Stunning scenery, quiet roads and good company; what more could you want from a cycle challenge? How about a great cause?!

Now in its second year, the Big Spoon Bike Ride is building on the success of the original Black Sheep Brewery sponsored “Firkin Challenge” rides by raising money for disadvantaged and disabled children and young people in Yorkshire whilst enjoying some of England’s finest scenery.

From the event HQ at Ripon Rugby Club www.riponrugby.org there are two routes to choose from;

The “Dessert Spoon” ride follows 50 miles of quiet, undulating roads through the lower reaches of Wensleydale via Jervaulx Abbey to Coverham and Middleham, returning via Masham and passing at least three top tea rooms to enhance your enjoyment of the day. There are two checkpoints along the route together with a support vehicle should you need mechanical assistance. Total climbing (none of which is worthy of a chevron on an O.S. map!) amounts to 2,400ft.

The “Serving Spoon” challenge is a hilly 100 mile ride, taking the same gentle start up to Coverham then heading up Bishopdale and over the “Cote de Cray” into Wharfedale before dropping down the valley as far as Appletreewick. The Old School Tea Room at Hebden is a tempting stop as the route from Appletreewick heads up the long climb to Greenhow! From Greenhow the route continues over to Summerbridge then on to Pateley Bridge, up to Lofthouse followed by the steep climb over to Masham. The route back to Ripon then follows the same roads as the “Dessert Spoon” ride. There are three major climbs taking the total climbing over the 102 miles to 6,600ft.

All profits and sponsorship monies raised will go to the Wooden Spoon Charity with every penny being used to help disadvantaged youngsters. Last year’s Big Spoon Bike Ride and the five Firkin cycle challenges have together raised over £59,000 to date for this great cause.

Further details from the website at www.bigspoonbikeride.co.uk

Ride Serving Spoon

Rider Number      Name                      Total Ride Time (hr.min)

1                       Scott Saul                   07.56

2                       Steve Coleman           08.50

3                       Martin Coyle               07.56

4                       Kurt Haenddlmayer    07.56

5                       Ian Leach                   08.50

6                       Andrew Rodger          08.50

Ride Dessert Spoon

Rider Number    Name                Total Ride Time (hr.min)

11                      Mark Abbott              4.42

12                      Dominic Brown         4.45

13                      Susie Brown             4.45

14                      Emma Bullock          4.31

15                      Stephen Bullock       4.31

16                      Giles Christie            4.13

17                      Chris Cooper            5.33

18                      Kate Cottle               DNS

19                      Philippa Dallas         6.02

20                      Helen Dobson          6.07

21                      Robert Dobson         6.07

22                      Judith Evans             5.17

23                      Jonathan Evans        5.17

24                      Sheena Fearnley      5.59

25                      Clare Field                6.07

26                      Julian Field               6.07

27                      Liese Gledhill            4.31

28                      Peter Hunt                4.58

29                      Adam Jackson          4.44

30                      Elizabeth Jenkins      4.42

31                      Richard Jenkins        4.42

32                      Karen Jennings         5.57

33                      Mary Johnson           DNS

34                      James Kennedy        4.57

35                      Geoff Lewis               4.42

36                      Cai Mallet                  6.07

37                      Kate Payne               5.05

38                      Stephen Raper          4.12

39                      Vicky Shaw                DNF

40                      Sue Skinner               5.59

41                      Constance Smith       5.39

42                      Helen Smith               6.03

43                      Anna Smith                6.03

44                      Neil Tiffany                 5.33

45                      Pam Waite                 6.11

46                      Stephen Waite           4.13

47                      Neil Wallace               5.32

48                      Peter Waite                6.11

49                      Julianne Ward            5.43

50                      Louise Worsman        5.32

 

Info for Riders

Full details of the event can be found at the website: www.bigspoonbikeride.co.uk

Both the 50 and 100 mile rides start and finish at Ripon Rugby Club, where all participants will receive a hot meal after the ride.

Start times:

100 mile Serving Spoon ride from 08.00

50 mile Dessert Spoon ride from 10.00

Registration opens at 07.30 at Ripon Rugby Club www.riponrugby.org

The entry fee covers feed-stations and a post ride meal whilst a support vehicle will cover the route in case of difficulty.

Route maps, GPS files, and all details required are on the website at www.bigspoonbikeride.co.uk

All profits and sponsorship go to Wooden Spoon to be spent on projects to support disadvantaged children and young people in Yorkshire.