The 2025 PF 200mile Challenge

First ridden in 2023, the route was devised as an unorthodox idea of ‘fun’ by Pendle Forest’s Matt Kayley. A little over 200 miles and almost 10000 feet of climbing, it passes through four counties. The roughly rectangular anticlockwise circuit begins at the usual PF meeting place, Dicky Nook, Higherford. Heading eastwards, the first section passes through Glusburn, Bingley and Otley before turning North to Harrogate and onwards to the first sheduled stop at at Boroughbridge. Continuing northwards the route then turns westwards at Northallerton passing Bedale into Wensleydale. Fine Yorkshire Dales scenery dominates the westward leg through Leyburn, Hawes, and Sedbergh. The turn south near Kendal takes the route to the coast at Arnside and then onto Carnforth and Lancaster before turning eastwards again at Garstang. The final leg, on roads very familar to PF, goes through Longridge, Ribchester and Whalley. A final effort after Sabden is the tough climb up Black Hill before an easy coast along the ridge and the down the bypass to come again to Dicky Nook. 

Midsummer’s day on a perfect morning found us gathered at Dicky Nook. The conversation was subdued, all of us were aware that a major challenge lay ahead. There was some talk of the first to get to the top of Black Hill, but that seemed very far away: over 200 miles and 16 hours into our future.

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