...Go biking

Tried cycling or mountain biking and want to take it further?

Cycling and mountain biking are activities which can be undertaken where ever you live, and besides a bike there is not much else you need. If you need to hire a bike then you will find the information below, and also ideas about where to go, or how to improve your skills.

• Days out for ideas on where to ride and courses
• Facilities for cycle hire
• Cycling clubs

Days out

have a bike already and just need ideas of routes and where to go then have a look at the Cycle the Dales website for routes on the roads, and the Mtb the Dales website for mountain bike routes. These sites give details of lots of routes in the Yorkshire Dales area.

When you are starting out many people like to start with traffic free routes. Although many of the country roads are very quiet, you might want to start somewhere like the Leeds – Liverpool canal towpath which has been upgraded between Leeds and Silsden, and passes through Shipley, Saltaire, Bingley and Crossflats. As this route runs close to the railway line you can always cycle in one direction and get the train back.

The other places you might want to think about are forest areas which cater for beginners on forest tracks through to mountain bikers on purpose built courses. There is Stainburn Forest just north of Otley and Gisburn Forest near Settle. There are also a number of routes close to reservoirs that have been developed by Yorkshire Water including in the Denholme area, and to the north of Otley.

To get a few more skills, you may want to attend another course. These are a few ideas of those available:

The Dales Bike Centre, Fremington, Nr Reeth in Swaledale offer off road biking and bike maintenance courses in the heart of the Northern Dales.
See their website for details or phone Stuart on 01748 884908.
Public transport: 30 bus from Richmond (Mon – Sat).

Off the Rails, Settle based in Station Yard – just a one minute walk from the train station.
Offer guided days out mountain biking or pick up a bike from a train station on the Settle Carlisle railway and ride around part of the dales for the day, returning your bike to a different station to get you home.
Find out more from their website or phone Colin on 01729 824419
Public transport:  Catch the Carlisle trains from Leeds or many of the Aire valley stations.

Facilities

If you feel like you have a few basic skills now and just want to hire a bike to go riding, then try the places below. They will also be able to help with sorting out a suitable ride to go on.

Off the Rails, based in Station Yard in Settle – just a one minute walk from the train station.
Find out more from their website or phone Colin on 01729 824419
They offer bike hire, a small shop, and cycle tours.
Public transport: train on Leeds–Settle–Carlisle line, and Leeds-Lancaster-Morecambe line.

Dave Ferguson, on Rope walk in Skipton – opposite Rackhams car park in the town centre.
Phone Dave on 01756 795367.
Bike hire, and shop.
Public transport: Skipton train from Leeds or Bradford, or train from Lancaster or Carlisle.

The Dales Bike Centre, Fremington, Near Reeth in Swaledale
Find details on their website or phone Stuart on 01748 884908.
Bike hire, shop, accommodation, courses.
Public transport: 30 bus from Richmond (Mon – Sat).

Kudu Bikes, Hawes - Upper Wensleydale Business Park
Phone Martin on 01969 666088.
Mountain bike hire, shop.
Public transport: 156/157 bus from Northallerton.

Clubs

If you feel like you want to take up the activity and make new friends, why not try one of the local clubs or societies below. Alternatively many bike shops organise rides that you can join in with – why not pop into your local shop and ask?

Clubs allow you to share transport and sometimes equipment, which can make the activity cheaper.

Have a look at their websites and get in touch with the club secretary to introduce yourself if you fancy looking around or attending a session.

Keighley "Just Ride" CyKle Club has improver meets, so is ideal for people wanting to move their skills on. It also has a varied programme of mountain biking, road cycling as well as some suggested graded routes on the website. Suitable for children.

Contact: Richard Taylor Club Secretary and Head Coach on 07982 730196 or email the Club.

Meet at Marley ACC in Keighley, just off the Aire Valley By-pass on Saturday mornings 10am to 11am during the winter and 9:30am to 11:30am during the summer.

Swaledale Outdoor Club is a multi activity club based around Richmond, but with members from further afield.
The club prefers to be initially contacted via email but their website has a great deal of information on what they club do and may answer many of your initial questions.
They are keen to welcome new members and have a small amount of equipment to lend out.

East Bradford Cycle Club run Saturday morning sessions aimed at under 18’s which take place at the Richard Dunn centre.