Sunday and mid-week club runs are the most important part of Whirlow Wheelers, so here's the low-down...
Each entry below gives the date and destination of a club run. The start time and place includes a 'What3Words' location, the '///' link. Click that to see the exact start location on a map. Most rides also include a link to a map of the route - usually on www.ridewithgps.com but some route planners use other maps.
Please note: club runs do not have a ride 'leader' as such, we ride as a group of friends. The ride 'guide' listed below is simply the club member who planned the route. It is up to each rider to ensure that they are happy to ride the route and can manage the gradients and surfaces involved.
Out via Eyanm and long descent into Ashford. Climb to Elton and Longcliffe. Trying new roads from there to Stone Cente and back along the valley and Chatsworth
Start: 9:00am Calver [///]
, Café: Stone Centre
Route: 45m/3313ft, [MAP], Ride guide: Paul
Down the city's cycleways to the Five Weirs Walk, followed to Meadowhall then up the Blackburn Valley Trail to Wentworth Woodhouse, on to Wortley then more familiar territory along the Trans Pennine Trail to Langsett and back over the Strines.
Start: 9:00am Malin Bridge [///]
, Café: Langsett
Route: 50m/3650ft, [MAP], Ride guide: PeterB
Out via Owler Bar, Barlow, Eastmoor and Ogston. Back over Eastmoor and Baslow Road.
Start: 9:00am Top of Froggatt [///]
, Café: Tansley Barn Garden Centre
Route: 44m/2926ft, [MAP], Ride guide: Andy
Clockwise route, out via Thorpe Salvin, Shireoaks & Firbeck. Return via Babworth & Clumber Park.
Start: 9:00am Barlboro [///]
, Café: Torworth Lakes
Route: 50m/1932ft, [MAP], Ride guide: Andy
There's no printed runs sheet for the current season - the above is all you get!.
Looking for inspiration? Check out some of our previous clubs runs here.
Mostly it happens on a Sunday morning while decent folk are in bed doing Wordle (or whatever), starting at 9:00am (summer) or 9:30 (winter) from Calver. Some ride there and some (sharp intake of breath) drive there. (And some park out of sight and pretend to have ridden out.)
So we don't get bored we sometimes start elsewhere, typically Barlboro for a flat(ish) ride out east, or Malin Bridge for a decidedly unflat ride oop north. The exact start point and time is published on the website along with a 'what 3 words' location - click the '///' link to see it on a map.
Club rides are generally fairly civilised and meander up hill and up dale trying not to get lost, or have anyone get differently lost to the rest of us, but just occasionally (?) someone will have a rush of blood to the head and go steaming off up some big 'ill. They slow down at the top and wait for the rest of us to catch up - mostly.
We typically have 50-ish miles on the clock by the time we get back and average around 12-14 mph - maybe a little more if it's flat. (Hah - who are we kidding!)
A couple of short video clips from recent club runs.
A club run in June 2022 to Hulme End via Axe Edge! A fabulous descent from Flash down to Hulme End but easy to miss the turning!
A flattish (?) ride around North Notts
