Spring Wednesday Training

Spring is coming! You wouldn’t think it with the weather we’ve been having, but I’m confident we’ll have warm evenings and dry roads from March until May.

Come spring, you want to be getting some strength back in those legs. Now I’m not a fan of endless hill reps, but like a hilly ride as much as the next man. So I’ve devised 4 new routes to run from March 2nd until April 27th for our Wednesday training rides. Same meeting point (Dave’s) 6:30PM every Wednesday night.

All the routes are pretty lumpy so we’re not going to be able to keep it together all the way round. The aim is to build up strength and climbing ability, so go at your own pace on the major climbs but re-group as needed. I’ve included some suggested re-group points in the descriptions below.

Langbar – Week 1

A steady ride out via gated road takes us to the long classic Langbar climb. One of the toughest climbs in the area for sure, re-group at the top. Return route is via Cocking Lane (you’ve got to love that name), actually higher than Langbar at just over 900ft but far more gradual. Again, re-group at the crossroads at the top. A short up and down through Bradley brings us back to Skipton.

Nappa Winterburn – Week 2

A fairly simple variation on the classic Nappa-Hetton loop taking in Airton and Winterburn rather than the valley road to Bell Busk. There’s a proper climb out of Otterburn, so re-group at the top and it’s endless lumps between Airton and Hetton so there will be a re-group in Hetton. The rest of the way round, let’s try and keep it together.

Hartlington Raikes – Week 3

This route is all about Hartlington Raikes, a seldom used climb over by Appletreewick. One great thing about Hartlington Raikes is that it misses out Dibbles Bridge while still taking us right to the top of the moors. We go out via Black Park, but return via Grassington Road for a flattish route back. Feel free to go mad up Black Park and Hartlington Raikes, but you might be waiting a while at the top, they are both long climbs.

Cowling Hill – Week 4

Sort of like going Over t’Moss, but harder. Cowling Hill gives us a long steady climb to Skipton Old Road but with a nice lumpy warm up via Cononley rather than heading straight up from Carleton. Re-group once we hit Skipton Old Road at the top. Fast and flat back via Earby, but let’s try and keep it together there.