DON’T buy upgrades, ride up grades.

So said Eddy Merckx, dispensing advice on improving your performance and buying cycling kit. Well, he is the greatest of all time.

Odd isn’t it? In most sports, the question of the best of all time inspires huge debate, but in cycling pretty much everyone agrees, so who am I to argue?

The only problem is that, in York, big hills are fairly tricky to come by.

Stand on a step ladder and you have a great view in this part of the world. But if you are looking for leg shredding rides then don’t despair, they are out there, you just need to know where.

Below is one of my favourite training routes, followed by a shorter, gentler and more family friendly ride.


YORK TO HELMSLEY (AND BACK AGAIN)

This ride comes in at about 50 miles and features a couple of really severe short ramps and a hairpin like a mini Alpe d’Huez.

It starts gently enough – if you are so inclined you can pretty much put the hammer down for the first ten miles as you head out of York on Huntington Road, then Strensall Road before turning off on York Road (once you pass Strensall Barracks).

Say goodbye to traffic at Strensall Village as you make a left turn immediately after The Ship pub.

Stay straight all the way through Sheriff Hutton and over the mini roundabout and take the opportunity to build up some speed as you head on to the first climb at Terrington South Bank.

The approach is straight on, so you get a minute to contemplate the well placed “Welcome to the Howardian Hills” sign as the road rears up at you.

The challenge of this climb is that you are on it quickly and are almost immediately out of the saddle as you hit a biting gradient.

Half way up you hit a deceptive false flat before it kicks up again. At the top, take a left (or a breather!) and follow the rolling road straight on for 3 miles to the picturesque village of Hovingham – a great spot for a coffee and cake stop at the tea rooms/bakery.

Enjoy the fast descent of Polticar Bank into Hovingham – you‘ll be coming back up it on the way back and it just seems to go on forever.

Straight through Hovingham the road is flat and fast but don’t get too carried away – the hardest climb of the ride is coming up.

Take the B1257 out of Hovingham and before it bends sharply left, take the right turn to go straight on to the imaginatively named “The Avenue” – where you see the signpost for Nunnington and Kirkbymoorside.

You don’t have long to contemplate the climb as you pass the 17 per cent gradient sign and the road bends round to the right.

It rises sharply for a fair few metres before it hairpins back round to the left and continues to rise upwards. Stay on the inside of the hairpin to really feel the lactic burn through your thighs as you drag the bike to the top.

There’s usually a hiker or two at the viewing point who will give you encouragement or question your mental state – “you must be mad!”

has been shouted more than once.

From the top follow the road downhill all the way through Nunnington and take the signs for Harome and then Helmsley.

That’s 25 miles in the bag and you’ll probably want to take ten minutes to sit in the pretty market square and nibble on something from one of the bakeries or delis, before swinging your leg over your top-tube and retracing the route back home.

One word of warning – on the way back, the descent of Terrington Bank is lightning fast, the road surface isn’t the best and the over-hanging trees can make it a bit greasy when damp.


YORK RIVERSIDE AND BISHOPTHORPE

This is a lovely ride as the season changes from winter to spring and can be tailored to suit stamina, ability and road confidence.

You can start at any point along the cycle path that runs along the River Ouse, but a good spot is through Rowntree Park.

From here you can ride up and down to your hearts content, but for this ride I’m going to suggest a loop over Millennium Bridge then head north on the Fulford side of the river and take the path all the way up to Clifford’s Tower.

At this point leave the cycle path and head over Skeldergate Bridge before re-joining the cycle path via Terry Avenue, and return south to Millennium Bridge.

Once back at the starting point feel free to stop there, throw in another loop or, as I recommend here, head back up through Rowntree Park and onto Bishopthorpe Road.

This stretch of road can be moderately busy but, for this ride, contains no roundabouts or turns into traffic and is therefore a good confidence builder for younger or inexperienced riders.

Take the road all the way into Bishopthorpe itself before heading back along the same route onto Bishy Road in York.

Once there enjoy a well-earned coffee or cup of tea and a slice of cake at any of the nice cafes on that stretch of road.

Additionally, Sky Ride season is almost upon us and I urge you all, especially beginners or families, to keep checking out the GoSkyRide website for a range of free and British Cycling approved rides.