An iconic route cycled by hundreds of people every year, usually over 4 or 5 days. But how about doing it in just 1 day?
A stunning 150 mile with 4500m of ascent road ride from the mountainous Western Lake District, through the Yorkshire Dales, across the flat Vale of York and finally the Northern Valleys of the North York Moors, finishing by the sea in Whitby.
What better way to tick off this iconic cycle than by doing it in one day?
“THE RAPTOR” SPORTIVE – FOREST OF BOWLAND 63 MILE LOOP
A great sportive that explores the many miles of remote cycling country in and around this outstanding area – quiet roads and lanes throughout – along with breath taking scenery and challenging ascents.
You leave the start area and head east along the Lune Cycleway into Caton village, once through the village you quickly find yourself riding into remote countryside where little traffic ever comes.
For several miles ahead you will enjoy great views across Morecambe Bay and The Fylde Coast, on the right day Snowdonia and Scotland can be clearly seen as you progress.
The terrain gets more and more remote until Chipping village is reached, once through, it’s back to riding country lanes, until the short but challenging climb up Jeffery Hill with great views across Lancashire – turning at New Drop Inn and heading towards our well earned refreshment break with great views of Pendle Hill.
A steep descent starts your journey towards Waddington where your route heads back towards the Bowland hills, via a steady ascent of Waddington Fell .
Remote lanes then lead to Dunsop Bridge, which is the geographic centre of the British Isles, after which a quiet lane is followed up the challenging ascent of The Trough of Bowland, a well know test piece for local cyclists and #75 of Britain’s Top 100 Climbs
Once you get your breath back, undulating lanes lead past the Jubilee Tower and its amazing view over the local area. Only one more accent awaits before the final ascent of the day, and before you know it you will be relaxing back at event HQ.
Distance –
102 km / 63 miles
Ascent –
1749 m / 5736 ft
Event HQ –
Lancaster Park & Ride car park, Caton Road, Lancaster, LA2 9HG (M6 junc 34)
Feed Stations –
1 on top of Jeffery Hill ( roughly half way )
The Tour of Lancashire in 2020 was; simply awesome. 2021 will be no exception and will only get bigger and bigger.
Starting at the impressive Preston College within 2 miles we are into the glorious Lancashire countryside and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
All the routes feature the Nick ‘O Pendle Hill Climb of which the record has been held by Chris Boardman since 1988 at 3.29, anyone going under 5 minutes in the Sportive will be doing really well!
With stunning scenery, fantastic climbs & descents coupled with first-class route signage and feed stations, The Tour of Lancashire will not disappoint.
Ride Stats
Distance: 67.7km
Elevation: 718m
Ride Time: –
Start: 08:30 – 08:45
Feed: Sabden
Price: £27.50
Ride Stats
Distance: 113.9km
Elevation: 1,401m
Ride Time: –
Start: 08:00 – 08:30
Feeds: Abbeystead & Whalley
Price: £32.50
Ride Stats
Distance: 162.3km
Elevation: 2,253m
Ride Time: –
Start Time:07:30 – 08:00
Feeds: Abbeystead, Slaidburn & Whalley
Price: £37.50
DAWN TO DUSK TRIPLE CHALLENGE
Take on an incredible team challenge journeying through majestic mountains of the beautiful Lake District National Park in this brand-new event featuring an off-road mountain biking section.
Push your limits to complete the course of mountain biking, kayaking, and hiking between dawn and dusk, racing the sun on this triathlon-style adventure charity fundraising challenge.
Due to exceptionally high demand, we have introduced this BRAND-NEW event in the Lake District
BIKE – HIKE – KAYAK
Challenge Day! You will wake early for a pre-challenge breakfast before teams of four begin the adventure with the bike section up the hill and into Grizedale Forest. The circuit in the forest is one of the Lake District’s most famous mountain biking locations. You can guarantee you will be well tested on the forest tracks before descending back to Coniston.
Next up is the steep, thigh-bursting trek to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston, a classic Lake District mountain looming over the surrounding countryside at 803 metres above sea level.
The final section sees you challenge yourself to a circular kayak loop on Coniston Water (no canoe experience or equipment necessary) before you finish this incredible challenge and celebrate your achievements with your medal, a drink on us and a well-deserved bite to eat!
With awards for first, second, and third fastest teams, as well as fastest all-female, mixed, and ‘Golden Oldies’ (teams with a combined age of 200+) and the all-important best team spirit, there’s a reason for everyone to keep pushing right until the very end!
Please note that there will be an obligatory safety briefing the evening before (Friday 17 September), where you will register, be given your start time, a full briefing on everything to expect, as well as an opportunity to meet other teams and ask any burning questions.
All precise routes and distances are subject to weather conditions on the day.
Location: Coniston, Lake District, Cumbria
Team Registration Fee: £195
Team Fundraising Target: £1,800
EVENT INCLUDES
Food and drink
Celebration meal, beer and bubbly
Event t-shirt
Medal
Free parking
Safety briefing
Bike mechanics
GPX route files
Timing tracker
Kayak equipment
Marshals and signage
“THE CASTLE” SPORTIVE – NORTH LAKES 80 MILE LOOP
Based at Lowther Castle – this great loop explores some of the best areas of the Northern Lakes to ride a bike. Challenging climbs, breath taking descents, lake shores, mountains, wild ponies, hidden roman roads – and stunning scenery throughout.
Hosted by the historic Lowther Castle near Penrith in North Cumbria – it is a challenging route that passes through some stunning scenery, as it winds its way around lake shores, up and over notable climbs and descents – quiet roads, remote lanes and scenic villages of the North Lakes area to be savoured throughout the day.
You will leave The Castle grounds and ride through the village of Askham then along the narrow lanes that head to Pooley Bridge and the shores of Ullswater, having ridden the entire length of the northern shore. It is soon time to knuckle down for the challenging ascent of Kirkstone Pass – 20% plus in places and rated #83 of Britain’s Top 100 Climbs.
Then an exciting downhill takes you past Troutbeck and towards the village of Staveley, where our well stocked feed station awaits. Remote lanes are then followed towards the hidden roman road that runs between Howtown and Tebay.
More quiet country lanes are then ridden through the Eden District to the east of the M6, winding their way back to Lowther Castle, where you can enjoy the rest of day in the castle grounds and facilities.
Distance –
80 miles
Ascent –
7557 ft / 2304 mtrs
Event Hq –
Lowther Castle, Lowther, Penrith, CA10 2HH
Feed Stations –
1 in Staverley village ( roughly half way )
“THE BOXER” SPORTIVE – SOUTH LAKES 66 MILE LOOP
Come and ride among the foothills of this famous region, now with World Heritage Status. Something for all tastes await – traffic free lanes, remote valleys, welcoming villages, seaside promenades and a breath-taking view over Morecambe Bay to finish.
Your day starts by following the Lune cycle-way and heading through Halton village before a short, sharp climb that gains the quiet road that heads north and towards The Lakes.
Traffic free lanes then lead to a short section of quiet A road through Burton in Kendal and continues over the busy A65 at a roundabout. After a short distance, deserted country lanes are rejoined and then followed around the large Cumbrian town of Kendal.
Your route joins and follows the A road that heads to Shap for a short way before descending to cross the hidden River Sprint and following the remote lanes that lead to Staveley village, with its toilets and our well stocked feedstation.
Once through the village you will head south on remote lanes through several villages and head across the busy A6 towards the coast at Arnside.
You will then turn your back on the coast and head inland through the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that we ride most, to pass through our home town of Carnforth and back up to the surrounding hillsides. Here you can savour the memorable view across Morecambe Bay and the distant Cumbrian Fells before dropping back down to event HQ.
Distance –
106 km / 66 miles
Ascent –
1 335 m / 4380 ft
Event HQ –
Lancaster Park & Ride car park, Caton Road, Lancaster, LA2 9HG (M6 junc 34)
“THE BEAST” SPORTIVE – LAKE DISTRICT 108 MILE LOOP
Come and use your mid season fitness to take on our challenging annual Lake District sportive – 108 miles of scenic riding – remote lanes, stunning views, challenging passes, lake shores, forest roads and seaside promenades – something for everyone – especially as a pre Fred Whitton warm up.
Your day begins on the Lune cycleway and heads through Halton village before a short, sharp climb to gain the quiet road that heads north and towards The Lakes.
Traffic free lanes lead to a short section of quiet A road through Burton in Kendal and continues over the busy A65 at a roundabout. After a short distance, deserted country lanes are rejoined and followed around the large Cumbrian town of Kendal.
Your route joins and follows the quiet A road that heads gradually up to Shap summit and village, this is rarely busy with traffic and it is a joy to follow it up and up into the remote fells before a tiolet and refreshment stop in Shap village itself.
Country lanes are then ridden from Shap, all the way to Pooley Bridge, and your second refreshment break on the shores of the lake a few KM’s up the road, you will ride the complete North side of Ullswater and through both Glenridding and Patterdale hamlets, before passing Brothers Water to the foot of the infamous Kirkstone Pass – ranked #83 of Britain’s top 100 climbs .
A steady grind will see you though the 20% sections and up to The Kirkstone Inn at 1 481 ft above sea level and then it is downhill all the way to the village of Staveley and your second toilet and refreshment break.
Once through the village – with its loos and feedstation, you will head south on remote lanes through several villages and head across the busy A6 towards the coast at Arnside.
You then turn your back to the coast to head inland and through the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that we ride most, passing through our home town of Carnforth and back up to the surrounding hillsides. Here you can savour a last view across Morecambe Bay and the distant Cumbrian Fells before dropping back down to event HQ.
Distance –
174 km / 108 miles
Ascent –
2406 m / 7892 ft
Event HQ –
Lancaster Park & Ride car park, Caton Road, Lancaster, LA2 9HG (M6 junc 34)
Feed Stations –
2 – in Shap and Staverley villages
The Fred Whitton Challenge is one of the most popular sportives in the UK and is also famed as being particularly difficult. Dubbed ‘The Daddy of them all’ by Cycling Weekly, riders rank it alongside European events such as the Marmotte in terms of difficulty. The ride is a real challenge and everyone who completes it has a true sense of achievement. The Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge is a charity event in honour of the late Fred Whitton who was a great advocate for cycle sport in Cumbria and North Lancashire. It is with respect to Fred and his ideals that the event remains just that, ‘a challenge’.
The Fred Whitton Challenge consists of a 113 mile sportive around the Lake District, now a World Heritage Site. Starting at Grasmere and taking in climbs of Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott, Wrynose and Blea Tarn passes.
The very top riders complete the route in just under six hours but eleven hours and over are not uncommon for the average Sportive rider. This is a very tough route and going on rider feedback the hardest one day ride in the UK, the event includes all the Lakeland passes, one with a 30% gradient and this comes at 98 miles.