Sunday, 4th February 2024
Every year the Club arranges a Reliability Ride to test a rider’s winter training and to blow the cobwebs from their legs and bikes. Last year, over 150 riders from the region took part in this ride which finishes at the Club House ‘café’ where a well-earned cuppa and a fantastic spread of home-made cakes and sandwiches are on offer.
This is an event open to all, e-bike riders are very welcome. The longer, 90 km ride is a challenging ride through the Dales to Kettlewell and back. The shorter, 50 km ride to Barden Tower, is a great introduction to reliability and other organised rides.
Register online
If you would like to join the ride, put the date in your diary now and register online for £5 at OCC Reliability Ride.
The Reliability Ride Series
The Otley ride is the 4th ride of this year’s Terrific Ten Yorkshire Reliability Rides. Details of all ten rides can be found on The Struggle website.
Reliability Rides are simple and cheap to enter (£5) because there are no paper maps, no chip timing, only limited signage on route and no feed stations or other support. Riders are expected to be self-sufficient, carry their own refreshments and take any necessary personal medication with them. The event takes place on the open roads so the rules of the Highway Code apply and the wearing of a suitable cycle helmet is mandatory. While not racing, riders are expected to complete the course in a reasonable time.
Route details
Longer ride – Kettlewell
The longer 90 km route should be completed in 3.5 hours and starts from the Buttercross (market place) in Otley and follows the A65 through Ilkley, Addingham, Bolton Abbey, Barden Tower, Appletreewick, Grassington to Kettlewell and returns through Kilnsey, Threshfield, Burnsall, Barden, Bolton Abbey, Addingham, Ilkley and Askwith to finish at Chevin Cycles in Otley.
Route for download: Ridewithgps Longer ride.
Shorter ride – Barden Tower
The shorter 50 km route should be completed in 3 hours. The route follows the longer ride until riders reach the top of the hill after Barden Tower and Barden Bridge. At this point the routes diverge with the shorter ride turning sharp right returning via the back road to Cavendish Pavilion, Bolton Abbey, Ilkley and Askwith to finish at Chevin Cycles in Otley.
Route for download: Ridewithgps Shorter ride.
Registration
Entry costs £5 per person, which includes British Cycling’s £1 online booking fee and, a further £1.20 payable to BC to provide insurance for the event. While we would prefer online registration through BC riders can sign-on at the Buttercross, Otley on the day paying with cash or by card.
Registration will open on the day from 08:45, pre-registered riders will be asked to quickly confirm their entry before leaving. Riders will leave in small groups almost immediately after registration with all riders expected to be on the road by 09.30.
Riders under the age of 18 must have a safeguarding certificate signed by a parent / guardian (available at registration). Riders under the age of 16 must ride with their parent / guardian.
Toilets and cafes in Otley
The town centre toilets in Orchard Gate will be open Free of Charge to cyclists from 08:00 to 10:00. Cafes such as Costa Coffee (Kirkgate), Joys Coffee House (Market Street) and Leeds House Cafe (next to the Buttercross) may also be open.
Leaving Otley
Riders will be set off in groups from the Boroughgate side of the Buttercross at 1 - 2 minute intervals from registration through to around 09.30. Look after one another on the road – have a safe ride and remember this is not a race!!
Returning to Otley
Riders should sign-in in the car park of Chevin Cycles on their return and then come and enjoy cakes and sandwiches at the Club House, down the cobbled lane to the side of Chevin Cycles.
