Urban Rides - For Those New or Returning to Cycling

Urban Rides In Leeds

  • Would you like to get to know your neighbourhood a little better or enjoy exploring other parts of the city, on trips of up to 15 miles?.

  • Would you consider cycling to work or college and back instead of driving or relying on public transport?

  • Would you like to get to know others who enjoy cycling for fun and can share tips on how to make the most of the cycling experience?

If the answer to any of the above is ‘Yes', then Leeds Cycling Campaign's Urban Rides programme might be right for you.

Our aim is to help anyone confidently explore the city and its neighbourhoods by bike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Urban Rides are easy rides.  They are not physically demanding and make use of quieter streets and cycle paths. They are aimed at beginners and people who haven’t cycled for a while. More confident riders are welcome too and may provide helpful tips to less experienced cyclists.

Urban Rides can be used by anyone to boost their cycling confidence and help them feel safe on the road. Hopefully, they will help you plan your own routes to places you'd like to go in future, either on your own or with family and friends. You could even share them with other cyclists!

  • We cycle on quiet streets (yellow on the Leeds Cycle Map) or quieter back streets if more appropriate.

  • We use cycle paths wherever possible (blue on the Leeds Cycle Map)

  • We don’t cycle miles into the hills.

  • We avoid busy roads and minimise routes with speed limits above 40mph as far as possible (unless crossing them).

Note: Riders on e-bikes are welcome but should ensure their batteries are fully charged beforehand and able to support their ride for up to 20 miles. All e-bikes should comply with the government definition of an e-bike. Please see this webpage for more  details: https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules.

 

Where do we meet?

At present, we meet on Saturday mornings in Leeds City Centre near the entrance to the Art Gallery in Victoria Square, LS1 3AA (near the chess boards).

   10.15 am for a 10:30 am departure

Please check our Rides Calendar for the next rides planned.

We hope to make other start points available in the future.

 

Clothing

We are not a sports club. No special sports clothes are needed - lycra or other costly clothing is unnecessary and your bike only needs to be roadworthy, not expensive. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in – jeans and a shirt/blouse are fine, depending (as always) on the weather.

 

Questions?

If there's anything you're not sure of or want to ask a question before coming on a ride, please contact our Easy Rides Co-ordinator at the following email address: easyrides [at] leedscyclingcampaign.co.uk

 

Finally ...

Urban Rides usually stay within the boundaries of the Outer Ring Road. Shortcuts, ginnels and new cycle paths are often explored and there is always a café stop along the way. We particularly welcome new people who want to improve their confidence in getting around the city by bike for everyday journeys.  Please check out this page for examples of previous urban rides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roundhay Easy Ride - Muddy Boots Harewood

A ride by Eccup reservoir through Eccup village and then on to Weardley Bank where there is an exhilaratng descent to the rear entrance of the Harewood estate.  

A short ride along a lovely smooth tarmac road as used in the Grand Depart 2014 then a steady climb some on a rough track before a welcoming refreshment stop at Muddy Boots cafe.

Return through Wyke.

The small amount of off-road is ok for road bikes.

Roundhay - Wykebeck Valley Way - Temple Newsam

The ride will follow the Wykeback Way to Halton Moor and then traverse the Pontefract Lane industrial estate along quiet roads before picking up the traffic-free cycle track along side Pontefract Lane before climbing up to Temple Newsam House for a well earned refreshment break (at the slightly expensive tea rooms).  The return is through Temple Moor before picking up the Wykebeck Way again on Primrose Valley Park.

The route is quiet and nearly all on dedicated cycle tracks, perfect for the nervous and less confident rider.

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