Cheers, Mick. I'd heard tales of the Queensbury Triangle and remember various preservation battles involving the viaduct but I only learned of the cycle-route a few months ago after a comments-chat following the Headley Lane ride. Periodically there's chatter involving the renovation and reopening of the Holmfield Tunnel but I'd imagine cost and safety will be major stumbling blocks.
Superb Gordon. Thank you, that was most enjoyable. The old track bed in your area certainly appears to be put to good use. On the one hand it is a shame the railway was dismantled, on the other hand you have a recreational or safe cycle infrastructure.
Thanks, Andrew. I remember walking and running in the area during the 80s when the track bed was out of bounds and there was a fight to preserve the viaduct. Luckily the MP for Bradford South was a big railway enthusiast and I think he helped to connect the right people - the Settle-Carlisle line and Ribblehead were facing the axe at a similar time. I wasn't living around here when the repairs and reopening began and I only learned of the bike-trail a few months after repeating one of my road-training loops. This was quite a treat.
Great pottering, Gordon and couldn't agree more with those outro comments. With some local link up navigation challenges on a bike it's amazing what you find sometimes! 👍
I wish I'd taken a selfie stick because I was hanging over the parapet with the GoPro at arm's length to catch a view of the arches. The locals said the route had reopened in stages between 2006-2011. It makes for a nice 'linear park' now.
A brilliant route, I've only been as far as Thornton, think you might have to incorporate some road riding to get onto Hewenden viaduct because as far as I know the track bed becomes unpassable after Thornton (boggy ground and blocked off tunnels)
Local knowledge - thanks, Claire! I'll probably head on the roads towards Wilsden then swing left towards the Hewenden section. I enjoyed the novelty because most of this route was out of bounds in the early 2000s. And yes, I was dragging my rear brake all the way down Station Road .... haha
If you had exited the viaduct by turning right at the end next to the junior school, there is a really interest information board on the road side explaining loads of history regards the station that was on the sight of the school. Another great upload.
Cheers, Gareth. I've just seen the Bradford Council pdf with route info & I remember seeing that right fork near the school. I only had a couple of hours so I set off with the aim of reaching the viaduct then turning round, but when I've got more time I'll extend it to the Hewenden section via Egypt & Harecroft. It makes for a nice change of pace and scenery.
Just found your channel Gordon, very enjoyable , keep it up . I’ve put a Strava follow request in, very familiar with a lot of your routes but enjoying your enthusiasm and insights .
Welcome to the channel, Andrew. A few months ago I rode to Horbury and did the Wakefield Wheel, that was a beautifully planned, multi-surface route. Hopefully, I'll be revisiting it over the next couple of months, along with a few other routes in the Wakefield-Barnsley area.
I was using the chestcam for the ride and forget to take the XL selfie stick so I almost fell off the parapet getting those shots! It was a new route for me, which is great when you're so close to home in an area you think you know. Cheers, Matt.
could't agree more Gordon nothing like a 'saunter ' or a 'bimble' on the bike taking it easy and taking in whats around you, did something similar today in the Upper Derwent Valley at the dams and even tho have been there many a time I love the history of the 'navvies' who built the dams and 'Tin Town ' where they lived with their families lovely area, great video by the way👍
I saw you'd made a circuit of the Dambuster reservoirs, Ian. I was a Sheffielder for many years and I know that beautiful valley and the surrounding countryside. Gravel and traffic free tarmac - ideal.
Thanks. Cycling's such a broad church and that's why I try to feature these easy-access mini-adventures - although I draw the line at filming a grocery run.
I totally agree, a bike is the best form of transport. You can get to places that you can't get to in a car and also I love that you can stop and admire the view, which you can't always do in a car.
Cheers, Paul. I've said many times that riding through an area is a completely different experience to being inside a motor vehicle - you have more appreciation for the surroundings and the day itself. We cyclists are acutely aware of wind, temperature, humidity, gradients, and surface quality. Seeing those peacocks (I think) followed by the views as I hung over the parapet made my Wednesday!
Cheers, Jay. Queensbury Station Road is messy with a broken surface, sharp gravel and a lot of mud. I wouldn't fancy it on skinny road tyres - I'm running 38mm Marathon Plus on the shopper but I was dragging my rear brake on that section to reduce the impacts. You can access the trackbed and viaduct from a couple of other places where it's smooth tarmac all the way. I've whizzed under Thornton viaduct so many times but only it was only a few months ago that I learnt about the cycle access.
A gravel bike with flat handlebars does it for me on these sort of 'follow ya nose' type of rides. I do a lot of tgem. Some people call it 'junk miles' because it has no quantifiable or measurable fitness/training benefit. Ha!
Those people would be wrong. 'Junk Miles' is one of the most abused and misunderstood terms. It's interesting to note that the most common mistakes of self-coached athletes is making their easy sessions too hard, thereby compromising recovery (where the gains occur) and having a negative impact on subsequent hard sessions! Even with all today's measuring tech' many people fall into the trap of blitzing base or Z2 rides. Cyclists are very often prisoners of ego, especially with the 'Stravanoia' fear-of-observation phenomenon I've touched upon in the past. Maybe I'll do a standalone video on 'staleness', 'mental freshness' and the so-called off season. Meanwhile, carry on pottering.
A very interesting and enjoyable take on our Local Historical Rail network Gordon
Cheers, Mick. I'd heard tales of the Queensbury Triangle and remember various preservation battles involving the viaduct but I only learned of the cycle-route a few months ago after a comments-chat following the Headley Lane ride. Periodically there's chatter involving the renovation and reopening of the Holmfield Tunnel but I'd imagine cost and safety will be major stumbling blocks.
Superb Gordon. Thank you, that was most enjoyable. The old track bed in your area certainly appears to be put to good use. On the one hand it is a shame the railway was dismantled, on the other hand you have a recreational or safe cycle infrastructure.
Thanks, Andrew. I remember walking and running in the area during the 80s when the track bed was out of bounds and there was a fight to preserve the viaduct. Luckily the MP for Bradford South was a big railway enthusiast and I think he helped to connect the right people - the Settle-Carlisle line and Ribblehead were facing the axe at a similar time.
I wasn't living around here when the repairs and reopening began and I only learned of the bike-trail a few months after repeating one of my road-training loops. This was quite a treat.
Great pottering, Gordon and couldn't agree more with those outro comments. With some local link up navigation challenges on a bike it's amazing what you find sometimes! 👍
I wish I'd taken a selfie stick because I was hanging over the parapet with the GoPro at arm's length to catch a view of the arches.
The locals said the route had reopened in stages between 2006-2011. It makes for a nice 'linear park' now.
Thanks pal love how you explain about different places 👍
Cheers, Martin. We're surrounded by all kinds of interesting places and I think travelling by bike is an ideal way of seeing things afresh.
A brilliant route, I've only been as far as Thornton, think you might have to incorporate some road riding to get onto Hewenden viaduct because as far as I know the track bed becomes unpassable after Thornton (boggy ground and blocked off tunnels)
Local knowledge - thanks, Claire! I'll probably head on the roads towards Wilsden then swing left towards the Hewenden section.
I enjoyed the novelty because most of this route was out of bounds in the early 2000s.
And yes, I was dragging my rear brake all the way down Station Road .... haha
@clippingin1593 Yes, some nice little lanes around Wilsden, that will make an interesting video 👍🙂
If you had exited the viaduct by turning right at the end next to the junior school, there is a really interest information board on the road side explaining loads of history regards the station that was on the sight of the school. Another great upload.
Cheers, Gareth. I've just seen the Bradford Council pdf with route info & I remember seeing that right fork near the school. I only had a couple of hours so I set off with the aim of reaching the viaduct then turning round, but when I've got more time I'll extend it to the Hewenden section via Egypt & Harecroft.
It makes for a nice change of pace and scenery.
Just found your channel Gordon, very enjoyable , keep it up . I’ve put a Strava follow request in, very familiar with a lot of your routes but enjoying your enthusiasm and insights .
Welcome to the channel, Andrew. A few months ago I rode to Horbury and did the Wakefield Wheel, that was a beautifully planned, multi-surface route. Hopefully, I'll be revisiting it over the next couple of months, along with a few other routes in the Wakefield-Barnsley area.
Stunning views from the viaduct, great local ride that Gordon.
I was using the chestcam for the ride and forget to take the XL selfie stick so I almost fell off the parapet getting those shots! It was a new route for me, which is great when you're so close to home in an area you think you know. Cheers, Matt.
could't agree more Gordon nothing like a 'saunter ' or a 'bimble' on the bike taking it easy and taking in whats around you, did something similar today in the Upper Derwent Valley at the dams and even tho have been there many a time I love the history of the 'navvies' who built the dams and 'Tin Town ' where they lived with their families lovely area, great video by the way👍
I saw you'd made a circuit of the Dambuster reservoirs, Ian. I was a Sheffielder for many years and I know that beautiful valley and the surrounding countryside. Gravel and traffic free tarmac - ideal.
@@clippingin1593 ah right on your doorstep then Gordon ,incidentally I've never seen the resevoirs looking so low especially Howden
Excellent, enjoyed that.
Thanks. Cycling's such a broad church and that's why I try to feature these easy-access mini-adventures - although I draw the line at filming a grocery run.
I totally agree, a bike is the best form of transport. You can get to places that you can't get to in a car and also I love that you can stop and admire the view, which you can't always do in a car.
Cheers, Paul. I've said many times that riding through an area is a completely different experience to being inside a motor vehicle - you have more appreciation for the surroundings and the day itself. We cyclists are acutely aware of wind, temperature, humidity, gradients, and surface quality. Seeing those peacocks (I think) followed by the views as I hung over the parapet made my Wednesday!
Another cracking ride Gordon I'm guessing not all of it accessable with a road bike ,I'd love to have a go at it
Cheers, Jay. Queensbury Station Road is messy with a broken surface, sharp gravel and a lot of mud. I wouldn't fancy it on skinny road tyres - I'm running 38mm Marathon Plus on the shopper but I was dragging my rear brake on that section to reduce the impacts.
You can access the trackbed and viaduct from a couple of other places where it's smooth tarmac all the way.
I've whizzed under Thornton viaduct so many times but only it was only a few months ago that I learnt about the cycle access.
A gravel bike with flat handlebars does it for me on these sort of 'follow ya nose' type of rides. I do a lot of tgem. Some people call it 'junk miles' because it has no quantifiable or measurable fitness/training benefit. Ha!
Those people would be wrong. 'Junk Miles' is one of the most abused and misunderstood terms.
It's interesting to note that the most common mistakes of self-coached athletes is making their easy sessions too hard, thereby compromising recovery (where the gains occur) and having a negative impact on subsequent hard sessions!
Even with all today's measuring tech' many people fall into the trap of blitzing base or Z2 rides.
Cyclists are very often prisoners of ego, especially with the 'Stravanoia' fear-of-observation phenomenon I've touched upon in the past.
Maybe I'll do a standalone video on 'staleness', 'mental freshness' and the so-called off season.
Meanwhile, carry on pottering.
Watch later after few pint😊😊
Good idea, Brian. This is the viaduct ride I mentioned to you a few months ago.