the super-fit, it is possible to complete the whole ride as a day challenge.
The Way in three days
The Way splits up neatly into three stages: Day 1 Morecambe to Burnsall 53 miles (85km); Day 2 Burnsall to York 58 miles (94km); Day 3 York to Bridlington 62 miles (100km). The vast majority of the hills come on the first two days and the long third day is deceptively straightforward. It’s worth noting that the first overnight stop is in the small Dales village of Burnsall. Further accommodation options can be found in Appletreewick, Airton, Hetton and Cracoe, or even slightly off route in Grassington.
If staying in a city like York on the second night isn’t your thing, there are other ways of breaking up a three-day ride. A shorter final day allowing for onward travel on the same day would be: Morecambe to Pateley Bridge 63 miles (101km); Pateley Bridge to Pocklington 65 miles (105km); Pocklington to Bridlington 43 miles (69km). For a shorter first day try Morecambe to Settle 35 miles (56km), Settle to York 75 miles (121km), and York to Bridlington 62 miles (100km).
Climbing out of Millington Dale towards Pocklington (Day 1)
The Way in four days
There are two good four-day itineraries, depending on where you prefer to stop overnight. The first way is as described in the Route Summary Tables at the start of this book, breaking the route up into logical and relatively evenly matched sections. The only downside is that this doesn’t allow for a stop in York. If you want to have a shorter third day and spend some time sightseeing in York, it is possible to stop there on the third night having ridden 31 miles (50km) from Ripon, leaving a longer fourth day of 61 miles (98km) to Bridlington.
The Way in five days
A five-day plan allows some flexibility and the one given in the Route Summary Tables can be easily tweaked to lengthen or shorten stages according to where sightseeing stops are made or to allow for a shorter day travelling to or from home. This itinerary is a starting point and works on the logic of shorter hillier days at the start, followed by longer flatter ones. Again, this plan does not allow for spending a night in York. That would be ideally suited to a six-day itinerary, stopping in York and then Pocklington before reaching the East Yorkshire coast on the final day.
The Way in two days
A two-day assault on the Way of the Roses is best tackled with an overnight stop in Ripon. Although it is not halfway in terms of mileage, the area from Brimham Rocks to Ripon feels like a psychological mid-point as all the big ascents have been overcome. This gives a longer but mainly flat second day, when determination and staying in the saddle are the key to success, especially when riding with aching muscles after the punishing ascents of the first day. Despite the extra miles on the second day and the potential of aching legs from the first day’s climbs, most people actually find the second day considerably easier. Pateley Bridge is another option for the overnight break, but adding the tough climb up to Brimham to a long second day would provide an extra challenge.
The Dancing Bear at Brimham Rocks
THE WAY IN A DAY
Feeling on top of the world – starting the descent to Airton while cycling the Way in a Day
This is not an unrealistic goal but requires serious training and great determination. Always remember that the most important thing is to enjoy the ride, whatever happens.
The ride is much easier in decent yet not excessively hot or sunny weather, and westerly winds are a huge advantage. Make an early start; it is much harder to cycle the last section of the route in the dark when you are tired.
A super-fit cyclist with an average speed upwards of 14mph on hilly terrain will take roughly 11–13 hours in the saddle, with two additional hours of breaks (including a 30–40-minute lunch stop). Try to rope in someone in a vehicle to meet you at three points (less to carry and an incentive to reach the next stop), but be considerate and avoid having a car accompany you on stretches of the route. Take on as many calories as possible and keep hydration levels up. Eat whatever you are used to. Carry at least two water bottles and drink regularly.
Building up high mileages on endurance rides and plenty of shorter, faster rides up hills will help get you in shape. Testing yourself with a 100-mile-plus (160km) ride with over 1500m ascent will be a great psychological boost.
Cycling the route east to west
Although it is described from Morecambe to Bridlington in the main part of this book, the Way of the Roses is perfectly feasible in the opposite direction. East to west might appeal for various reasons: if you have already completed the ride in the standard direction; if the logistics prove easier that way around; or if your plans are flexible and the forecast is for prevailing easterly winds.
In the main, the Way is simple to follow from east to west (Sustrans intends the route to be followed in either direction and so it is signposted both ways). Having said that, there are a handful of spots where the signs for cyclists travelling from Bridlington to Morecambe are missing or not as clear as the ones for the standard direction. Therefore a little more care is needed with route-finding, and even cyclists who have previously ridden the Way west to east should take care. A good strategy is to look out for the signs for both directions and scan ahead to the posts and signage at upcoming junctions. There are a few places where the east-to-west route differs slightly from the standard direction due to one-way systems in place.
In spite of the fact that British weather systems are dominated by westerly winds – aiding a west-to-east traverse of the country – there are many times when substantial easterly winds set in for days at a time, favouring those making an east-to-west journey. Plan for your ride being considerably harder and taking longer if headwinds are forecast.
On balance the Way of the Roses is a more enjoyable outing done from west to east. Starting from Morecambe, the flatter and lengthier third section can be done with tired legs on the third day. Those starting from Bridlington should note that all the harder ascents come on the second half of the route, when energy levels may have declined. That is not to say that the east-to-west option does not have its merits.
Where to stay
There is ample accommodation along the route, wherever you choose to break up the ride, and a detailed list is given in Appendix A. Many people choose the option of staying in B&B accommodation – this is reasonably priced and saves cyclists the hassle of finding their own breakfast (though be warned that fry-ups and serious hills don’t always mix well!). Those who prefer pub accommodation will find plenty of choice; breakfast is often included and evening meals and drinks easily available. The cheapest options include basic bunkhouses – a number of these are convenient for the route. They are well worth considering if you want to cut costs by sharing dorm-style rooms or have a large group. Some cycle tourers choose to load their bikes with camping equipment. There is a satisfaction in carrying all you need, and campsites are by far the cheapest option. However, if choosing this option put in some practice cycling a good distance with a heavily loaded bike. Some quirkier accommodation options are included in Appendix A: a village hall, a yurt – and even a treehouse.
The stunning Dales village of Burnsall is a great overnight stop on the three-day ride (Day 1)
What
