Inspired by Le Tour Yorkshire

I live in the fantastic valley of Wharfedale on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. It’s a great place for all kinds of things to do outside - we have gritstone, sweet singletrack, hills aplenty and loads of different routes out of and around the valleys. 

Lower Wharfedale

Over the next year it’s going to get pretty crazy here for all things cycling as Yorkshire builds up for what be one of its most prestigious sporting events ever: Le Grand Depart of the Tour de France. In 2012 when the bids were being considered by the organisers of the Tour this was a proper coup for Yorkshire (the governing body British Cycling and the UK Government had put their weight behind a rival Scottish bid). I can’t help thinking this would only have encouraged the French organisers to be even more sympathetic to Yorkshire’s rebellious bid. 

The moment the route was announced in January excitement rippled palpably over social media and my office at work in Leeds (not many people I work with cycle although that seems to be changing). Departing Leeds, coming through Otley (whoop whoop!), Ilkley, further up Wharfedale, over the classic passes of Fleet Moss and Buttertubs through to Swaledale and then back to finish in Harrogate via Masham. Day two starting in York, passing just north of Otley as it heads into the heart of the south Peninnes. Another proper lumpy day over through to Hebden Bridge, up Cragg Vale to Blackstone Edge, then through Huddersfield to Holmfirth, the great climb of Holme Moss and then skirting the north eastern edge of the Peak District through to Sheffield. Two days when the riders will get to see and ride through some of the very best terrain Yorkshire has to offer. 

A moody looking Stoodley

For the first time in a while I am feeling really inspired by a sporting event (the last time was when I found myself shouting at the television, willing Lizzie Armistead on to glory in the rain of the road race at the London Olympics, and I hardly ever watch TV let alone shout at it). This inspiration is encouraging to both get out on my bike and take some photos of the hills and valleys I see and ride over along the way. Last Sunday I cycled a variant (and a bit shorter - just over 100 miles) of day two of next year’s Tour, from my house in Otley to that of some of my family on the edge of Chesterfield, over the hills to Hebden Bridge and then following the race route (apart from avoiding central Huddersfield) through to the wonderful Strines road, where I carried on going through to Stanage End and then to the Hope Valley. I can’t believe that it was the first time I had cycled over Holme Moss - fantastic! 

Stanage End

Sometime over the few weeks I will ride day one of the Tour - it’s been a long time since I cycled over Fleet Moss and Buttertubs and I am really looking forward to it. I particularly love the northern parts of the Dales - the hills (and therefore roads) are steeper and more rugged, there is a sense of a much wilder place than further down the valleys where there are more people and associated activity. I will take my camera with me on this ride too. 

Flowerdale

Some of the scenes I take pictures of I will have a go at painting. Most of my paintings so far have been of mountains in the Lake District or Scottish Highlands. The first painting I did was of one of the Flowerdale mountains, just north of Torridon in the north-west Scottish Highlands. The painting was based on a photograph I took having spent a great weekend running around those hills during the 2010 Highlander Mountain Marathon. And then there is Upper Eskdale - I have amazing memories of long days running in the Lakes - crossing this stunning hanging valley surrounded by the giants of the Scafells. I generally seem to be inspired to paint wild places I have loved travelling through. 

Upper Eskdale

Before now I had kind of wondered why I had not felt compelled to paint scenes from the Yorkshire Dales - they are so beautiful and kind of on my home patch. I think it’s a combination of the great light we’ve had over the past couple of weeks and the pleasure I have found with both the anticipation of and the riding up the hills the Tour will pass over that has helped to inspire me to do so. Hopefully the paintings will turn out ok, it will be fun whatever happens. 

Le Tour Yorkshire has the potential to inspire loads of cultural as well as sporting events, the two go together really well and there are so many talented artists in Yorkshire. My friend the uber-talented Shane Green has already been inspired in earnest.

While I am on the subject of Yorkshire artists and craftsmen and women I need to mention Ricky Feather - the awesome framebuilder who last year built me a road frame. It was a present to myself last year when I was getting back to riding after becoming a mum and I am enjoying every ride it fits me so well and climbs and descends brilliantly :o) 

Bike meets maker (just after the Rapha Gentleman's Race back in June)

Maybe a cross frame in a year or two (as every cyclist knows the number of bikes we each need is n+1...).