There is slightly less ascent on the Roses ride but the route is about 30 miles (48km) longer and your legs will feel the extra distance on the final flatter section going west to east.
There is roughly 2500m of ascent on the route, which is mainly on the western half of the ride. It therefore makes sense to have a longer, flatter final day, however you choose to break up the route. Going west to east, the steepest climb is up High Hill Lane out of Settle. This reaches 20% at the very least and is the main place on the route where cyclists – particularly heavily loaded ones – have been seen getting off to push. Travelling at an average speed of around 11mph, you might expect to spend fewer than 16 hours in the saddle for the whole route. This doesn’t sound like a lot, but five hours of riding time repeated for three consecutive days has quite a cumulative effect. Also worth considering is that five hours’ worth of actual pedalling does not equate to a five-hour day. Part of the fun of cycling in a group is to stop for a leisurely lunch break, and the shorter stops for map checks, photos, bike fettling, calls of nature and clothing adjustments all add up.
Starting the toughest climb of the route up Settle’s High Hill Lane (Day 1)
Other factors can come into play to make the ride tougher or easier. As most people do not have the luxury of waiting for optimal conditions and setting off at a moment’s notice, cyclists will mainly be at the mercy of the elements. Of course Lancashire and Yorkshire are famed for their Mediterranean climates, but bad weather can make the ride a good percentage harder. The prevailing wind direction also plays a part. The general wisdom is that the prevailing winds are westerly, which is why the Way of the Roses is predominantly ridden from west to east. However, sod’s law often overrides the general wisdom and cyclists have been known to face a torrid easterly headwind on the latter section of this route. North-easterly winds are most common in spring, particularly April or May when they can blow for days or even weeks at a time. It is best not to bank on having favourable winds and then you won't be frustrated if things don't blow your way.
Logistics – getting there and back
Once the decision has been taken to ride the Way of the Roses, the next step will be to work out how. There are a few options depending on location and the size of the party.
By train
For small groups and solo travellers, the train is a viable option. The advantages are that it is environmentally friendly and cyclists can set off from home and make their way back again from a different place. Morecambe is on a branch line which connects to the West Coast Mainline (at nearby Lancaster), but is also served by direct trains from Skipton and Leeds. Lancaster is well connected by rail, with direct services to Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and London Euston. Bridlington is on the Yorkshire Coast Line and trains go to and from Scarborough, Hull, Doncaster and Sheffield. Services to and from both Morecambe and Bridlington are operated by Northern Rail, and no reservations are needed to take bikes on these trains. The trains don’t have to carry more than two bicycles at a time, if they are busy, but this seems to be down to the discretion of the staff and no problems have been reported. All UK rail operators carry accompanied bikes free of charge, but different operators on your journey may want you to reserve a space for your bike when you book your ticket.
It is possible to leave a car in Morecambe and catch a train back from Bridlington. This takes over four hours and involves changing at Hull and Leeds. The last trains allowing you to do this are not very late in the day. Alternatively, by extending the ride to Scarborough, it is possible to return to Morecambe by rail, changing once at Leeds. To work out whether the train is a viable option for your trip, check on www.nationalrail.co.uk.
Jubilant Roses cyclists wait for their return transport after a two-day ride
With a support vehicle
For a group of up to four cyclists, this seems to be a fairly popular option. It involves persuading or paying a family member or friend (with a large car and bike rack) to drop cyclists and bikes in Morecambe and then to pick them up several days later in Bridlington. This may be more or less attractive depending on where they live and the timescale of their ride.
Some groups have a support vehicle which meets them at overnight stops. Support vehicles are strongly discouraged from driving large sections of the route; this practice is inconsiderate to other cyclists and not in keeping with the ethos of the route. However, a considerate support vehicle could carry baggage and potentially help with equipment problems.
It is easy to find paid parking close to the start and finish points. There is long-stay parking in Morecambe just off Northumberland Street, 300 metres up the promenade from the Roses start point. In Bridlington, Beaconsfield long-stay parking is 400 metres south of the finish off Carlisle Road.
With return transport
This is a good option for larger groups of cyclists. A company transports cyclists and bikes between Bridlington and Morecambe either at the start of or end of the ride. A small number of companies organise a ‘package’ combining both accommodation and return transport between Bridlington and Morecambe. Details of companies currently offering these services are in Appendix B.
By bike
Some people choose to cycle from home to the start and back home from the finish of the Roses route. Most may not have the time or inclination to do this, but it is worth considering combining the Way of the Roses with another coast-to-coast route, making a round trip. This strategy works best with a return trip on a reversed version of the nearby Walney-to-Whitby ride. There are good cycling links between the two routes. Search online for the National Cycle Network map.
How many days?
Although this book primarily describes the route as a three-day ride, many people choose to take four days to complete the Way of the Roses. In order to have an enjoyable three-day ride you will need to be saddle fit and have completed some training (day rides of 50 miles/80km) in the weeks leading up to your trip. A three-day ride is within the capability of an average cyclist, but there is no shame in planning to take a little longer. A four-day ride leaves a bit more room to manoeuvre in the event of inclement weather, headwinds, punctures and tired legs, as well as giving more time to travel to the start and home from the finish. It also allows for an itinerary including, for example, a visit to Fountains Abbey, York Minster and perhaps the Coldstones Cut, Brimham Rocks or Burton Agnes. Taking four days still means plenty of time in the saddle, but a comforting proportion of time in teashops too.
Immaculate topiary at Burton Agnes Hall (Day 3)
Those with more time on their hands who want to spend some of their cycling trip acquainting themselves with the sights and sounds of Lancashire and Yorkshire should consider a five-day itinerary. The ride splits up nicely into five interesting sections and allows time for most of the main points of interest on route to be savoured, rather than ridden past. A five-day ride feels much more like a holiday than a challenge.
Another option for fit and strong cyclists used to riding long distances is to do the ride in two days. This would be a serious challenge for average cyclists but if time is short and fitness high then it means that the ride can be done in a weekend. The two-day itinerary works quite well breaking up the ride in Pateley Bridge or Ripon but means a much hillier first day and a longer, flatter second day. This two-day option lends itself well to strong parties who can make a relatively early start from Morecambe.
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