On what turned out to be the hottest August Bank Holiday weekend on record, six riders set off from Whalley Bus Station at 8:30am for our annual 100 Mile Challenge Ride.
This year we were upping the stakes a little, aiming to complete the ride in 8 hours (that's ride time, not elapsed time). That meant we needed to sustain an average speed of 12.5 miles per hour.
Heading out towards Bashall Eaves and Waddington we navigated north towards Settle, and a quick brew (and cake) stop at Knights Table. Carrying on over Stainforth Lane, we then turned west towards Austwick, Bentham and Wray before dropping down towards Lancaster and our lunch break at Bull Beck picnic area, near Caton, where we sheltered from the sun best we could.
After lunch we crossed the road onto the cycle path, which follows the Lune straight through Lancaster, coming out at the Millennium Bridge. Continuing along the river bank we could follow the track all the way to Glasson Dock where an Ice Cream stop was most welcome.
Our planned route back through Cockerham was interrupted briefly when the road we wanted to take was closed, but ride leader John did an excellent job finding an alternative, which would still achieve our desired target of 100 miles for the day. We detoured on to Pilling before heading south to Great Eccleston, and our final refreshment break, with 75 miles on the clock, by the Toll Bridge at Cartford.
It'a lovely spot with immaculate borders and lawns, the peace and tranquility broken only be the screaming engines in the Tractor Pulling competition at the nearby Great Eccleston show.
Forcing ourselves to get going again, the route back was fairly straight, through Inskip, Broughton, Longridge and Ribchester.
We finished with 100.9 miles on the clock and an average speed of 13.9 mph! Smashing our 8 hour target by around 45 minutes!
To say we were quite pleased with that is an understatement. It was an awesome day!.
Congratulations to all six riders who completed the challenge, and thank you to John for leading such an amazing ride.
- Dorothy Altham
- Jim Cooper
- John Ramsden
- Mark Clegg
- Susan Whitehead
- Trevor Stansfield
- Details
A mix of regular riders from our short and medium rides, and two new riders set out today from Whalley on our annual 100km Challenge Ride.
Heading out via Billington, Dinckley and Ribchester, along familiar roads to Longridge, and then through Broughton and Inskip to our morning brew stop at Bonds in Elswick.
We then continued to Great Eccleston and duly paid our 20p's at Cartford Toll Bridge. Then on towards Hambleton and the Wyre estuary, which we followed north as far as the road would take us, before detouring slightly inland for the final leg to our lunch stop in Knott End.
The cafe was really busy today, which delayed our return trip along the coast to Pilling before turning south-east through Stakepool and Garstang.
Once across the M6 we headed through Claughton and Whitechapel before a final - very brief - stop for Ice Cream in Chipping.
Congratulations to all eleven riders who took on the Challenge, your certificates of achievement will be presented at our annual Christmas lunch in December.
Total distance covered: 69 miles.
- Details
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, we held a joint ride with Blackburn & District CTC to the Cenotaph in Bolton-by-Bowland. Those wanting a longer ride, starting in Whalley, and those opting for something a little shorter, Gisburn.
It was an awful day, raining continually all morning, putting a lot of riders off. Only three of us started in Whalley, joining Blackburn's excellent tun-out of around 12, with another six riders starting from Gisburn. By the time we reached Bolton-by-Bowland for the Remembrance Service, several riders had already dropped out,
After the service, more riders headed home (still raining), whilst the remainder rode up to Hellifield for lunch. With a few more departing after lunch, it finally stopped raining and the remaining riders had a pleasant ride back to Bolton-by-Bowland for afernoon drinks before returning home.
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them."
- Laurence Binyon
- Details
Just three riders ventured out for our final challenge ride of the year - the 100 mile Challenge.
Originally scheduled for the 26th July, we'd had to postpone the event due to the appalling weather. Luckily we got it right today, with a cool start, it soon warmed up, and with hardly a breee, it was perfect conditions for the ride.
Setting off from Whalley, we headed out through Bashall Eaves, Waddington and Bolton-by-Bowland up to Settle for Breakfast, where the over generous portions saw us right through to a late lunch at 2:30pm.
After breakfast we headed over Stackhouse Lane to Austwick, Bentham and Wray before joining the cycle path at Caton straight into Lancaster for a brew at Woodies at the Crook-o-Lune. Continuing along the cylce path we followed the River Lune all the way to Conder Green for a late lunch at Cafe-de-Lune before starting our homeward journey via Garstang and Great Eccleston.
We had a further stop for our sandwiches near Broughton (by this time cafes were closed), before the final leg through Longridge and Ribchester, and our favourite climb up past Marles Wood.
All three of arrived safely back in Whalley at around 7:30pm, having completed the challenge.
Congratulations to all three riders...
- Jackie Duerden
- Jim Duerden
- Mark Clegg
... especially to Jackie on her first century!.
- Details
Ten riders out today for this years annual 100 km Challenge Ride.
It's a good introduction to our longer rides, as the pace isn't too fast. Today we also welcomed two new riders.
Leaving Whalley bus station, via Old Langho and Ribchester for our first coffee stop in Longridge, we could tell it was going to be another hot day.
Onwards through Broughton, Inskip and Elswick, we took a brief stop by Cartford Toll Bridge at Great Eccleston for some group photos. We then turned north to Stakepool before heading back west to Presall and finally our well deserved lunch in Knott End.
After lunch we followed the coastal path to Pilling, enjoying perfectly clear views across Morecambe bay and the distant Lake District, before heading back via Nateby to an overcrowded Garstang, where we had to fight our way through the milling crowds visiting the Ice Cream festival.
Once back in the open country side, we made good progress to Inglewhite where the Green Man was waiting with drinks and ice creams for our final stop of the day.
After that we returned directly via Longridge and Ribchester where we clocked out target 100km by the river Ribble, before the last couple of miles back to Whalley and home.
Congratulations to all those that entered and completed the challenge.
- Details
Occasionally we like to stray a little further afield for our regular Sunday jaunts. Today was a car assisted ride starting at Eastham Country park, near Birkenhead, for a ride around the Wirral Way.
In the glorious summer sunshine that we're having this year, ten riders met for the 10am start, riding alongside the Mersey through Port Sunlight and the busy dockland industrial landscape. With amazing views over Liverpool on the opposite bank, we headed north until we reached the mouth of the Mersey, and the coast for our lunch stop at Morrisons in New Brighton.
After lunch we switched from Industrial to Seaside following the coast around to Hoylake before our final change of scenery, Wooded Countryside, joining the cyclepath along the old railway line down to Parkgate for an Ice Cream.
Finally we cut back across to our start before driving home.
A fantastic day out with lots to see along the route.
- Details
Seven riders out today for this year's 50 mile Challenge Ride.
Starting from Whalley in glorious sunshine, we rode out via Withgill and Waddington before stopping for a brew in Bolton-by-Bowland.
Continuing on via Otterburn and Hellifield, to our lunch stop in Airton.
The return trip was via Gargrave, Bank Newton and into Gisburn, before heading back through Bolton-by-Bowland and into Chatburn for Ice Cream at Hudsons.
A brief heavy shower interrupted proceedings just outside Whalley where all seven riders completed the challenge.
Congratulations to:
- Mick Stone
- Trevor Stansfield
- Pete Holmes
- Sandra Johnson
- Mark Clegg
- David Tinker
- John Durkin
- Details
- 50 km Challenge Ride - 20 May 2018
- 25 mile Challenge Ride - 5 May 2018
- Midweek Ride - 15 March 2018
- Extra Short Ride to Gargrave - 6 January 2018
- 100 Mile Challenge Ride - 27 August 2017
- 100km Challenge Ride - 30 July 2017
- 50 km Challenge Ride - Sunday 21 May
- Wet ride to Cobble Hey - 16 April 2017
- Knott End - 26th March 2017
- Rides to Settle - 26 February 2017