At the heart of the York Rally is the programme of free, mostly led rides. We are proud to host rides run by numerous local and national clubs and organisations, as well as some led by generous volunteers.
Do please contact our Rides Co-ordinator Yvonne if you, or your club, could lead or organise a ride, or just act as a back marker! All ride leaders, organisers and back markers are fully covered by the York Rally’s insurance.
Please bear with us while we prepare the rides schedule for 2023 – meanwhile we’ve left the 2022 info below so you can get an idea of a typical rides programme.
New for 2023: Pre-registration for faster departures
To help us streamline rider registration and to get rides away on time, if you can, please register in advance for rides at Rally HQ.
Rides are all free of charge to join, and you are still welcome to just turn up on the day. but we do need to record a few details for safety and insurance purposes – so if you possibly can, please provide your details at Rally HQ least 30 minutes before the ride is due to depart. This will significantly speed up ride departures.
Exact departure locations will be clearly marked on site (see map in the show programme for the rides departure area), and details are also at Rally HQ.
Thank you!
The all-volunteer Rides team
How do I join a ride?
You can just turn up with your cycle! Departure points are located along the fencing by the main tarmac road leading into the Rally: see the site plan in the show programme. Which departure point you need will be shown on multiple posters around the departure area or in Rally HQ.
That said, it would be hugely helpful to speed ride departures if you could please go to Rally HQ at least 30 minutes before the ride is due to depart to sign up for the ride and provide the basic details we need for insurance purposes (name, address, contact number, emergency contact etc.)
Is it free?
All rides are free of charge unless otherwise stated.
What if I can’t keep up?
If you think this could be an issue, please ask just the ride leader or at Rally HQ. In general we do request that riders must satisfy themselves that they and their machines are capable of the pace, distance and type of the organised rides. The Rally Committee, organisers and ride leaders can not be held responsible for riders who fail to do so. It would be wise in any case to have a puncture kit, map and/or charged smartphone so that you can always get back independently if you need to.
Can children and/or vulnerable adults join the led rides?
Children under 16 years of age and vulnerable adults are welcome to participate but must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
If you’re having issues downloading the GPX files (typically, because they open up as a mass of code in your web browser) please first try right-clicking on the link and select “save file as” or “save link as” or “download link” (the exact wording depends on which web browser you’re using – e.g. Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox). That should then allow you to save the files to your computer.
If that doesn’t work for you, then visit the link to the map instead, for the route you’re intereted in. Once it opens up on the mapometer website, look for the “Actions” option on the left, and within that select the “Export” button. That will let you download the GPX files in a variety of formats…
If all that fails, then I’m afraid you may be out of luck, and I’m not sure what else we’ll be able to suggest – our rides team are not ‘power users’ when it comes to GPX devices and software. But feel free to email us on rides@yorkrally.org and we will do what we can!
2022 rides
Friday rides
6.30 pm: Chips & pub ride
York Greenways evening pub ride to Deighton then on to Bishopthorpe for a pint! Ride leader Peter Huxford, a Greenways volunteer, says “The route is along the Solar System Greenway and quiet country roads. It’s about 8 miles each way. Lights needed!
Route map here and GPX file here (for original route – a diversion may be needed as below!)
Saturday rides
9.00 am: ‘Bridleways and Quiet Lanes’ C Ride
Tadcaster, 35 miles, medium pace.
Not suitable for road bikes! Café stop at Walkers Kitchen in Tadcaster. Estimated return 2 pm. Leader: Lynn Bland. Lynn says “This route was designed with cyclocross / gravel bikes in mind but a hard tail MTB or touring bike with very chunky tyres would also be suitable. Some of the vegetation was very high two weeks before the Rally so be prepared for a few nettle stings. The ground is very hard at the moment, so it is quite bumpy in places and the track into Tadcaster is a bit rocky so narrow road tyres are not suitable.”
Route map on RidewithGPS. Mapometer route map and GPX coming soon
9.10 am: ‘D’ Ride
Stamford Bridge, 37 miles, medium pace, return ~2 pm. Leader: Bryan Stanton of York Wednesday Wheelers.
Route map here and GPX file here.
9.20 am: ‘Easy’ Ride
Slow/family ride to Riccall, where the Methodist Hall will be open with refreshments. 19 miles, return about 1:30 pm. Self-led (please ask for map at HQ).
Route map here and GPX file here (for the original route – a diversion may be needed as below)
9.40 am: Retro Ride
Calling connoisseurs of classic cycles! Our Retro Ride is a 27 mile ride through undulating countryside to Tadcaster and beyond, with a refreshment stop at the midpoint. Estimated return 1:30 pm. Leader: David Kimberley.
Bikes: no hard and fast rules, nobody will be turned away, but this ride is aimed at fans of ‘classic’ pre-90s bikes, usually steel-framed, and which could have e.g. toe-clips, downtube shifters, brake cables from top of brake hoods…
Route map here and GPX file here.
10.00 am: York Greenways “Easy family eco” ride to Naburn Bridge
Super easy ‘Eco’ family ride to Naburn Bridge. “A traffic free eco ride along the Solar System Greenway with stops to see York’s unique iridescent Tansy Beetle habitat, and Urban Buzz’s wild flowers. Refreshments at Bishopthorpe Marina. About 5 miles each way.” Leader: Peter Huxford. www.yorkgreenways.org.uk
Route map here and GPX file here.
11.30 am York Greenways “Way of the Roses” ride
A gentle ride on the ‘Way of the Roses’ to the National Trust’s Beningborough Hall, 9 miles each way – largely traffic free but with a couple of miles on road. Lunch there, back about 3.30 pm. Leader: Ken Groom.
Route map here and GPX file here.
1.30 pm RSF Ride: To Dunnington (and maybe beyond!)
A ride organised by The RSF Off-Road Cycling And Touring Club. About 20 mainly flat-ish miles using cycle tracks, bridleways and quiet lanes. We will have to cross some main roads. Refreshment stop en-route. Expected return 4.30 pm, leader John Hitchen, RSF.
Route map here and GPX file here (for the original route – a diversion may be needed as below)
6.00 pm ‘VV’ Pub ride
Easy pub ride (under five miles each way, almost traffic free) to the Blacksmith Arms, Naburn. Self led – maps at HQ.
Route map here and GPX file here
Sunday rides
8:45am – Church service ride
To Naburn. Mostly traffic free. An all age worship service will take place at St Matthew’s, Naburn, at 9:30 AM. There will be a marshalled ride back after the service. Gather opposite Rally on cycle path across the horseracing track – see map in programme. More details and pictures here. Leader Paul Reid.
Route map here and GPX file here
10.00am – RSF Ride to Pluto
A ride organised by The RSF Off-Road Cycling And Touring Club. Off road – destination ‘Pluto’, Riccall – leader Geoff Smith. About 8 miles each way.
Route map here and GPX file here.
11.30 am Easy ride to Naburn
Ride to a Naburn area refreshment stop, ca 4 miles. Details TBC.
Route map and GPX coming soon
12.15 pm York Greenways “Col de Kimberlow ” ride:
Cross the University Campus on what – in York – passes for a hill. Great views to the North and South. Tea at the York Velodrome. Back along the route of the Derwent
Valley Light Railway. Leader: Peter Huxford. www.yorkgreenways.org.uk
Route map here and GPX coming soon
Self-guided rides – use at any time
- Self-guided rides are also very popular at the Rally – just head out with your friends! If you’re short of ideas iTravel York have 8 free route sheets to download… and the York CTC have a helpful list of cyclist-friendly cafes.
- For gentle, largely traffic free self-guided rides, check out the routes developed by Sustrans as part of their Slow Tour of Yorkshire. Two of them start very close to the Rally site:
- York to Naburn is just five flat miles each way, almost entirely on an old railway line and going past the scale model solar system. You can join it between Points 3 and 4 on the free PDF map direct from the Rally site. Several of the short rides listed above will also use some or all of this route.
- York to Beningbrough Hall is a little longer at nine miles each way, but again it’s largely off road and flat. Start point on the map is York train station, just a few minutes’ ride from the Rally via Sustrans Route 65.
Finally, anybody wishing to lead or assist with rides (backmarkers and group leaders for rides with larger numbers) is invited to express an interest by emailing the Rides Co-ordinator on: rides@yorkrally.org.
Many thanks to the following organisations for their help with the rides:
Rides from previous years
Friday rides
6.30 pm: Chips & pub ride
York Greenways evening pub ride to Deighton then on to Bishopthorpe for a pint! Ride leader Peter Huxford, a Greenways volunteer, says “The route is along the Solar System Greenway and quiet country roads. It’s about 8 miles each way. Lights needed!
Route map here and GPX file here (for original route – a diversion may be needed as below!)
Saturday rides
9.00 am: ‘Bridleways and Quiet Lanes’ C Ride
Tadcaster, 35 miles, medium pace.
Not suitable for road bikes! Café stop at Walkers Kitchen in Tadcaster. Estimated return 2 pm. Leader: Lynn Bland. Lynn says “This route was designed with cyclocross / gravel bikes in mind but a hard tail MTB or touring bike with very chunky tyres would also be suitable. Some of the vegetation was very high two weeks before the Rally so be prepared for a few nettle stings. The ground is very hard at the moment, so it is quite bumpy in places and the track into Tadcaster is a bit rocky so narrow road tyres are not suitable.”
Route map on RidewithGPS. Mapometer route map and GPX coming soon
9.10 am: ‘D’ Ride
Stamford Bridge, 37 miles, medium pace, return ~2 pm. Leader: Bryan Stanton of York Wednesday Wheelers.
Route map here and GPX file here.
9.20 am: ‘Easy’ Ride
Slow/family ride to Riccall, where the Methodist Hall will be open with refreshments. 19 miles, return about 1:30 pm. Self-led (please ask for map at HQ).
Route map here and GPX file here (for the original route – a diversion may be needed as below)
9.40 am: Retro Ride
Calling connoisseurs of classic cycles! Our Retro Ride is a 27 mile ride through undulating countryside to Tadcaster and beyond, with a refreshment stop at the midpoint. Estimated return 1:30 pm. Leader: David Kimberley.
Bikes: no hard and fast rules, nobody will be turned away, but this ride is aimed at fans of ‘classic’ pre-90s bikes, usually steel-framed, and which could have e.g. toe-clips, downtube shifters, brake cables from top of brake hoods…
Route map here and GPX file here.
10.00 am: York Greenways “Easy family eco” ride to Naburn Bridge
Super easy ‘Eco’ family ride to Naburn Bridge. “A traffic free eco ride along the Solar System Greenway with stops to see York’s unique iridescent Tansy Beetle habitat, and Urban Buzz’s wild flowers. Refreshments at Bishopthorpe Marina. About 5 miles each way.” Leader: Peter Huxford. www.yorkgreenways.org.uk
Route map here and GPX file here.
11.30 am York Greenways “Way of the Roses” ride
A gentle ride on the ‘Way of the Roses’ to the National Trust’s Beningborough Hall, 9 miles each way – largely traffic free but with a couple of miles on road. Lunch there, back about 3.30 pm. Leader: Ken Groom.
Route map here and GPX file here.
1.30 pm RSF Ride: To Dunnington (and maybe beyond!)
A ride organised by The RSF Off-Road Cycling And Touring Club. About 20 mainly flat-ish miles using cycle tracks, bridleways and quiet lanes. We will have to cross some main roads. Refreshment stop en-route. Expected return 4.30 pm, leader John Hitchen, RSF.
Route map here and GPX file here (for the original route – a diversion may be needed as below)
6.00 pm ‘VV’ Pub ride
Easy pub ride (under five miles each way, almost traffic free) to the Blacksmith Arms, Naburn. Self led – maps at HQ.
Route map here and GPX file here
Sunday rides
8:45am – Church service ride
To Naburn. Mostly traffic free. An all age worship service will take place at St Matthew’s, Naburn, at 9:30 AM. There will be a marshalled ride back after the service. Gather opposite Rally on cycle path across the horseracing track – see map in programme. More details and pictures here. Leader Paul Reid.
Route map here and GPX file here
10.00am – RSF Ride to Pluto
A ride organised by The RSF Off-Road Cycling And Touring Club. Off road – destination ‘Pluto’, Riccall – leader Geoff Smith. About 8 miles each way.
Route map here and GPX file here.
11.30 am Easy ride to Naburn
Ride to a Naburn area refreshment stop, ca 4 miles. Details TBC.
Route map and GPX coming soon
12.15 pm York Greenways “Col de Kimberlow ” ride:
Cross the University Campus on what – in York – passes for a hill. Great views to the North and South. Tea at the York Velodrome. Back along the route of the Derwent
Valley Light Railway. Leader: Peter Huxford. www.yorkgreenways.org.uk
Route map here and GPX coming soon
Rides from the York Rally 2019
Friday 21st June
- 6.30pm – York Greenways evening pub ride with fish & chips on the way!
Leader Peter Huxford says “Pub Ride with Fish and Chips, along the Solar System Greenway and quiet country lanes. Lights needed.” Approx 7 miles each way.
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 7:40pm – Evening pub ride to the Carlton Tavern, Holgate, York.
Short ride to this nearby (less than two miles away) pub. As with all evening rides, you MUST be equipped with working lights. Leader is Malcolm Carline.
Route map here and GPX file here.
Saturday 22nd June
- 8:50am – ‘Ambitious’ ride to Fridaythorpe.
Leader: Lynn Bland. Fast/medium pace, 13-15 mph, 61 miles, aim to return around 2pm.
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 9 am – 100k Audax
Please enter now for the 100k (9am departure) and the new 50k route (9.30am) – the links take you to the Audax UK website. Numbers are limited but entries on the day will also be possible if spaces remain (Audax UK entry fee applies). This year the 100k route is slightly revised for more accurate total distance.
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 9:10am – ‘Classic’ ride
Stamford Bridge, 37 miles, medium pace, estimated return 2 pm. Leader: Andrew Richardson. (York Wednesday Wheelers: www.wwyork.org).
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 9:20am – ‘Easy’ ride
Slow/family ride to Riccall, where the Methodist Hall will be open with refreshments from 10 am to 1 pm. 19 miles, estimated return 1:30 pm. Self-led (ask for a map at HQ if you need one).
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 9.30am – 50k Audax
NEW: We have a new 50k Audax route – please enter via the Audax UK website. Numbers are limited but entries on the day will also be possible if spaces remain (Audax UK entry fee applies). Route heads to Tadcaster and beyond.
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 9.50 am – NEW Retro ride!
NEW: Get out your classic cycles for this 26 mile ride through undulating countryside to Tadcaster and beyond. Mainly on quiet country lanes with pub or cafe stop at midpoint. Leader: David Kimberley.
Bikes: no hard and fast rules, nobody will be turned away, but this ride is aimed at fans of ‘classic’ pre-90s bikes, usually steel-framed, and which could have e.g. toe-clips, downtube shifters, brake cables from top of brake hoods…
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 10am – York Greenways super easy “Eco” family ride to Naburn
“Traffic free eco ride to Naburn along the Solar System Greenway with stops to see York’s unique iridescent Tansy Beetle habitat and Urban Buzz’s wild flowers. Mid morning refreshments at Naburn Station. Visit www.yorkgreenways.org for more info and video.” Under 4 miles each way.
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 11:30am – York Greenways slightly longer ride
This will be on the ‘Way of the Roses’ going to the National Trust’s Beningborough Hall, 9 miles each way – largely traffic free but with a couple of miles on road. The start is timed to be there for lunch, return around 3:30PM.
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 1.30pm – RSF Ride – off road.
Destination Dunnington & beyond – leader Rob Newton. About 20 miles using cycle tracks, bridleways and quiet roads. Estimated return 4:30pm.
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 6pm – “VV” pub ride
Mostly traffic free. About five miles each way. Destination: Blacksmith’s Arms, Naburn. Self led this year – ask at HQ for a map. Details here
Route map here and GPX file here.
Sunday 23rd June
- 8:45am – Church service ride
To Naburn. Mostly traffic free. An all age worship service will take place at St Matthew’s, Naburn, at 9:30 AM. There will be a marshalled ride back after the service. Gather opposite Rally on cycle path across the horseracing track – see map in programme. More details and pictures here. Leader Paul Reid.
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 9.00am – NEW York Greenways Historical Promenade
NEW! A short traffic-free ride to see professional actors lead a walking drama event along the Solar System Greenway, representing highlights of the history of the route with railwaymen, miners and cycle path builders. Suitable for families. Leader: Peter Huxford
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 10.00am – RSF Ride
Off road – destination ‘Pluto’, Riccall – leader Geoff Smith. About 8 miles each way.
Route map here and GPX file here.
. - 2:00pm – York Greenways Velodrome ride
Ride to York’s Sports Village and velodrome. 5 miles or so each way. Route back is along the Foss Island Greenway via St Nicks Environment Centre. Leader: Peter Huxford
Route map here and GPX file here.
All York Greenways rides listed are led by a trained ride leader. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Riders will be issued with a map of the route and will have the option of spending more time at any of the attractions visited.