Velofondista 200km Audax

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Route Sheet

on August 11, 2021

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The idea behind the ride

Thank you for showing an interest in the Velofondista 200km Audax from Slaithwaite in West Yorkshire. This blog is here to give you as much information as possible to help you decide whether to enter, to provide background information and share the route. Slaithwaite... firstly it is pronounced 'slath-wait'... and if said fast enough (in a local dialect) sounds like 'slawit'. This little village is nestled in the Colne Valley, West Yorkshire. When I moved here in February 2020 (to take up the role of Vicar of Marsden and Slaithwaite) I was struck by the hospitality, friendliness and community spirit of the people who live here. The villages of Marsden and Slaithwaite have a self-sufficiency which was developed when travel was less easy than these days. Although they developed from farming communities into industrial smoke filled places when the mills came, they have since recovered from that with a burgeoning small business / entrepreneurial ethic that is committed to s...

Link for GPS file download

Velofondista Route Sheet / The Overview: Slaithwaite to Colne: It starts with 40km of remote Pennine moorland with steep climbs, twisty descents, wandering sheep and gravel on the road. The views are amazing and there are reservoirs galore. Colne to Broughton: The next 45km are on quiet country lanes , gentle climbs but some of the descents are narrow and twisty. The only thing to spoil it may be a person in a 4x4 coming the other way. Also: horses. Broughton to the A580 at Lane Head: This 45km is urban A- and B- roads . There will be motorists but the cycling can be very fast. Preston is fiddly to get through and Wigan can feel daunting, but is over quickly. There are a mix of cycle lanes, bus lanes and wide roads. However, there are pubs, cafes, supermarkets and petrol stations constantly giving plenty of refuelling options. A580 to Warburton Toll Bridge: 15km of open fields and wide views of farmland and hills . The roads get quieter and are a relief. The Toll Bridge is 12p...

Awkward navigation tips

You do not need any of this information, but sometimes it is helpful to have a mental image of the awkward bits of the route... Tip 1: in Hebden Bridge Go straight through Hebden Bridge and then as you leave the road climbs a little. Look for traffic lights at the Fox and Goose There is a 'no right turn' sign where we turn right. The roads will be quiet, so you can just turn anyway - but if it is busy, you can use the pedestrian crossing to get to the front of the Fox and Goose. Heptonstall... yes, these cobbles go on forever... dig in. Tip 2: for the roundabout that goes under the M55 As you approach this major junction, join the cycle path on the left hand side of the road just before the junction, there is a dropped curb. Follow round the corner to the pedestrian / cycling crossing with traffic lights. Cross the to the middle, then re-join the road on the red painted cycle lane. Follow the cycle lane, it moves the middle of four lanes but is for going straight-on and keeps y...

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Route Sheet

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