A solo 240km mountain bikepacking adventure on the Calder Divide Trail, linking the best of Yorkshire and the Peak District.
I left the car at home and rode straight to the start for a full off-road challenge. Two nights of wild camping, epic climbs, stunning views – and one very awkward encounter with a farmer in the dark after packing up camp!
I first tried this route on a gravel bike and quickly learned it wasn’t the right tool for the job. This time, on the Specialized Epic Evo, it was still tough but finally doable – and a lot more fun.
📍 Route: The Calder Divide Trail
🚵♂️ Distance: 240km
⛺ Wild camps: 2
🌄 Terrain: Yorkshire hardpack, puddles, rocks and trails, bit o road, some hike-a-bike!
If you’re planning to ride the Calder Divide or just love solo MTB adventures, this one’s for you.
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9 Comments
Enjoying your videos!
Was this the same route as the Calder divide race? I had entered that, but DNS as still tired after Welsh mountains event.
Some of that looked amazing, but like you, I'm not keen on hike-a-bike
I cycle Castleford area and into Leeds and Wakefield a lot, nice routes
Chapeau to you , its through watching you and a few other's on YouTube that has given me the confidence to push further I'm doing my first 200k audax on Saturday,
I've also just started back mountain biking i did a 30 mile loop on the gower on Sunday visiting a few trig points on the way , the difference in average speed was a big shock but thoroughly enjoyable,
Thank you for the inspiration Richard
Great video. Thanks for showing me the lovely countryside. Peace and goodwill
Boiled my oil in brakes riding into todmerden them hills so steep full bikpacking setup and im fat old man lol but since then bled brakes and upgraded to larger rotors annyway thanks for the share all the best Ian
Nice trip
It isbamazing how much better it is when the sun's out.
Even if your soaked from the rain, as soon as the sun comes out 😊
Well done..my kind of bike touring if we have to get off and push now and then so be it Gareth.
Nice. How do you find the tailfin with the full sus?
While enjoying your video very much, as an experienced bike-tourer myself, I began wondering why you are backpacking a lot of gear instead of loading the bike to do the job for you?