Copmanthorpe is situated in a good place for recreational cycling.  The Vale of York is predominately flat with hardly any land 50 meters above see level within a 10 mile radius.  The network of country lanes South and West of York allow for many varied bike rides on quiet roads.

The rivers Ouse and Wharfe make natural boundaries, the other limitation to cycling is the A64 which, until recently could only safely be crossed at Copmanthorpe and Tadcaster, but the new bridge at Bilbrough has opened up new cycling options.  The Cycle Path along the A64 is very useful but second best to a quiet lane.

The cycle routes are listed here in the order of length, with the shortest first.  The exception being the York - Selby cycle way which is as long as you want to make it.  The majority are Circular routes and all start from the village centre.  Circular routes are described in an Anti-clockwise direction, this means the majority of road junctions are left hand turns, a safer option than right handers.

Note: The rides are described in detail, but briefer descriptions can be found by clicking on the in brief button.  These have been designed and formatted for printing, and should be easy to take with you on a ride.

All the rides are written by Chris Sharp who is a keen cyclist who used to go touring, but these days is too lazy and rarely cycles more than 20 miles in a day.