N Peak & S Pennines

Northern Peak and South Pennine Area Group

Descent to Ogden Reduced

The group holds rides normally on the first Sunday and the third Wednesday of the month. We meet at 9.30 am for a prompt start at 10.00 am and return about 4 pm. In addition, impromptu rides are put on at short notice - watch the events list. There is usually a cafe or pub stop at lunchtime, though it is advisable to carry bonk rations in case of closure. Alternatively, you can bring a picnic lunch if you wish.

And as you can tell from the photos, it is always sunny and never rains!

Our rides take place in an area roughly bounded by Sheffield, Buxton, Manchester, Halifax, Leeds, and Barnsley. Consequently, our members are geographically widespread and usually arrive at the starting place by car. We adopt a non-competitive and relaxed pace. The emphasis of the rides is on off-road cycle touring as opposed to hardcore mountain biking. So, it is not essential to have a mountain bike though most members now ride one. We prefer to engage with the countryside and the history of the area, stopping to admire the views, take photographs or chat. No one is left behind and we are quite happy to adjust pace, route, and distance to the needs of the slowest rider. Occasionally we travel further afield to Scotland or Wales stopping at a Youth Hostel or bunkhouse or B&B.

Have a look at Andy Eatch's short video of a recent ride here to get a flavour of what we are about.

Saddleworth Circuit:

April Saddo 3

We started a regular ride to explore the wonderful Pennine scenery of Saddleworth and beyond over two years ago and it has gone from strength to strength. Meeting at the Lime Kiln Cafe, just outside Uppermill, Greater Manchester, usually on the second Tuesday of the month, we generally ride for a couple of hours in the morning before lunch in a pub or cafe and then another couple of hours in the afternoon.

Saddleworth Circuit Les Girls

Watch a short video by Andy Eatch of one of our recent Saddleworth Circuits here.

Occasionally impromptu and informal rides are held at short notice. Route & leader usually decided on the day. Details of these rides will be announced on the RSF Facebook group and the Rides and Events section of the website.

For further information about the NP&SP group please contact us using the contact form at the top right of this page, we'll be happy to help if we can

Above Ogden800newestmap

Some first impressions of an RSF ride:

My first RSF outing, hopefully not my last. I met John, Malcolm & Graham at Cycle Promotions in Worsborough, a shop full of cycling bits and bikes, quite a bit of which I wouldn't have a clue where it went or what it did. The weather was appalling: cold, wet and grey.

RSF feature in 'Cranked' Magazine

There are times in life when you feel, with an unmistakable sinking feeling somewhere in the bottom corner of your stomach, that you're being clocked as an Outsider. Turning up to a funeral wearing the obligatory funereal black, only to discover that everyone else is in informal summery garb. Being the only one in the car park whose bike is more expensive than the car you've just taken it out of.