Easy Cycling
 It's group for people who take easy enjoyable cycle rides, with no racing round and no big hills and try to ensure a cafe stop along the route. | The group discusses/agrees and plans future rides. New members always welcome. The convenor is happy to look at members' bikes to check if they are roadworthy. | Contact the convenor for more information | Gary S Easy Cycling Convenor1 Harry B Easy Cycling Convenor2 |
Scheduled rides have been changed to Second and Fourth Tuesdays for Oct 22
Members occasionally organise adhoc rides on additional days- Contact Convenor
The Group keeps in touch on a WhatsApp Group
15th Nov 2023- Update from David
We continue to meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, varying where we cycle around the surrounding area Garforth and Kippax. Details will be on our webpage, as usual. Although the locations vary, we start our rides at 10.30am.
A popular ride of our group is to The Arium garden centre and café, just off the new East Leeds Orbital Road. 
This has a very good cycle path which is separate from the road. We’ve also recently explored the Wykebeck Valley to Roundhay Park by a different route, which was new to many of us. Our next ride will be to Thorner, which again will be new to some of us. Its amazing that we continue to find new locations and coffee shops to add to our list!
A reminder we’re offering a couple of short trial rides for anyone who hasn’t cycled for a while and would like a ‘taster’ off the roads, to help get build up confidence and stamina. If you’d like to try this, we’ll be meeting at the entrance to the Linesway walking and cycling track where it is joined from bottom end of Ninelands Lane, not far from Garforth Fire Station. This will be on Tuesday 21st November and Tuesday 5th December, meeting at 11.30am for half an hour or so. If you would like to join us, please let me know via the Easy Cycling Group website, to let us know if you would like to come along. Also, if you would like us to have a look at your bike to check it is OK to ride, we’re happy to do this.
20th Oct 2023- Update from David
We continue with our regular cycle rides on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month and also have additional rides when people are free. A few of use also have a ‘recce’ ride the week before the next scheduled meeting, to check everything is OK and sometimes to refresh our memory of the route. Its pleasing to see our membership continues to grow andwelcomed Gary to our group recently, along with David and Vivien a few weeks before.
It was a pleasant surprise to be contacted by someone in Canada this Summer, who had been trawling the internet and looking at our u3a website! Terry lives in British Columbia and keeps in touch with his son who lives near the St. Aidan’s nature reserve. Terry’s coming over to visit in October and was enquiring about the possibility of coming out with us a couple of times, while visiting his son and so this will hopefully take place. It certainly pays to advertise!
Our next Easy Cycling Group dates are the 10th and 24th October, on our usual Tuesdays. The rides are not yet finalised and see check our page on the website for details if you would like to come out with us. We’re also thinking of having some shorter, introductory rides for anyone who wants to build up their experience on two wheels over shorter distances over the next couple of months. If you might be interested, do contact me via the website and I’ll be pleased to explain what is being planned.
Happy Cycling!
Dave Swindells
Easy Cycling Group Convenor.
23rd July 2023
Garforth to Allerton Bywater to Castleford to Methley and return via St Aidans approx 13 miles
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On the 25th July, ten of us cycled a loop route we’ve done before but not for a little while. The total distance was 15.5 miles. Some in our group cycled the whole distance, while some who live in Kippax joined the ride as we road by, at the former Kippax railway station.
The ride wentt from the Podger pub in Garforth, down the Linesway to Samuel Valentine’s deli. at Allerton Bywater and then continued offroad past the Boat Inn along the side of the river to Castleford, crossing the river by the suspension bridge. We then continued following the river along to Methley Bridge Farm Shop for a coffee stop. After refreshments, we continued westwards a short distance, taking the first bridge over, to Methley, near St. Oswald’s Church. We continued along the road to Mickletown and then to the St. Aidan’s nature reserve, where we then joined the Linesway back to Garforth.
About 80% of the ride was offroad. The weather was good, as was the company – and we also now have a new member!
11th April 2023
A very enjoyable ride of about 16 miles starting at the Podger in Garforth, along Barrowby Lane to The Springs, onto Templenewsam Across in front of the House, under the motorway to Skelton Lakes Service and a stop for refreshment. Continueing along the canal to Leomondroyd Lock; cross over the canal and river to St Aidans and back along the Lines.
6th Sept 2022 The Lines to St Aidans 11miles round trip
We had a good ride today along the Lines and across St Aidans to Rivers Meet Cafe and back. Tony introduced Bryan, a potential new member. Alot of people about at the reserve spotting a rare Wryneck (Think thats correct spelling ) as well as 6 or 7 police cyclists- not sure if they were chasing anyone!
17th May 2022 From Barrowby-The Lines Circular Route approx 17 miles
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This was a very enjoyable ride on a glorious day with the largest number of riders so far. Two new members Sue and Wendy joined us along with Tony B on his second ride.In all 10 of us started at Barrowby Lane and made our way to The Springs then onto Templenewsam where we had the obligatory coffee stop- a bit longer than usually as it was very busy. Off we went to Skelton Lakes and then along the canal via Fish ponds Lock, Woodlesford and Lemonroyd. Crossing the canal to St Adans. The Majority of the group took the Lines back to Garforth.
First Group Ride of the year was on 1st March 2022
Lines Way-St Aidans-Rivers Meet Cafe Methley
St Aidans was recovering from a major local flooding and some paths were still impassable. Thanks to Pete Myring we got to see another aspect of the reserve
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Ride out at Darrington 28.09.2021
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Dave, Marion, Martin, Carol and Graham began our most recent cycle ride in Darrington, which is around 13 miles from Garforth. The route was mainly on quiet roads, passing through Womersley and Knottingley with some pleasant countryside and a midway stop at ‘The Hidden Tearoom’. Graham found one of his tyres flat after our refreshment stop but we were able to fit a new tube and get going again fairly quickly. Graham, Dave and Martin were supervised by Marion and Carol and so fixing the puncture was a team effort! Our next ride will be towards the end of October. Date to be decided.
Anyone interested in joining us on our next ride will be very welcome. Distances vary from 10 miles upwards, depending on what people are comfortable with.
Ride out St Aidan's Reserve to Leeds Armouries via Canal Path - 12+ miles
Thanks to Duncan McBride for leading the ride
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Ride out Barrowby Lane to Aberford Interiors Cafe - 10miles
Stop off at Nellies Tree on Parlington Lane
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If you would like to try this ride the mapped directions are on the link on right
So far we have been on a handful of rides, all circular and all of 10 miles or thereabout. We’ve done Garforth through Austhorpe to Templenewsam and back, a couple around the St. Aidans, River Aire, Lemonroyd Lock and Skelton Lake area, Garforth to Allerton Bywater and back on the Linesway and one out East from Fairburn, through Burton Salmon, Hillam, Monk Fryston, Lumby and back.
If you would like to try Barrowby La to Templenewsam mapped directions are on the link to the right
The convenor is happy to look at members bikes to check if they are roadworthy!!
Please contact the for further details