Cycling in Yorkshire
The UCI 2019 road World Championships take place in Yorkshire from Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th September 2019. Harrogate is the central hub, where all the events finish. The world's best cyclists in Yorkshire, nine days of top-class sport, and a festival atmosphere - it's going to be brilliant!
The race programme starts on Saturday 21st September 2019 with the Yorkshire 2019 Para-Cycling International, and finishes on Sunday 29th September 2019 with the elite men's road race.
See full details of the UCI 2019 Yorkshire Worlds race programme.
Maps of the routes of all events at the UCI 2019 Yorkshire Worlds - JPG, PDF, and Google maps.
See the UCI 2019 Yorkshire Worlds maps.
Planning where to watch the races at the UCI 2019 Yorkshire Worlds will be the key to making the most of this event.
For each race, I have some suggestions. Where to watch the UCI 2019 Yorkshire Worlds.
On Sunday 22nd September 2019 there's an (open road) official UCI sportive, starting and finishing in Harrogate. There are 3 routes - 72km, 98km, and 145km.
Read about the UCI 2019 official sportive.
Hedgehog Cycling has two Big Bobble Hats to give away. There's also a discount code to use on the Big Bobble Hats website.
See the details of the Big Bobble Hat giveaway.
The UCI 2019 Yorkshire Worlds in Harrogate will be our town's moment in the sun. Not just 'a little sunshine' of the kind Nicole brought here in 1982 at the Eurovision Song Contest, but lots of it.
There's lots going on as 'Harrogate Welcomes the World'.
Read about the UCI 2019 Yorkshire Worlds in Harrogate.
Harrogate will be thronged with visitors during the UCI 2019 Yorkshire road World Championships. Many hotels and apartments will be full, but there's likely to be space at B&Bs, private houses rented out for the Championships, and at campsites.
Read about where to stay for the UCI 2019 Yorkshire Worlds.
Hedgehog's Yorkshire wildlife guides and this week's Yorkshire wildlife photo.
1st July 2019
Bradford Council have linked Shipley to Bradford, by adding the Canal Road Cycleway onto the existing Greenway.
The result is a usable route. It's generally safe and convenient. The Cycleway has priority over drives and side roads, except in places where the route designers lost their nerve, and made it give way.
Read about the Canal Road Greenway & Cycleway.
25th June 2019
I joined a cycling tour of York, and found it was an excellent way to explore the city.
It's really a history tour, much like walking tours of York, but it's a more relaxing and enjoyable way of getting between the sights, and adds and extra element of fun.
Read about York Cycling Tours.
26th March 2019
Sustrans surveyed teachers about air pollution outside schools, as part of their Big Pedal event.
Read about Sustrans school run survey.
13th March 2019
Public Health England have reported on what local authorities and national government can do to improve air quality.
Read about Public Health England on air pollution.
18th May 2019
The challenge has been set: drag as many times your body weight as possible to the shops. With your 4x4, you're doing well, but follow my advice, and you could do much better.
9th May 2019
At the heart of Harrogate, bang on the Yorkshire Worlds route, there's a 36cm cycle lane. It's brilliant that Harrogate is welcoming the world in September, but what about everyday bike riders all year round?
Read about 36cm cycle lane.
Bike lanes in the Netherlands are designed with thought and intelligence to create a joined-up, easily usable network. I took a few photos of cycle infrastructure in Zandvoort, and I've added some comments about the intention of the planners. In the UK, we should pay particular attention to the way they give bike routes continuity, instead of making them give way to every side street.
Read about inspiration from Dutch cycle infrastructure.
12th September 2019
A survey by the local MP shows what people think of shopping in the town centre, including how they get there and their opinions of the cycling facilities.
Read about Harrogate Retail Inquiry.
17th September 2019
In a letter to the Yorkshire Post, Bishop Monkton Councillor Brown claims that 'motorists' are being knocked and made to feel unwelcome in Harrogate Borough. This is a response to some of his arguments.
This circular road cycling route starts in Harrogate, and heads up to Pateley Bridge then Lofthouse. It climbs the Côte de Lofthouse, which featured on the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire, then returns via Grewelthorpe, Kirkby Malzeard, Galphay, Studley Royal and Ripley to Harrogate. It's on quiet, country roads, features beautiful scenery, and there's the challenge of a steep ascent.
Read about this Côte de Lofthouse road cycling route.
This circular road cycling route starts in Grassington, and heads north up Wharfedale then Littondale to Halton Gill. It climbs to Malham Tarn, then returns via Malham, Kirkby Malham, Airton, Hetton, and Cracoe to Malham. The roads are quiet, and the ride takes in lanes lined with dry stone walls, open fells, and villages of limestone-built houses, as well as views of Malham Cove.
Read about this Yorkshire Dales road cycling route.
The best and most popular cycleway in Harrogate, the Nidderdale Greenway goes about 4 miles to Ripley, using the trackbed of a disused railway. It opened in May 2013.
Our guide to the bike trail on Yorkshire Water's land at Fewston reservoir, through the Beecroft Plantation and Timble woods. Read about the Fewston, Beecroft, & Timble woods bike trail.
A new Hedgehog Guide to the Cinder Track cycle route, along the old railway from Scarborough to Whitby, with full-colour (!) photos, including lots of Yorkshire sunshine. This 21.5 mile route has beautiful views, and there's wonderful wildlife along the way, for example house martins and swallows at Ravenscar. Read about the Scarborough to Whitby Cinder Track.
There's a great cycle route from the centre of York to Beningbrough, partly on tarmacked path by the river Ouse, and partly on quiet roads. It ends up at Beningbrough Hall, an C18th National Trust property (where cyclists are entitled to a free cup of tea). Read the Hedgehog guide to the York to Beningbrough cycle route.
The latest in Hedgehog's Sustrans Slow Tour of Yorkshire series, Stage 6 is a nice ride on quiet back roads from Settle to Clapham. There's just enough hill-age to make it interesting, and there are plenty of options for a cup of tea or a pint of beer.
Read about Stage 6, Settle to Clapham.
