FAQ’s
Can I get a refund if I sign on and don’t ride?
Full refunds issued if a participant cancels before August 5th, 2027. The entry fee is non-refundable after the deadline of August 5th 2027 as we start paying the many bills that have piled up and the ‘pot’ is soon empty - hire of the venue, order the badges, order the pie n peas, hire a van, campsite and our commitment of a donation to Overgate Hospice.
Can I enter on the day?
No ‘on the day’ entries. In 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 we closed entry a month before the deadline as we were full.
Is this a race?
The Calder Divide Trail event is a personal challenge. It is not a race. There is no ‘mass start’ as the first 2kms of the route are through the park in Hebden Bridge with its narrow cycle path and along an even narrower towpath past flats and cafes. Riders depart any time between 7.30am-10.30am on Saturday and aim to be back before 5pm on Sunday.
Are the routes signposted?
There are no route signs for the CDT out on the moors and valleys so you must be able to follow a GPX on your navigation device. GPX files for all routes will be available on ‘Ride with GPS’ one week prior to the event.
What is the terrain like?
The Calder Divide Trail is best described as a ‘trail of two halves’. The western section towards Todmorden is on open moorland and steep valley sides. The eastern section towards Castleford is on free-flowing greenways and gravel paths across the level floodplain. Each of the routes covers a variety of terrain including gravel that is compact, gravel that is loose, gravel that is smooth, gravel full of potholes, stone slabs, tarmac and everything in between!
What type of bike can I enter with?
You can enter with the following bike types: Gravel bike / Cyclocross bike / Mountain bike / E-bike on the short routes. The terrain is not suitable for road bikes.
What is the minimal kit I need to carry?
Wear a helmet that complies with the latest EN1078, ANSI Z90/4 or SNELL standards. Waterproof clothes including full length trousers and jacket. Warm layers for changing into stored in a dry bag. An emergency thermal bag. Head torch and front and rear lights. Puncture repair kits, spare inner tubes and trail side tools such as tyre levers and allen key. A bag for carrying kit. Snacks and water.
Will I get a record of my time?
We will NOT be recording riders’ individual times on any of the four routes. A rider having a go at a FKT can submit their Strava / Garmin time for the record book.
Are there feed stations?
There are no feed stations on the trail. But you’re not riding in the wilderness. The Route Guide has a list of shops, cafes and pubs to call in should the need arise. The Route Guide can be found via the menu bar.
What happens if the route changes?
The organisers reserve the right to adjust the routes ahead of the day to account for unforeseen conditions (e.g., road closures, repairs to reservoirs that close sections of the trail, flooding, landslips) but if it does it will notify all participants who have signed up by that point of the changes.
Why have an event
The CDT event was set up with the two aims. Firstly to introduce riders to the diverse landscape and range of trails we have in West Yorkshire. Secondly, to raise enough money to fund one day in the life of the hospice where our riding buddy Will Norman and our close friend Mel Williamson had their last few days.
The daily running costs of Overgate Hospice in Elland, West Yorkshire, is in the order of £2,000 a day. The 2022 event with 90 riders raised £2,250 for the local hospice, in 2023 we donated £4,850 as 224 riders signed on, in 2024 we donated £2,437 with a max of 100 riders set, in 2025 we donated £2,240 with 110 riders signed and our event in 2026 raised £2,670 with 145 riders.
In total the Calder Divide Trail has raised £14,527 in aid of Overgate Hospice.