News

Transport and trains from Hull

2012-02-22T09:11:03+00:00

For Dutch and Belgian cyclists catching a ferry to Hull from Rotterdam or Zeebrugge and wanting to get to the western end of the route at Morecambe, Cycle Yorkshire can help.

The York based operator regularly takes people and their bikes across to Morecambe on a Monday and can (subject to numbers) pick-up from the ferry terminal the day before, and also arrange accommodation in York. Alternatively, take the train from Hull city centre to York on a Sunday (if not before), spend a night in York and be transported across by mini-bus the following morning. Bike hire and transport back to Hull from Bridlington are other options.

Read about Way of the Roses in Op Weg magazine.

For information about travelling by train from Hull to Morecambe use the National Rail website. Bikes go free and on Northern Rail trains for example a reservation isn’t required, while on TransPennine Express and Virgin trains they are. Bike spaces are limited so check in advance (especially for a tandem) and be prepared for possible delays.

Hockney and the Wolds

2012-01-30T09:05:19+00:00

David Hockneys’ show of vivid and large scale East Yorkshire landscape paintings at The Royal Academy of Arts in London is proving a hit. Way of the Roses crosses East Yorkshire, and more particularly the Yorkshire Wolds, between Stamford Bridge and Bridlington, and passes through Huggate village (134.5 miles) where a teenage Hockney came from Bradford to work on a farm for two summers stacking corn. “I cycled all over it” he’s quoted as saying, “and cycling you do realise it’s quite hilly”.

Variously painted Woldgate is part of the route running into Bridlington where the artist now spends much of his time. On the route in its Old Town is Gallery 49, which sells Hockney prints and the work of other local artists.

If the Yorkshire Wolds inspires you too, then its new 150-mile circular route could be your next cycling adventure.

The Royal Academy show lasts to the 9^th April.

Photo credit: Cooper Douglas Partnership

Changes in York

2011-10-13T12:27:38+00:00

There’s a permanent change to the route to the south-east of York Minster which makes use of the new cyclists and pedestrians Hungate Bridge over the River Foss. It’s fully signed as Way of the Rose and is marked in yellow on this map.

Further on from here towards Osbaldwick, a temporary change to the route lasting about eight weeks is now in place due to overhead cabling and pylons adjacent to the Foss Islands path being replaced with underground cables. Diversion routes north and south of the path have been signed and Way of the Roses cyclists should follow the southern option marked with route numbers 658 then 66. Sections of the path will be reopened as and when it is safe to do so.

Please contact us if you experience any problems with either change.

Avoiding Crashes

2011-09-19T15:52:38+00:00

Unlike the Tour of Britain, cycling the Way of the Roses isn’t a race, although reports are filtering
through about a few crashes and near misses. For your own safety and the safety of others,
please take extra care on the sometimes narrow downhill sections, especially negotiating blind
bends, avoiding potholes, when it’s wet, and when riding in even a small group.

Greenhow Hill in particular becomes an increasingly steep descent as you wind your way down
into Pateley Bridge, so you need to control your speed and position with careful braking.

Always be on the lookout for an often unsuspecting assortment of other road and cycle path users
of both the two-feet and four-legged varieties, whose own journey’s we’d rather not spoil. The
Good Cycling Code on the Way of the Roses map (which you really should have for the trip) is
worth a read if you haven’t recently done so.

British Roses

2011-09-01T11:59:12+00:00

On Monday September 12th the second stage of the Tour of Britain (Kendal to Blackpool) will pass through North Lancashire and briefly along part of the Way of the Roses route (around Wray).

This year the Tour of Britain boasts a whole host of famous faces.

Olympic Gold medalist Geraint Thomas will lead Team Sky alongside former Tour stage winner and King of the Mountains Ben Swift. Thomas will be joined by fellow Olympic Gold Medalist Ed Clancy, who leads the Rapha Condor Sharp team.

Treble Tour de France stage winner Jens Voigt will lead the Leopard Trek team and reigning World Champion Thor Hushovd will be making his Tour of Britain debut leading Garmin Cervelo’s line-up, just a week before he defends his world title in Copenhagen. Hushovd is joined in Garmin Cervelo’s provisional line-up by a trio of British riders, led by former British Champion and multiple Grand Tour stage winner David Millar, Daniel Lloyd and double Tour of Britain stage winner Roger Hammond.

The Route

From the start at Abbot Hall the race will parade through the centre of Kendal, giving fans the chance to see the riders up close as they head out of town, heading straight into the opening Skoda King of the Mountains climb after just five kilometres of racing.

That climb leads them through the village of Grayrigg and onto Grayrigg Common above the M6 Motorway before descending to Sedbergh and briefly ducking into the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Although not passing all the way through the town, Sedbergh still hosts the day's first Yodel Sprint just after 11am, with the second coming just 16 kilometres later as the race passes the Devil's Bridge outside of Kirkby Lonsdale.

The stage continues through Lancashire along the Lune Valley to Melling, Wray and Claughton on its way to the third and final Yodel Sprint of England's Northwest stage at Caton. After the town the race leaves the Lune, turning right and heading into the foothills of the Pennines.

The roads become gradually more rolling passing Quernmore and along the edge of the moorland. After crossing the River Wyre the stage climbs across the end of Grizedale Fell and Bleasdale Moors and two Skoda King of the Mountains climbs come in quick succession.

Stage Two continues to undulate and twist and turn its way to Longridge, although with around 50 kilometres of racing still ahead on flat roads it would be quite an achievement for any escape to stay clear of the peloton, particularly with the eventual finish location Blackpool Tower on the horizon throughout.

Through Broughton and Inskip the route is similar to previous years when The Tour of Britain has raced into Blackpool, but after Singleton instead of sweeping south towards the usual finish line on the South Shore, this year The Tour goes north.

Skirting Poulton Le Fylde the stage passes through Anchorsholme and the to hit the Northwest coastline at Cleveleys to set up a final seven kilometres along the Promenade.

The flat run along the North Shore to the foot of the Tower should suit the sprinters, while any remnants of a breakaway will find there is little hiding place as they try to maintain their advantage.

The last two Tour of Britain winners into Blackpool were Andre Greipel and Edvald Boasson Hagen, so expect a similar rider to add their name to Blackpool's victory roster.

Approx Times:

Kirkby Lonsdale - 1124

Wennington - 1136

Caton - 1152

Grizedale (climb) - 1217

Find out more at http://www.tourofbritain.com

Diversion on Woldgate, Bridlington

2011-08-03T14:51:49+00:00

Unfortunately part of the "Way of the Roses" cycle route (National Cycle Route 1) at Woldgate near Bridlington must be closed to install a new gas main. There will be a short diversion route in operation which runs parallel to Woldgate along the B1253 via Rudston and Boynton, it is hoped to reduce the length of the diversion as work progresses. During the closure additional signs will be placed along the diversion route warning motorists of cyclists using the road.

Regrettably due to the nature of the works, it is not possible to maintain access along Woldgate. Northern Gas Network have scheduled during the summer months because installation needs to be done whilst demand for gas in Bridlington is low. During installation the contractor will be using a large trenching machine, and will be working 7 days a week to make use of the longer daylight hours, this should reduce disruption to road users as far as possible.

The programmed duration of the work is 16 weeks from the beginning of August however the contractor is hoping to finish earlier. We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause.

For more information contact:

Dave Shepherd

Senior Engineer,Directorate of Environment and Neighbourhood Services

East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Tel 01482 395699

dave.shepherd@eastriding.gov.uk

Clapham Latest

2011-07-16T21:03:43+00:00

North Yorkshire County Council have finally reached agreement with landowners to construct a
verge path alongside the short section of busy A65 linking the Clapham and Austwick roads. Work
will hopefully start this September, but until it’s completed the only safe alternative is the mainly
off-road track through the tunnels at the top of Clapham village, which is shown on the current
Way of the Roses map. It’s not to everyone’s liking but has no fast moving traffic.

Sustrans Volunteer Rangers are trying to make temporary signing as clear as possible in the
meantime, so please bear with us.

Way of the Roses T-Shirt

2011-06-15T16:45:28+00:00

It's here at last, commemorate your incredible achievement of completing the Way of the Roses cycle route with this 100% organic cotton T-shirt.

The Way of the Roses T-shirt is uni-sex and comes in four sizes:

Small 36" Chest

Medium 38" Chest

Large 40" - 42" Chest

Extra Large 44" Chest

£15

Available from http://www.sustransshop.co.uk/products/5995-way-of-the-roses-t-shirt

Ragley Riders break the Way of the Roses Record

2011-06-15T16:26:11+00:00

Team JMC / Ragley Riders Dave Powell and Jason Miles have ridden the entire 170 mile length of the new Way of the Roses route in a single day, recording a total time, including a brief stop for lunch, of 11 hours.

The amount of time spent checking the map and the GPS was minimal, the signposting of the route was very good indeed. The guys were also really impressed by the almost complete lack of busy main roads - if it's a safe long distance route you're looking for, the Way of the Roses really fits the bill. Hours and hours can pass by without you seeing a single car - you do however see rather a lot of hills in the first half of the route.

To read the guys' full accounts go to Dave and Jason's blogs:

http://40psi.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/a-seaside-daft-ride/

http://www.twinklydave.com/?p=864

James Hobbs: From sea to sea

2011-05-26T11:33:47+00:00

The newly opened Way of the Roses cycle route goes from Morecambe, Lancashire, on the west coast, across the Yorkshire Dales and Yorkshire Wolds to Bridlington on the east coast, 170 miles away. Ron and I had set aside four days to do it, so there was no huge rush, but it's gruelling enough in parts.

Gruelling, but fantastic. On day two, travelling from Settle to Pateley Bridge, we had 27 miles of up up up (and a burst of very fast down down down), and the several occasions we got off and pushed gave us plenty of opportunity to admire the dales in the sun.

The Way of the Roses, which opened in September 2010, follows some off-road sections and lots of backroads. Near the village of Clapham we somehow lost our way, heading off into the sunset when we should have been going eastwards (seeing, in the process, some of the most memorable landscape), and we missed a sign on the way to Driffield having come down a hill too fast (when the momentum is with you the temptation can be to go with your hunch on the right direction), but the signposting is generally great, and there's the usual sense of camaraderie and support from fellow cyclists.

On day four we set off for the coast with a severe weather warning ringing in our ears. But the wind was at our backs. This was a good way to finish the journey at Bridlington seafront, even if it was hard to stand up in the wind. Branches may have been falling from the trees, but when wind and bike are going in the same direction you enter a wonderful world of calmness and speed. Don't do this route east to west.

Reproduced with kind permission of James Hobbs. Orignally published on Hobbs Blog.