

Heart rate monitors are good intensity-measuring devices also. But heart rate by itself actually doesn’t tell you much. It’s like the rev counter on a car—it tells you how hard the engine is working but nothing more. Data such as heart rate isn’t meaningful until it is compared with some measure of output. Output is critical to success, input isn’t. After all, they don’t give awards at races to those who worked the hardest or had the highest heart rates (input), but rather to those who had the fastest time which results from high power (output).

Then we have heart rate drift – another topic in itself. Your heart rate can be incredibly variable and be affected by several factors including temperature, illness and fatigue but power doesn’t lie.

All that said, a power meter is only effective if you are using it in conjunction with a prescribed training plan or session from a coach, or instructor who knows what he’s doing with power.  That’s my job, I design the workouts to get the best from you, using a bit of periodisation and specificity.

A lot of people get pleasure from a normal spinning class comes from the motivation of working in time to the music – what do you do to push people through the toughest efforts?

I do use upbeat music in my classes but my main motivation is vocal and encouraging the clients to target a wattage specific to the effort that we are doing at that time. For longer efforts, say 2 minutes or more, I try to describe a setting; perhaps a hill they know with other riders, or racers on encouraging them to keep with the wheel in front of them playing on the imagery that we have all seen on the television during the Tour De France. I am hoping to utilize the projectors in the room soon and have some alpine climbs or stages from big well known bike races on the wall. I know that type of imagery would help motivate me and so I am sure it would help others also.

So do you feel that having numbers to focus on adds an extra layer of motivation as well as purpose?

Having a number to chase, or hang on to definitely helps to motivate you, that feeling of seeing your wattage slide during an effort drives you on push it back up again. Without that interface you don’t really know you are slowing down until it’s too late.

How do you make sure that classes appeal to both the committed rider as well as someone who might want to attend one of your classes for purely fitness reasons?

I have many clients that are not serious or experienced cyclists and come to the classes for the fitness benefit. The style and efficiency of the sessions lend themselves to everyone wanting to better themselves. Many of the classes I run are great fat burning sessions, as well improving lactate threshold which to an experienced cyclist is the Grail, but it applies to everybody. The more efficiently your body can deal with lactate build up, the better your fitness becomes and the longer you can go, on or off the bike. It is all about improving the cardio-vascular system and the efficiency of delivering oxygen to the muscles. I have some clients that do different sports like squash and use the classes to improve their top end without the high impact that other ‘cross training’ activities might bring.

For anyone that can’t make it to one of your classes, what one piece of advice would you give them to keep their fitness up over the winter?

Interval training, Interval training, Interval training, and some long rides. Eat well, stave off illness by eating the right foods to keep your immune response high and recover well in between workouts. That and do something that makes you happy at least once a week.

To learn more about Huw’s indoor power classes, contact the Lear Fitness gym in Harrogate on 01423 709 844 or email harrogate@learfitness.pro

The end…

The road ahead

In and among the massive uptake in road cycling and mass participation events, it would seem that us roadies are starting to diversify our two wheeled interests. We’re still snapping up the fastest and lightest  machines, but the manufacturers have also been  looking for ways to appeal to those wanting more.  GT realised it with their well-reviewed Grade models, BMC with their GF series. Both of these companies have released machines to satisfy those looking for more than high speed on perfect tarmac. Tyre clearances allow for muguards and bigger, bouncier tyres whilst brazings cater for touring accessories, the geometry allowing riders to cruise all day and still be fresh the next morning. Heck, you could even enjoy a spot of cyclo-cross if that’s what floats your boat.

Previously we looked at the Kinesis ATR, a sublime ride for on and off road adventuring. However, lovely though it was, it was also out of my budget, so once x+1 time came around again I went to see our friends at Harrogate’s Specialized Concept Store and bought the Diverge Smartweld, their go-anywhere gravel muncher that utilises Shimano’s hydraulic disc braking system, 30 mm Roubaix tyres and the zertz dampener system to provide a silky smooth ride day after day.

Diverge Smart Weld 2015 packed and ready for action.

For readers of this blog, the idea of cycle touring might seem rather off-putting, and having spent time touring on an MTB with a trailer I can understand the thinking. Traditional panniers and trailers can make for an experience that is either ridiculously leisurely or hopelessly unwieldy depending on your point of view. Either way, when your riding style has slipped in to the head-down category, you’ll be wanting to at least be able to retain some of that speed regardless of any desire to look up and smell the flowers.

Thankfully, ever at the forefront of technological development, MTB land has been undergoing a quiet bikepacking revolution (spearheaded in the UK by Apidura and Alpkit) and is providing on bike storage solutions that offer a far more streamlined and efficient experience. Kit can be stashed under the bars, inside the frame, under the saddle… Basically all the places that won’t cause you to clip your heels or wobble uncontrollably at speed, and the road world is starting to sit up and listen.

Of course, this assumes you’ll be traveling really light, and since this is Yorkshire (and because sleeping under just a tarp has never appealed), for my latest adventure I went for a compromise. There was still no way the panniers were coming back, but the rack provided somewhere for the 2 man tent and sleeping bag to sit, whilst the lightweight clothing, sleeping mat and wash kit got jammed in to the regular Saddle Pack that Apidura kindly lent me to play with for a few months.  An old bar bag got pressed back in to action up front alongside a very useful little handlebar smart phone mount that Liddle had on offer for the princely sum of £9 a few weeks before.

A massive recommendation needs to go to Strava for its Live service that, when coupled with a suitably long lasting phone, could almost be a Garmin killer.  Using a utilitarian Motorola Moto E, I got a fifty-mile route with live mapping  on the go and after four hours of leisurely riding and refreshments had still only munched half the battery life. Not bad eh? Actually, it’s not all great – the route planning with heat map sourcing on Strava is doubtless fine if you’re new in town and want a local circuit, but for the purposes of this trip I used Google Maps to plan my journey, taking advantage of its integration with Sustrans’ National Cycle Network to plot a route that typically hovered between idyllic and sublime and all the while plotting a pretty direct course.

Harvest time – stunning.

This weekend I was heading out to Chop Gate in the North Yorkshire Moors with the purpose of joining up with some friends that were overnighting as part of a two-day trail race. The bike, fully loaded though it was, performed superbly on the flats heading out towards Thirsk.  With a slight tail wind and my head down I was comfortably overtaking more leisurely cyclists; the nicely streamlined kit making the ride, if not effortless, certainly pretty acceptable. I’d gone across the Vale of York and across to the foot of the notorious White Horse Bank climb before I knew it.

Now White Horse was always going to be the most challenging part of the day, and I was hugely grateful for the Diverge’s wide span of gears that allowed me to stay seated most of the way up.  Although the Saddle Pack did itself proud on the trip, they are recommended only for putting the lighter items in to since there is no avoiding a tendency for the back end to fish-tail when you’re stood up and attacking switch-backs that hit 20-25% in places.  Machismo went out the window as I found the ice cream van parked in the car park two thirds of the way up, and I happily forfeited the kudos of doing the whole thing at once for the regenerative properties of an ice-cream and a can of lemonade.

As recommended by NYC

Refreshed, I finished off the remains of the 175 metre, >11% average road and headed to the National Park Visitors Centre for a bite to eat. Being pitifully low on cash for a weekend adventure, it was with great relief that the guys at Sutton Bank Bikes were kind enough to facilitate a makeshift cash-back facility to get me through the next couple of days. I left with a full stomach (plus a mental note to return on the Diverge to test out their new off-road trails another day) and made my way across to Chop Gate where I pitched my tent for the night and enjoyed a terrific meal at the local.

Rolling home

The next day’s route had not been planned – I figured  if I could make my way towards the market town of Helmsley, get in to the general direction of Ampleforth Abbey and find the terrific Sustrans Route 66 (a glorious tour of the Yorkshire Wolds and Howardian Hills) then it’d be fine, and it was. Like the vast majority of Sustrans routes, it’s aimed at cyclists whose wheels are less than skinny and takes in little-visited bridal paths, single-track farm roads and whatever else is going to give you the best views and the least traffic – awful for bunch riding, stunning for touring. Rolling past freshly harvested fields, ancient abbeys and over the toll bridge at Aldwark and with little of the climbing that day one had involved, it didn’t seem long before Harrogate appeared and my first real foray in to bikepacking was over.  The first, but by no means the last.

As we’ve hinted at before, sportives have become a dime a dozen around North Yorkshire – an event needs something special to impress us. The Struggle does that by pitching itself as the ‘been there,done that, time to really prove myself’ choice of ride. We’ve been tipped off about some of the names that plan on turning up and trust us, a high finish on this one will be well worth the bragging rights. Here’s what they told us:

The Struggle

 

Beginning in Harrogate on Sunday 22nd May 2016, North Yorkshire, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, riders with negotiate the region’s toughest climbs including Greenhow Hill, Malham Cove, Trapping Hill and the steepest ascents of Two Stoops and Park Rash.

The event’s inception is not only to feed the hunger of Yorkshire’s huge community of hardened cyclists, but to attract the nation’s keenest endurance riders to take on Yorkshire’s tough terrain.

Event Organiser Matthew Mannakee says: “As a cycling event organiser, but also a member of the Yorkshire cycling community, I see a big gap in the market for a challenging event like this that will showcase North Yorkshire cycling to the nation.”

Harrogate played host to the 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart and has since seen a huge influx of cycling tourists and interest in local events. “The Struggle is something different. You can’t just rock up and ride. It will take some serious training to complete,” says Matthew.

Event Organiser Victoria Tremlin says: “Our cycling events attract all abilities; social cyclists, clubs and race teams and often the local pros. An event like this is something new for locals to set training goals for, but also an excuse for the rest of the nation to come and ride our beautiful but brutal roads – and enjoy a long weekend in wonderful Harrogate.”

The Struggle is open for pre-registration now and will be open to those pre-registered in the new year. To ensure your name is on the start sheet visit www.ridethestruggle.com

 

There’s a lot of sportives in North Yorkshire this year.  A really, really lot of them.  And that’s good for the local economy and good for cycling.  And there’s a lot of opportunity to relive the highlights of Stage 1 of the Grand Depart and hit the great climbs of Buttertubs et al and their equally awesome neighbours. But if you want the connoisseur’s choice then head East and hit the lesser-ridden gems of the Yorkshire Wolds.

The chalk hills of the Wolds serve up a relatively gentle and undulating landscape of hidden valleys with often deserted single track roads that, whilst heading towards the flat lands of the East, are still often challenging.  Short, steep climbs and swirling winds hit at speed can present as much of a challenge as a rider is ready to accept. The topography makes for a fascinating, inverted farming system, with sheep and cows grazing in the valleys and crops growing on the hills. It makes for a terrific day on the bike.

With myself and Adam out of action, we sent our mate Byron out to get his first taste of the Wolds with the Wolds 123 organised by Rich of Baldwin Titanium.

“The Wolds 123 is a complete change from any other sportive I’ve ever ridden.  Launching in groups of 10, within five minutes of rolling out you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere and indeed stay there until the ride pops out past Castle Howard en route to the end.  It is, in many ways, one of the best rides I’ve ever done. The starting point (at the KP Club just outside Pocklington) is really chilled out – on arrival I was pointed towards a room where I could help myself to coffee, take a look at the wares of local cycle businesses and take it easy before setting out in the first bunch.

It was more akin to a club-organised event, albeit with a highly professional team.  It was also a ride for everybody.  Although billed as 123km, there were get-out points that could knock ten or twenty miles off the route for those whose legs weren’t feeling it. That said, although the rolling Wolds were a revelation to me, the hlls were generally not too testing and the surfaces as good as you’re going to get anywhere in Britain.

As well as the stunning terrain, the ride also provided the best extras I’ve ever had on a ride.  The café van at station one provided a great variety of coffee and snacks whilst station two provided just the right variety of basics to get me to the end.   Then there was the finishing bag – a recovery bar, bottle of water, chain lube and a bottle of beer, not to mention a warm meal (which I’m afraid I didn’t stick around for).  It was a lesson that the mega events of the Dales need to learn from. Finally, the icing on the cake for me – a free fifteen minute sports massage (which, since I arrived back rather early strung out to thirty) and access to the spa facilities with a jacuzzi, sauna and pool.  It was in every sense a fantastic day out.”

There are a lot of sportives around North and West Yorkshire run by  large events management companies offering less and less value to their participants.  If you’re starting to tire of the finishing time competition, diminished value for money and “not Buttertubs again” event culture that’s evolved of late we’d suggest you seek out the the Wolds 123 and its ilk. Less money spent on chip timing and more on having a grand day out – if you really care about the competition we’re sure someone else will have it on Strava.

Byron and the massage team

Cast your minds back 12 months and Harrogate was host to one of the greatest cycling spectacles this country has ever seen. In fact, many claimed this great small town had perhaps hosted one of the most memorable Grand Depart ever.

Fast forward 12 months and we’ve had a plethora of quotes about creating a cycling legacy from various key folk, however the reality might not quite be so positive. It seems recent action taken by Harrogate Borough Council have taken us from this

to this

The legacy, it seems, might be long forgotten.

The area in question is our beloved Stray that surrounds much of the town.It either provides a direct route or scenic backdrop for the vast majority of commuters. Before we go on, North Yorkshire Cycling wholeheartedly agrees that these paths are 100% not suitable for ‘club runs’ or fast moving riders. They are however absolutely perfect for children and every day commuters.

Without speaking to the Council directly we can only assume the none too subtle reinforcement of restrictions on cycling on the paths around the Stray has followed a number of complaints from pedestrians. But really, is the answer to ban cyclists and push them on to the dangerous and woefully inadequate (from a cycling perspective) public roads? Let us ask you this, if residents complain about cars driving too fast down a road do you ban cars on that road? Of course not as that would be stupid. Just like banning courteous cyclists from certain suitable paths like this is perhaps not the most productive strategy to implement.

A cycle friendly Harrogate?

These hideous painted signs might as well just say ‘not welcome’

There will always be those idiots who link every talk of cycling and cyclists back to  lycra clad weekend warriors and leisure riders, however in 10 years of cycling around Harrogate we cannot ever recall these narrower paths being used by anything other than town commuters and children.

So what does this actually mean? Well take a look at the picture below. We think you will agree this activity is probably not harming anyone.

(note; the chap in the photo only supports children and gentle commuting on these paths and not idiots racing like they are in a one day classic. We agree 100% with him)

Photographed just last night with parent permission, this child was innocently learning to ride a bike on a path marked at both ends ‘no cycling’. The Stray is the place many kids learnt and continue to learn to ride. it provides a safe environment and has no real impact on other path users. How sad this is a scene Harrogate Borough Council are clearly keen to get rid of.

It also means more cyclists on the roads. Is that a bad thing? Well in a town that still has no tolerance for cyclists on the roads then possibly yes, as it will eventually drive those who are less confident to stop altogether and discourage others from starting. There is already a belief in Britain that cycling is an inherently dangerous leisure activity rather than a viable form of urban transport. Harrogate Council do not seem keen to challenge that.

3yr old learning to ride a bike – No Cycling

Mother riding with a toddler on her bike – No Cycling

Every day folk gently commuting away from busy traffic – No Cycling

It’s a sad day indeed when we discourage youngsters to ride a bike by removing the safe places for them to do so. Perhaps this is the legacy the Council really meant? We don’t  believe they did, but it’s time for Harrogate Borough Council to put its money where its mouth is and start embracing cycling. It must stop giving in to bitter folk that have nothing better to do than scowl at and complain about people having fun or trying to live a healthier life.

Now in an attempt to see both side of the coin, we appreciate that in some places it’s hard for cyclists and pedestrians to commute together in harmony, and in some cases cyclists don’t exactly conduct themselves in a sensible manner, but is it really that hard to come to a better solution than ‘No Cycling’? Give us a call HBC, we have plenty of much better ideas to help make Harrogate safer for both cyclists and pedestrians.

“but they have provided cycle lanes so why don’t you use them?” was a recent comment. Take a look at this picture taken last night

We’re not sure how cyclists are supposed to use this lane.

This happens pretty much every night and the Council does nothing to stop it. You give us cycling lanes and then let motorists park in them! Hardly the actions of a Council embracing cycling. Come on guys is this really the Harrogate you want? We hope not.

Think on, if they do nothing what will be next? As a regular runner (and quite a slow one at that) I frequently overtake cyclists on these paths – does that mean running will also soon be banned? The other day a pedestrian moaned at me at because my 1 month old baby boy’s pram was in their way – will walking with prams also soon be banned?

We are not saying the problem can be fixed overnight, but banning cycling on paths that should encourage cycling is not a step forward, it’s a massive step back and confirms one thing – Harrogate is not, currently, cycling friendly. And when you consider that the district reportedly benefited by visitor spending in excess of £19m over the 3 days of the Tour De France last year, that is really embarrassing. This post will likely be viewed by over 10,000 people, so let’s hope that includes those who can make changes happen.

Cycling in North Yorkshire (or is it?)

“Dan, it’s Sanjai from Chevin Cycles, what do you make of ebikes?”
“Errrmmm I don’t really know, I guess they’re good for people that can’t ride up hills”
“How about when they’re mountain bikes?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea”
“Would you like to find out?”
“Hell yeah.”

And after roping in friend and committed enduro MTB’er Greg in, it was test time again. But before we do that, since we’re dealing with a whole new species of two wheeled transport it’s useful to get a few e-bike FAQ’s out the way first

How do they work?

Just like riding a bike – you pedal, but when you do there’s a load more power behind it. There’s different modes depending on how much of a boost you want and the amount of electricity you care to use in the process. Bikes are limited to a maximum supported speed of 15 miles per hour so anything you gain after that is down to your own work and / or gravity.

Do I press a button and go storming off? Am I in control? Won’t they damage the trails?

It’s supported peddling rather than a skinny moped. You’re as much in control as you would be on a conventional bicycle. Going out of control whilst going too fast on a trail will happen regardless of what you’re riding. As far as trail damage is concerned, inappropriate riding on any bike will hurt  the terrain, whether that’s from digging a full-suss in to a wet berm or a weak rider eroding the edges by avoiding going over the rocks etc. If anything you could argue supported bikes benefit the trails. There is always the power to hit any obstacle and little need to ever rely on momentum to get up stuff. Anyone that strays off the official line to damage the surrounding area needs a skills check, but they’d have done that on an unsupported bike as well.

How do they ride?

Surprisingly well. Each bike had its own characteristics as would be expected from a 29″ hard tail vs a 650B full bouncer. Both were pretty well speced for their design – more of that below.

How long do the batteries last for?

Good question. A full lap lasting around 90 minutes ride time of Gisburn’s 8 course left each one with around about a third of their power remaining. We could have been more economical, but in reality when you’re taking one of these out for the first time frugality is not going to be at the foremost of your mind.

Will I face derision on the trails?

Nope, not all. During our trip to Gisburn everyone we chatted to was great – a whole lot of curiosity and a fair bit of longing, particularly for the Haibike. A group of older riders we encountered were particularly excited about the opportunities e-assist technology offers to friends that are facing reduced mobility due to illness or injury.
We did find ourselves apologising a lot as we whisked past people on uphill fire roads, whilst the two girls we tried to impress by casually peddling past them on the climb by the Hope Line immediately sussed out we were cheating and looked pitying rather than impressed as they passed us when we waited at the top; they had a point.

Individual reviews:

Trek Powerfly+ 5 – A 29″ hard tail with the addition of power assist technology, its motor had a slight lag before kicking in making it less intuitive for hitting technical climbs. Once it found its feet though there was no stopping it. Happiest cruising gently uphill on fire roads; here and on bridle / canal paths is where we’d really see a market for it in the UK. This is the ebike that’ll keep up with the grandkids. It’s a comfortable rolling rider, albeit one that probably performs better than it looks.

Trek Powerfly+ 5

In fact, it  was also pretty nimble through downhill pump sections where, contrary to established theories of gravity, I seemed to get it moderately airborne. If you are going to get angry on it then it’s happiest being driven through the front forks, as proven by satisfying blasts out of the apex on tight berms and a fair bit of swooping through pump sections. 29″ wheels and bulbous tyres proved highly adept at cruising through black-rated rock garden sections, although the power boost indisputably was the deciding factor here. It also hit steep, rocky descents with ease. On Gisburn’s Hully Gully (the frankly ridiculous roller-coaster path that is hands down my favourite piece of trail anywhere in the UK),  its big wheels and weight-assisted momentum threw it high up the gully walls and held  firm as it rolled down the now slightly worse for wear skinny sections.

The Haibike SDURO AllMtn RC Electric Bike was, in a nutshell, the beast that everyone lusted after. It’s a 15 cm travel full suss rig that rolls through anything in its path and handles with a nimbleness that belies its extra weight. Where the 29″ wheels coupled with the laggy momentum of the Trek made tight, technical climbs an acquired skill, the instantaneous motor and low-slung agility of the Haibike whipped it around the trails like, well, a trials bike. It rode up and over the technically and physically challenging Whetstone Crag section with barely a thought. Its extra power glided me across the rocky ascent whilst the low-hung ride and super absorbent suspension offered total confidence on the vertiginous descent. Passers-by stared dreamily at it and several riders hanging around at the top of the Hope Line offered to trade their monster full bouncers in there and then. This is the Humvee of the ebike world and an absolute scream to ride.

In summary

To call them bikes is a bit unfair – this is hyper reality cycling. They create a world where you are the coolest, most powerful rider in the gang, able to destroy any rock garden and power up any hill. You’ll be keeping up with pretty much anybody yet seemingly losing none of the sensation of riding a bike, or so it seems whilst you’re battery supported and invincible at least. The flip side is that as regular bike they weigh an absolute tonne. When assisted they’re Cinderella’s carriage with hydraulic suspension, but when the clock strikes midnight and the charge goes you really are stuck with a pumpkin. So long as you’re aware of this then they’re both great, fun toys to either extend your enjoyment of cycling with friends and family or to simply enjoy a supported blast around. Just make sure you get home before the battery runs out.

Greg’s Day

20 years ago, as a grubby teenager, I was the proud owner of a clapped out 1972 Hillman Imp. To be honest, they didn’t come any more clapped out than my particular imp, but it had wheels, an MOT and an engine, meant freedom and critically, was mine. Step forward a bit and Dan and I have very kindly  been offered the loan of a Haibike SDuro RC 650b and a Trek Powerfly 5+ 29er for a day. We set forth to Gisburn to see what this is all about and answer the all-important question asked by everyone’s inner engineer: “Is it any good?”

The two bikes were designed for different purposes entirely – the Trek is a competent machine, its 29” wheels rolling and gripping nicely on the superb Bontrager XR3/2 front/rear tyre combination. It remained at its happiest pootling along fire roads, maintaining high speeds with next to no effort from the rider. The Bosch powerpack offering 4 levels of assistance, (or 5 if you include ‘Off’ upon which you discover that hardtail or not, a 20kg+ bike is heavy going. ). The Haibike was an altogether different and frankly, more cohesive beast – packing 150mm Fox TALAS CTD forks, Fox CTD 200mm rear suspension and 2.35” Nobby Nic rubber. Furthermore, the Haibike has a Yamaha battery and drivetrain which was more easily managed with less lag in the drivetrain than the Bosch system on the Trek.

At this point you’re probably wondering what all this has to do with shoddily built rivals to the Mini? Well fact fans, whilst both these bikes pack more – more weight than your normal mountain bike (to be honest, I pack more weight than I did in 1995 as well), they also both have more torque than that car. Slice it up any which way you like, this makes for entertaining cycling.

Draggy trail centre climbs are a breeze. One particular one was very pleasant as I was able to wave hello at a couple of elite looking xc riders, sauntering past and expending little effort for my 22kmh up a Cat4 climb, saddle down, 22kg bike battering the terrain into submission. The Trek was similarly at home but for me, the laggier power delivery of the electronics and lack of high speed cut out just made it feel more off road mobility scooter than ‘mountain bike with benefits.’.I have not laughed out loud on technical climbs before, but then I’ve never railed a berm going uphill before either.

On the downside: The weight….oh man these things are heavy. You don’t feel it in the corners, but those little rollers you can pop the bike over with a bit of air? Forget it. Both bikes are seriously aerophobic. Those tight hairpins where you take the weight off the rear wheel and flick the bike around with your hips? Nope. These babies (especially the Trek) like momentum and lots of it. To maintain smooth progress you really have to pump it and ride the fork. Traction on the Haibike was amazing and the whole electrical assistance made a lot more sense on this. The Trek to me, just felt like a cut & shut. If my Dad wanted to go for a ride and keep up with my bike-mad 6 year old then it’s a good tool for that ride. I just hope he doesn’t drop it or have it land on him as I think the aforementioned Hillman Imp wasn’t a lot heavier (it had the odd rust spot too).

We spent a lot of time debating what these things were for. Was it just because the engineers could or is there a real market? The Haibike is thoroughly entertaining – little effort and 85% of the reward. However at no point in the ride did I get to the end of a section and think ‘I really nailed that’. I remember ripping everyone’s legs off up a climb with a heart rate at 110. The descents were fun but the Haibike remained what it was, secure, planted and heavy. Ditto the Trek, just harsher. I really enjoyed the day out, the Haibike was a great trail centre machine with the Trek being most at home on fireroads and swoopy singletrack. The Haibike at its best battered  everything into submission.

Reflecting on the mental checklist for a good day out on the bike:

Fun? Check.
Giggles? Check.
Legs hurt? No.
Hungry as hell at the end of a good ride? Nope.
Feel like I’ve earned a beer? Not remotely.
Stretched myself, physically or technically? No.

Fundamentally though I came home with a smile on my face. Different bits of the trails made me smile, I could see the appeal. But something within me sat ill at ease on the whole question of electric bikes and it wasn’t the ethics of it (lets not start that debate). It was a really good laugh but something wasn’t stacking up. All became clear the following evening. At precisely 8:34pm I was astride my trusty Cube Reaction 29er, descending the red line in Stainburn. As I tipped it into the first Left/Right sequence I was back on a bike that was just SO agile and communicative by comparison, every pedal stroke rewarded with the right amount of forward momentum. There it became clear – the electric bikes were entertaining, but frankly…all torque and no action.

Thank you to:

The Gisburn Forest MTB Trail Development Group on Facebook for their thoughts and for the trail building team for crafting a phenomenal trail centre.

Sanjai and the staff of Chevin Cycles,  that incidentally have an e-bike demo day on the 15th August 2015 – we’d seriously recommend booking on it.