Forthcoming Events of the Lancashire Group
Our rides are open to cyclists of all abilities, all ages and on all types of cycle
(perhaps with the exception of lightweight racers, we do go off road). They are easy
paced, non-competitive social rides usually calling at a cafe or two, but some participants
bring a packed lunch. If you are a non-member you are welcome to join us for two
or three rides, check us out, and then hopefully become a member (It is only £12.00
per year!). Just turn up on the day or for further information ring Brian on 01254-772983
The following members are designated leader for the Lancashire Group and authorised
by the National Committee: Brian Parkinson, Brian Marsh, Charles (Charlie) Hall,
Steve Gregson, Don Dalton, Nick Lay, Peter Kenner, Rob Burrow, Ken Glaze, Anne Thompson,
Dougie Heaven, Keith Watson and Miriam Trickett. For full list of members who are
authorised to lead rides click here.
'The Cafe Crawlers'
For the last two years or so on every Saturday we have been having a regular family
orientated cycle ride. These rides are suitable for all family members, the distance
covered is generally quite short and usually not too hilly! Riders range in age from
three years, to, well I'd rather not say. These rides are also appropriate for family
members who do not usually participate in RSF events, but would like to get the bike
out now and again for a short spin in the company of like minded people.
We usually start from a cafe, then ride a few miles to another cafe etc, hence the
title of our group 'The Cafe Crawlers'. Informal membership cards have now been issued
to this effect!
The rides are suitable for all bikes, inc. cycles with child seats--tag alongs (trailer
bikes)--child trailers--tandems etc.
The routes tend to be mostly off-road, with various start points, usually covering
between five to fifteen miles at a quite leisurely pace (or even slower!), with plenty
of rest stops. The rides are usually of between two to five hours duration.
If you would like to participate on a ride or two ring me on 01254 772983 for the
start location of this or any other week's ride, and the intended route etc.
Brian Parkinson.
For information about the Cafe Crawlers check out the website at this link.
The Lancashire Group Tuesday rides to the Dover Cycling Fellowship
Almost every Tuesday we have a ride to the DCF at the Parish Hall, Lydiate. There
we meet with cyclists from other clubs/groups for a chat and a short informative
meeting about cycling matters in the area, there are usually about sixty riders present.
We start from Ken Glaze's house, 8, Springmount Drive, Hilldale, near Parbold, WN8
7AP, map ref SD493123. Meet us at 9-30am for a cuppa, we start the ride at 10-00am.
The route is across the West Lancashire Plain, so is not hilly, and is on quiet roads,
the return trip being about thirty miles. Bring a packed lunch, or purchase it at
Town Green on the way. Tea and coffee is available in the Parish Hall and is included
in the entry fee of fifty pence. For further information ring Brian on 01254 772983.
2010
March
Sunday 28th: Meet at 10-00am. Meet at the Spring Wood Picnic Site, near Whalley,
SD741361. Riding to Clarion House at Roughlee for elevenses' and Barley for lunch,
via Wiswell Moor, Ratten Clough and Newchurch-in-Pendle. Returning beside Black Moss
Reservoir, Downham and Pendleton. Time permitting we will go through Worston to Whalley
for afternoon tea at the Abbey Tea Rooms. A moderate ride about of 22/24 miles.
April
Thursday 8th: Meet at 10-00am. Meet on the Holcombe Moor car park, SD781163, this
is just off the B6214 between Holcombe and Holcombe Brook. Elevenses' at Helmshore
via Holcombe Moor, Sustrans Route 6 to Ramsbottom for lunch at Park Farm. Thence
up to Cheesden, before dropping back down to Ramsbottom for afternoon tea at the
new cafe beside the A56. A moderate ride of about 22 miles.
Sunday 25th: Meet at 10-00am. Meet on the British Waterways car park at Glasson Dock,
SD446561. Tide permitting, Sunderland Point to Heysham for lunch, via the Lune Coastal
Path and foreshore. Next we ride the Promenade to Morecambe, before using the new
cycleway to the Lancaster Canal at Hest Bank, then we continue on the towpath through
Lancaster to Aldcliffe, here re-joining the Lune Coastal Path back to Glasson Dock.
A moderate ride of about 26 miles.
May
Thursday 13th: Meet at 10-00am on the public car park at Slaidburn, SD714524 riding
via the Cross of Greet to Wray for lunch. Returning along Hornby Road/Salter Fell.
A hard ride of about 32 miles.
Sunday 30th: Meet at 10-00am on the public car park at Chipping, SD622433. Over Mellor
Knoll to the village hall at Dunsop Bridge for lunch. Returning via the Saddle End
track, locally known as the Seven Splashes. A moderate ride of about 22miles.
June
Thursday 10th: Meet at 10-00am at the Tockholes Information Centre Cafe, SD665215.
Along Katherine Edge to Charters Moss Plantation, across the A666 at Dunscar and
around the flank of Cheetam Close to our lunch destination at Turton Tower. Returning
via Edge Lane, Bull Hill and Darwen Moor. A moderate ride of about 25 miles.
Sunday 27th: Meet at 10-00am on the public car park near Wycoller Village, SD 925394,
this is the car park between the Village and the town of Trawden. This will be a
moderate/hard ride of about 27 miles. Riding alongside Boulsworth Hill to our first
cafe stop at the Coldwell Activity Centre. Thence down the quiet roads and tracks
to Hurstwood via Worsthorne. We then join the Mary Towneley Loop of the Pennine Bridleway
for a couple of miles, before joining the Bronte Way back to the Activity Centre
for Afternoon Tea. We then re-join the Bronte Way, for the return leg of the ride
back to Wycoller.
July
Thursday 8th: Meet at 10-00am on the car park behind Clitheroe Railway Station, map
ref SD742421. Riding to Bolton-by-Bowland for lunch, via Grindleton Fell. Returning
along the Ribble Valley to Sawley, Grindleton and Waddington for afternoon tea, then
continuing along the valley back to Clitheroe. A moderate ride of roughly 23 miles,
about 40% being off-road.
Sunday 25th: Meet at 10-00am on the car park at the Tockholes Cafe and Information
Centre, map ref SD665215. This ride will use the new bridleway between Brinscall
and Anglezarke, then over Healey Nab to our lunch stop at the Rivington Village Green
Tea Room. The return journey will take us through Lead Mines Clough and Jepson's
Gate to White Coppice, where we will have afternoon tea at the cricket club, before
heading back to Tockholes. This moderate figure of eight circuit of the area is about
26 miles, and is 95% off-road.
August
Thursday 12th: Meet at 10-00am on the car park by the bridge at Bolton-by-Bowland,
map ref SD784493. Riding to Settle for lunch via Forest Becks and Long Preston. The
afternoon run will take us to the new cafe at Tosside for afternoon tea, before the
descent back to Bolton-by-Bowland. A moderate ride of circa 30 miles, about 35% of
this being off-road.
Sunday 29th: Meet at 10-00am on the car park of Rivington Hall Barn (the top one),
map ref SD633144. Riding out through the terraced gardens and around Winter Hill
to Barrow Bridge, we will then cross the golf course onto the Smithills Estate, and
descend to Wallsuches. Here we will have lunch at Curlie's Fisheries. The return
route will be decided on the day, there are a number of alternatives, perhaps we
will ride up to the Pike! This will be a moderate to hard ride depending on the return
route. It will be about 23 miles, and roughly 85% off-road.
September
Thursday 9th: Meet at 10-00am on the public car park at Slaidburn, map ref SD714524.
Riding to the Gisburn Forest, we will navigate the area on the green tourist route,
before making for the Whelpstone Cafe at Tosside for a late lunch. This is a moderate/easy
ride of about 23 miles, 50% off-road, and returning to Slaidburn for about 3-45pm.
Wednesday 22nd : Meet at 10-00am at Rivington Hall Barn (the top one), map ref SD
633144. This is a joint ride with our South Pennine/Northern Peak Group, and is in
support of the South Pennine Walk and Ride Festival. The ride is to Darwen Jubilee
Tower, via the new Goyt bridleway, with a stop at Tockholes for lunch. A moderate
ride of circa 25 miles, 95% off-road, and back at the barn for 4-00pm.
Sunday 26th: Meet at 10-00am on the car park of the Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre,
map ref SD 940153. This is a joint ride with our South Pennine/Northern Peak Group,
and is in support of the South Pennine Walk and Ride Festival. We will be riding
to Hebden Bridge for lunch via Chelburn Moor, using a mixture of tracks, bridleways
and packhorse trails. This moderate ride is roughly 25 miles, 90% off-road, and will
return to Hollingworth Lake at about 4-00pm.
October
Thursday 14th: Meet at 10-00am at the Village Hall, Lydiate, map ref SD366047. We
will then ride along the Cheshire Lines, the coast road cycle path through Ainsdale,
and along sea front at Southport for lunch at the Botanic Gardens, Churchtown. We
will return over Scarisbrick Moss and meander through the small lanes and the canal
towpath to Halsall, then over Clieves Hill (our only hill, but on a good day superb
views over West Lancashire and Liverpool Bay are to be had!). An easy ride of approx.
30 miles, 60% off-road, and returning to the Village Hall at around 3-45pm. This
ride is organised, and to be led by Ann Thompson.
Sunday 31st: Meet at 10-00am on the car park beside the athletics track at Witton
Park, Blackburn, map ref SD662271.
We will ride the very western edge of the West Pennine Moors, beside the Sunnyhurst
Reservoirs to Tockholes for lunch. Leaving Tockholes via the Roddlesworth Plantation,
and Withnell Fold to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, we will make our way back to
Witton Park. A reasonably moderate ride of about 23 miles, 70% off-road, and back
at the park for about 4-00pm.
The Christmas Lunch in 2010
This will be held on Wednesday the 8th of December at the Rivington Village Green
Tea Room, so you know that it will be a good spread and it will be an all-in price
(around £13-00), i.e. Mulled wine on arrival, choice of starters, choice of main
course, choice of sweet, and just for our group tea or coffee thrown in, well in
a cup anyway!
A morning ride will begin from Rivington Great House Barn (the lower one), starting
with a hot drink at 10-00am. We then cycle up to Healey Nab to try the new tracks
and mountain bike circuits there, green, red and black routes will be on offer. Anyone
wanting just the lunch should arrive at the tea room at 12-30pm. I will be taking
bookings for this event from late September/early October, when I can be more specific
about the cost and final details. Brian.
Check out the Diary of Rough-Stuff Fellowship Local Group events in the UK for more
information on other Rough-Stuff Fellowship events.
