Capital of Cycling Wed 14th Nov – Bradford to Lister Park and Back
11am-1pm (Level 1: Very Easy)
A short bike ride for beginners or those wanting to build confidence. Starting at Capital of Cycling and heading up to Lister Park. We’ll do a circuit or two of the park and then head back down to Capital of Cycling.
This ride is available to refugees, asylum seekers and locals. You must be able to ride a bike but don’t need to be very fit or confident. There is a small amount of on-road riding involved and a bit of a hill heading out of Bradford towards the park. You can walk up it should you not feel up to it. We will be waiting for the slowest riders.
Lister Park is a lovely park with a duck pond, sensory garden and a free art gallery in the grounds called Cartwright Hall. It is easily accessible from Bradford on a bike.
Sun 18th Nov – Bradford to Saltaire and Back
10am-1pm (Level 3: Quite Easy)
This is a 12-mile round trip from Bradford to Saltaire and back (6 miles each way with a break in the middle in Saltaire). A basic level of fitness and the ability to ride a bike is required, but there are no big hills. We’re not going fast so it’s suitable for anybody wanting to build their confidence.
We’re taking, where possible, quiet or off-road routes via the under-construction “Canal Road Greenway”. There is however some on-road cycling on the way in and out of Bradford, but qualified ride leaders will be looking after you.
This bike ride is designed to get locals and newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers mixing. We’re allowing an hour for the journey out, an hour to wander about Saltaire and/or Roberts Park and an hour for the return. Saltaire is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a lovely park (Roberts Park) and a stunning, renovated textile “Salts Mill”, which has an art exhibition of David Hockney’s work, a café, bookshop and so on.
We’ll be starting from Capital of Cycling in Bradford. Bikes and helmets can be borrowed – but please let us know you’re coming in advance.
Wed 21st Nov – Bradford to Bowling Park and Back
11am-1pm (Level 2: Easy)
A gentle bike ride for those wanting to build confidence in cycling. Starting at Capital of Cycling and heading up to Peel Park. We’ll do a circuit or two of the park and then head back down to Capital of Cycling.
This ride is available to refugees, asylum seekers and locals. You must be able to ride a bike but don’t need to be very fit or confident. There is some on-road riding involved (quiet roads, following what’s known as Route 66, part of a national cycle network) and a bit of a hill. This is a little bit further than our ride to Lister Park last Wednesday, but still suitable for anyone who can ride. We will be waiting for the slowest riders and helping them along.
The whole point is to help you get around Bradford a bit more on a bike and to help orientate you if you are quite new to Bradford. Bowling Park is easily accessible from Bradford on a bike.
It also sits on Route 66, which is part of the national cycle network. This means if you can cycle this far, you could in future cycle the full distance out of Bradford and onto the Spen Valley Greenway (which we’ll be doing on the 29th Nov).
Sunday 25th Nov – Leeds and Back via the Cycle Superhighway
10am-1pm (Level 5: Moderate)
This is a 20-mile round trip from Bradford to Leeds and back, so a level of fitness and the ability to ride a bike is required. However, we’re not going fast so it’s suitable for anybody wanting to build their confidence.
We’re following the route of the Cycle Superhighway (www.cyclecityconnect.co.uk/projects/ cityconnect-cycle-superhighway) which is mainly separate from the cars (a segregated route). This means you don’t need to be a very experienced or brave rider. It’s not the prettiest route, but it’s a direct, cheap and healthy way to get to Leeds and a it’s a good orientation ride.
This bike ride designed to get locals and newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers mixing. We’re allowing an hour and fifteen minutes for the journey out, 30 mins to wander around Leeds and an hour and a quarter for the return. We’ll be starting from Capital of Cycling in Bradford. Bikes and helmets can be borrowed – but please let us know you’re coming in advance.
Thursday 29th Nov – Spen Valley Greenway – Bradford to Dewsbury and Back
10am-1:30pm – (Level 6: Moderate/longer ride)
The whole return journey is about 25 miles but there are some hills involved in getting onto the Spen Valley Greenway, up Route 66, so a reasonable level of fitness is needed. Most of the route is off-road or on quiet roads but some roads are involved at the start and end. Ride leaders will be present and nobody will be left behind.
The Spen Valley Greenway uses a disused railway line running near the River Spen between the towns of Cleckheaton, Dewsbury and Heckmondwike, eventually linking to Bradford. The route is a wonderful green corridor running through densely populated urban areas with long distance moor-land views, it passes a wildlife reserve and a rolling golf course. The path is also home to a collection of artworks including Sally Matthew’s flock of Swaledale Sheep, constructed from recycled industrial scrap, and ‘Rotate’ by Trudi Entwistle – 40 giant steel hoops set in a circle.
This is a good ride to help get a sense of local geography and to get access to nature. More about the Spen Valley Route is here: www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/spen-valley-greenway
Wed 5th Dec – Chellow Dene Reservoirs
10am-12pm (Level 3: Quite Easy)
A short bike ride for those wanting to build confidence. Starting at Capital of Cycling and heading up to Chellow Dene Reservoirs. Chellow Dean is a hidden treasure of nature and water with a track around it. We’ll do a circuit of the reservoirs and then head back down to Capital of Cycling.
This ride is available to refugees, asylum seekers and locals. You must be able to ride a bike but don’t need to be very fit or confident on the road. There is on-road riding involved and a hill heading out of Bradford. However, nobody gets left behind – this is all about building confidence, not getting there quickly.
You will be in a supportive group with qualified ride leaders. You can borrow a bike and helmet from us if you like. This is ideal if you’re bored of riding around a park and want to get out somewhere a bit further to build confidence, fitness or just get out and about around Bradford.
The route to Chellow dean is up-hill but not really steep (about three miles). We’ll then ride around the reservoirs (about a mile) – it may be a bit muddy – and then return (all downhill). 10 or less miles in total. It might be wintery weather so if you have waterproofs they may come in handy.
These rides are designed to get locals and newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers mixing. They also help people who are new to Bradford to get a sense of local geography and to get access to nature and nearby utilities.
Please let us know if you’re coming in advance and fill out an attendance form at www.capitalofcycling.org/forms.
Sun 9th Dec – Bradford to Rodley Nature Reserve
(and back via Leeds-Liverpool Canal)
10am-1pm (Level 5: Moderate)
Heading from Capital of Cycling up towards Pudsey via the Cycle Superhighway (segregated cycleway). We’ll then head down a hill to Rodley and onto the Leeds-Liverpool canal towards the nature reserve, having covered six miles upon arrival. A map of this section is here: http://cycle.st/j64009899.
We’ll have a look around the nature reserve and then head off again towards Shipley (down the Canal – http://cycle.st/j64010046, about 7 miles).
We’ll have a brief rest-stop in Shipley and then head back into town via the Shipley Greenway, which is about 3 miles.
16 miles in total. It might be wintery weather so if you have waterproofs they may come in handy.
A good portion of this ride is off-road by the Leeds Liverpool Canal or segregated cycleway but with some on-road sections. It’s a confidence building ride and nobody will be left behind. However, it is a somewhat longer ride so isn’t suitable for complete beginners. A basic level of fitness is required but most people should be able to manage it. Get in touch if you have doubts.
These rides are designed to get locals and newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers mixing. They also help people who are new to Bradford to get a sense of local geography and to get access to nature and nearby utilities.
Please let us know if you’re coming in advance and fill out an attendance form at www.capitalofcycling.org/forms
Ride to Queensbury Tunnel from Bradford and Back (Level 5)
Meet at Capital of Cycling at 12:30 and ride up to Queensbury Tunnel (to arrive before 2pm), via Thornton Road and see part of the Great Northern Railway Trail as well.
This is a solidarity ride for the Queensbury Tunnel Campaign. The Queensbury Tunnel could be the jewel in the crown of cycling infrastructure for Bradford and connecting Calderdale, but its mismanagement by Highways England is causing real problems. We support the QT Campaign in its desire to see it adopted by Bradford MDC, and brought into use for cyclists and walkers. It is a piece of heritage that should not be so pointlessly lost.
For the ride – there’s no way to Queensbury from the centre of town that doesn’t involve going up a hill. However this ride will be slow paced and anyone with a moderate level of fitness and riding ability (no racing) is welcome to join us.
We can loan bikes and helmets as needed. It is the middle of winter, so please dress appropriately.
Forwarded from the Queensbury Tunnel Page (which describes what we’re riding to):
Unique opportunity to glimpse inside Queensbury Tunnel (from the Northern Portal). Monday 28 January 2pm. The contractors will have the gates open and the lights on. Come and let your imagination soar! (Sorry, you won’t be able to go inside – yet)
Meet at the top of Station Road 1:45pm, or make your way along the Great Northern Railway Trail to the tunnel entrance for 2pm. Invite friends, family and colleagues to come along.
This is a chance to see how this fantastic heritage feature could be transformed into a cycle/walkway, extending the Great Northern Railway Trail, drawing visitors to a lovely pocket of Bradford’s landscape and connecting communities. Its potential for leisure, sporting, educational and cultural events is for us to imagine! The longest underground cycleway in England – for BRADFORD and YORKSHIRE !
For more information find us on Facebook or visit https://www.facebook.com/queensburytunnel/