Eight riders joined us on 5th May 2018 for the first of this years Challenge Rides.

Building up over the year, from this 25 mile ride all the way up to 100 miles at the end of August.

We headed out from Springwood, down into Whalley, did the right at the roundabout & immediate left past the abbey, then up to Gt. Mitton, past Bashall Barn, through Waddington, West Bradford and the pull up to Grindleton, then drop down to Sawley and onto the tea rooms at Bolton-by-Bowland where we were made very welcome.

Our return route went back through Sawley to Chatburn, then Downham, Worston, Pendleton, Wiswell and back to Springwood.

Congratulations to all who completed the challenge:

• John Ramsden
• Jim Duerden
• Pete Homes
• Carol Higgins
• Mick Stone
• Adam Burrider
• Mike Burrider
• Linda Rimington

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Published: 16 May 2018

This year we've decided to lay on a monthly mid-week ride, of which the first was held on Thursday 15th March.

We probably could have picked a better day for the first ride, but five riders turned up nevertheless, in matching hi-viz waterproofs.

Starting out from Springwood carpark in Whalley, the ride headed west through Ribchester, Longridge, and Inglewhite before turning north towards Chipping and returning via Cow Ark and Bashall Eaves.

The next midweek ride is on 5th April, starting from Langroyd roundabout, lunching in Malham.

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Published: 16 March 2018

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Published: 23 May 2017