Calder Divide Trail

152 miles 15,000 feet

Navigating the Calder Divide Trail of 12 Valleys 6 ‘SuperDry’ Moorlands in extreme heat.

Bridleways, cycleways, towpaths and a couple of cheeky footpaths (which can be avoided) make for a good couple of days bikepacking. The official route starts at the Mytholmroyd Community Centre and that is where Saul and myself would begin our ride on an early hot Saturday morning on the 13th Aug. I can only describe the toughness of this route in 3 stages. Hard, Easy, Very Hard. We would ride this route in a clockwise direction and from Mytholmroyd to Ogden Res via Widdop was all but climbing. Stage 2 from Ogden to Black Dick Temple was fast and flat (ish) taking in cycleways and the canal. Our bed for the night would be Black Dick Temple at Mirfield a cracking spot high up and free from midges. The ride to Marsden was up and down as expected but we called off at Shepley co-op first for some much needed breakfast as it opened at 7am and this would keep us going until our proper breakfast stop at Marsden. Stage 3 would be the toughest out of Marsden and a big push up the moor back to Mytholmroyd via the valleys and 50ish miles with at least 7,000 feet to climb and it was pretty much all off-road with climb after climb and the heat was increasing as we pedalled our way through the valleys and over the moorland. The last 2 climbs were a real test for anyone as the climb out of Portsmouth went on forever but the views were amazing and then you were climbing again on the other side of the valley out of Shore. If you see the T. rex then you have almost smashed it with only a bit more climbing to do with some steady off-road descending back to Todmorden/Hebden and then along to the canal were it all started.

Overall a cracking weekend riding in extreme heat which I love, the choice of bike wasn’t ideal but only one I had this weekend. My advice on bike choice would be use a hardtail mountain bike and you won’t go far wrong. It’s definitely not suitable for fatbikes, singlespeed or gravel (IMO).

Total mileage: 165 miles

Total climbing: 15,600 feet

Temperature: 35/36c 96F

Bike used: Fatbike – Bearclaw (Frank)

Gears: 32t/51t x12 speed

Tyres: 4.8 Vitorri Cannelloni

Notton