Yorkshire Divide

the event hub

On Saturday register at Mytholmroyd Community Centre from 8am.

The routes

The four GPX files are emailed to riders a week prior to the event. This is so each individual route can be checked right up to the last minute. Please check your spam and junk boxes as the email is sent via SiEntries on Friday 12th September.

the registration process

At the Community Centre we hire the Gloucester Room. Inside the room we set out tables against the far wall and envelopes with riders names are placed there in alphabetical order.

Inside each envelope are items such as registration form, bike stickers and tracker if a rider has selected that option.

Sign the registration form, hand it to Adrian at the start line and once you are fueled up on tea / coffee and cakes and you are happy with your bike / luggage then go ride.

The event room

Tea, coffee, juices, porridge pots and Yorkshire Fat Rascals from 8am

There is a large map display on the wall showing the full scale of the route marked out on OS maps.

The Start line

Once registered riders can depart from the start line marked out at the front of Mytholmroyd Community Centre. There is no mass start as the first 2km is along very narrow cycle lanes, the canal towpath and through the park in Hebden Bridge. Depart any time after 8am.

the first 2km of the route

The start of any new route is often tricky and the Calder Divide is the same with several turns and different types of tracks combined. Its worth studying the map below and of course looking at your preferred GPX when you receive it a week before the event.

The luggage transfer

If you have opted to have your luggage transferred to the campsite then there will be a luggage tag in your registration envelope. Write your name on the tag (pens will be on the table) and attach it to your bag. Place your bag in the event room on the right hand side.

It will be there again when you return on Sunday.

Please bring just the single bag. On this occasion size doesn’t matter. I have hired a Crafter VW van so it will fit an enormous amount of gear. Pack what you need to make the event and your night at the campsite comfortable.

If you have multiple bags you will need an extra tag so go find Adrian or Helen to get an extra tag and we can note down your extra bags (for our counting system).

Calder Divide Trail poster

I have selected a series of features that can be found along the route of the Calder Divide Trail and Judith Broug aka missyredboots@mac.com has designed a set of icons and a stunning poster to illustrate these unique and much loved aspects of the Pennines.

On the event weekend there are 50 of these posters avialable to buy.

Marsh farm, Shepley

Half way around the route is the campsite where all riders are welcome to pitch up in the farmers field. Each of the GPX files take you directly to Marsh Farm. Enter by the side of the building with the tractor weather vane. (See the photo below).

We hire in three portable toilets with sinks but there are no showers and no hot water. There are two water taps and a cosy barn where riders register, lock their bikes up and we gather on Saturday night to have the quiz (7pm).

When you arrive at the campsite make your way to the large barn. This is where we serve hot and spicy lentil soup from 4pm and where your luggage is stored.

We have booked an artisan pizza van - Crust n Crumb - where you can buy one of five types of hot pizza from 5pm on Saturday. Alex is the pizza chef. He has cold drinks and alcoholic beverages for sale. Shepley has two pubs with the Farmers Boy serving food (booking advisable).

On Sunday morning there is no big breakfast van but there is hot water and porridge pots plus tea and coffee inside the barn from 6.30am.

25km into the route back to the Calder valley riders are in Marsden with there are numerous shops and cafes.

saturday evening

At the campsite on Saturday evening we gather in the barn for a quiz from 7pm. The quiz is about eight features that you will have seen along the route.

In your registration envelope there will be a ‘Brevet Card’ which has eight questions and multiple choice answers about human and natural features in the Calder landscape. For example ‘what is the name of the woodland 30km into the route’?