We started 2018 with one of our extra short rides to Gargrave.

Six riders set out on a chilly but sunny morning, along our usual route through Earby to Thornton-in-Craven, then on through West Marton to the Dalesman cafe in Gargrave where another of our group was waiting.

After lunch we retraced our outbound route back as far as Thornton, then turned towards Barnoldswick to join the canal towpath back to Foulridge where we have a second cafe stop at Cafe Cargo.

Published: 13 January 2018

The final ride in this years series of Challenge Rides brings the total distance up to 100 miles.

Five riders were up at the crack of dawn for the 7am start at Whalley bus station. Setting off on very quiet lanes with thick mist lying low in the valleys, we headed north through Pendleton and Downham, Gisburn and Wigglesworth before stopping at the Singing Kettle in Settle for an early morning bacon butty.

We continued north towards Helwith Bridge before turning west through Clapham and Bentham, Wray and Claughton before stopping again at Bull Beck picnic area neat Caton for lunch.

Suitably refreshed, we left the road, using the cycleway into Lancaster, and on to Glasson Dock where a very welcome ice-cream stop awaited.

Back on-road, we next headed south towards Garstang, and the Toll bridge at Cartford before turning back east through Inskip Broughton and Longridge. In Ribchester we faced final climb of the day up past Marles Wood and then the final descent back to Whalley

Congratulations to all five riders:

• Pete Bradford
• John Yardley
• Jim Cooper
• Mick Stone
• Mark Clegg

... and a special mention to Mick Stone for being the only rider to complete all four of this years Challenge rides.

Published: 28 August 2017

Our third Challenge Ride of the year upped the distance to 100km.

Eight riders set out from Whalley bus station heading through Billington and Old Langho, down the steep hill at Marles Wood (We'd have to climb that on the way back), past Ribchester and on to Longridge where we stopped for morning coffee before pressing on via Broughton, Woodplumpton and Elswick. We then turned north through Great Eccleston, after which we were deprived of the costly sum of 20p each to cross the toll bridge at Cartford.  It's relatively flat from here so we made good time getting to Knott End for lunch.

The weather forecast for the afternoon wasn't good, and with heavy showers and thunder possible before we got back.  Undeterred, we followed the coast around towards Pilling, before heading back inland to Garstang.

We stopped again for an afternoon break at the Green Man in Inglewhite, (dark clouds on the horizon) before carrying on back to Longridge and Ribchester, hitting our 100km target on the bridge over the Ribble. With just under 10 miles to go, it was still fine, and we made it back to Whalley without any of the heavy rain we'd been promised.

Congratulations to all that completed the course:

• Jim Duerden
• Jackie Duerden
• David Tinker
• Harry Taylor
• Mick Stone
• Jim Cooper
• Dorothy Altham
• Mark Clegg

Our fourth and final Challenge Ride is the 100 mile Challenge, on 27th August. Hope to see you there.

Published: 01 August 2017

In bright sunny conditions 6 riders left Whalley on our inaugural 50km Challenge ride.

Since there was no time limit we only got through the lanes as far as Waddington before the group decided on a brew stop at the cafe to review our progress and take a breather before the major climb of the day - the 'Col de Grindleton'.

From Bolton by Bowland the group tackled the long drag to Wigglesworth with fine sunny views of Ingleborough and Pen Y Ghent, with respite at Gardenmakers for lunch.

The nice long descent to Sawley and an ice cream stop at Chatburn was reward for the morning's hard work.

The 6 riders completing the ride were:-

• Harry Taylor,
• David Tinker,
• Tim O' Brien,
• Peter Catterall,
• Mick Stone
• and particular congratulations to relative newcomer Carol Higgins for a sterling and determined performance.

Congratulations to all who took part.

Published: 23 May 2017

Two groups of riders left Springwood Car Park at 9:30 this morning (16 April 2017). It was dry (just!).  

Both groups were heading to Cobble Hey for lunch, the medium group taking a slightly longer route through Billington, Ribchester, Longridge and Chipping

Soon after passing through Ribchester it started raining, but being the hardy types we are, we carried on as planned, adding an impromptu brew stop at the Cobbled Corner in Chipping (toasted Hot Cross buns!) in the vain hope it would dry up.

It was still raining when we left, but we carried on to Cobble Hey, to find the riders on the short ride had already arrived, and rows of soggy cycling gloves adorned the fire guard in the hope they might dry out.  Feet were wet and squelchy, but we couldn't do anything about that.

After lunch, and several leisurely cups of tea we ventured back out, to find the rain had finally cleared, giving us a reasonably dry ride back with a nice tail wind.

The medium ride had planned an afternoon brew stop at Little Town Dairly in Longridge, but arrived finding it closed for the day, so we carried on to Bashall Barn for a very welcome coffee before returning to Whalley.

All in all, a good day even if it was a "little" damp in the morning.

Published: 16 April 2017

March finished in a blaze of sunshine, putting everybody in a good mood, and making all those cold winter rides worthwhile.

Today was a car assisted ride, starting from Longridge, allowing us to explore a little further afield than normal.

Two groups set out, those wanting a longer ride, heading out over Harris End Fell, taking in stunning views including Blackpool Tower to the south-west, Heysham Power Station, and Morecambe Bay to the north-west, and the snow capped peaks of the Lake District in the North.

We re-grouped at the Cafe in Knott End, where, after lunch we followed the coastal path, before heading inland to Cockerham.

The plan was to stop at Wallings for ice-cream, but the queue went well into next week, so we gave that a miss.

The two groups split here, with those on the long ride returning via Garstang and Inglewhite.

Published: 27 March 2017