FLAB SPORTIVE 2023 CANCELLED

UP T' DALE - 25 MILER

A fairly easy, highly enjoyable ride which gives you a taste of Yorkshire cycling

BEGINNER RIDER ◆ DIFFICULTY 2 ◆ ↗ 528M ◆ 1 FOOD/DRINKS STOP

Rated 2/5 for difficulty as some might not be used to Yorkshire hills, this beautiful undulating route weaves up the Wharfe Valley for a gentle half days ride.

There are some nips along the route (this is Yorkshire after all) but none last for long, lots of people get off and walk and the scenery is well worth it.

Taking “The Back Road", the route weaves along stone walled country roads, past the ruins of the 12th Century Bolton Abbey and out towards historic Barden Tower. A steep descent to the river, crossing via the ancient Bridge onto the east bank is followed by your first challenging climb. The road then rolls on to its halfway point in pretty Burnsall village, home to Postman Pat, for a well deserved food stop on the Village Green.

Heading back on the west side of the river you're straight into your toughest climb, but from here, it’s mostly downhill and you’ll pick up the road back through Bolton Abbey, meeting up with riders from other routes for the final 10km home.

View/Download 25 Mile TCX Route

OVER YONDER - 50 MILER

A cracking mid level ride, a couple of challenging but achievable hills and some superb low traffic roads

INTERMEDIATE RIDER ◆ DIFFICULTY 3 ◆ ↗ 967M ◆ 2 FOOD/DRINKS STOPS

Rated 3/5 for difficulty, this is a stunning and challenging intermediate ride. Leaving Ilkley on “The Back Road", the route follows that of the 25 milers, before turning off just before Burnsall and heading through Grassington after which the ride takes on a different feel, snaking up the flat (Yorkshire flat), valley bottom on single track, low traffic roads, past Great Whernside and on to delightful Kettlewell Village Hall and your first refreshment stop.

You'll continue a little further up the valley, before heading south, past the limestone cliffs of Kilnsley Cragg and back to Burnsall for another food stop on the Village Green  at 60.5km. You’ll be ready for it and after you'll take on your toughest climb out of Burnsall on the west side of the river.

It’s mostly downhill after that as you pick up the road back through Bolton Abbey, meeting up with riders from the other routes for the final 10km home.

View/Download 50 Mile TCX Route

THE FULLOCK - 75 MILER

A challenging ride with some serious climbing and stunning scenery deep in the Yorkshire Dales

STRONG INTERMEDIATE RIDER ◆ DIFFICULTY 4 ◆ ↗ 1600M ◆ 2 FOOD/DRINKS STOPS

Rated 4/5 for difficulty this is a challenging route with some tough climbing. Taking the “The Back Road” to Askwith, there’s a long steady ascent onto Askwith Moor which will warm your legs up for arguably the toughest part of the ride, the climb through West End and up Greenhow Hill.

Thereafter it’s a nice rolling downhill through the charming village of Hebden and into Grassington. You'll be through most of the climbing now and the ride takes on a different feel, snaking up the flat valley bottom on single track, very low traffic roads, past Great Whernside and to Kettlewell Village Hall for your first refreshment stop.

Then you have half an hour or so to enjoy the breathtaking isolated valley of Littondale and the gentle climb up Silverdale between the towering hills of Pen-y-ghent and Fountains Fell, before the last real ascent of the day.

You’ll pass Malham tarn and (carefully) take the steep, winding descent off Malham Moor, past the dramatic limestone cliffs of Malham Cove and into Malham village for a food stop at the Malham Visitors Centre.

After this it’s pretty much downhill all the way... almost! You’ll undulate your way home, with one more food stop at Burnsall, through rolling farmland and Yorkshire stone villages. You'll pick up ‘The Back Road’ from Bolton Abbey and riders from the other routes, to follow the River Wharfe to the finish where you’ll be 1600m of climbing and many lung fulls of the freshest Yorkshire air better off.

View/Download 75 Mile TCX Route

THE EPIC - 100 MILER

Definitely EPIC and one of the toughest, most beautiful routes in the Dales. Not for the faint hearted.

ADVANCED RIDER ◆ DIFFICULTY 5 ◆ ↗ 2325M ◆ 4 FOOD/DRINKS STOPS

Planned to give our most experienced riders, (already comfortable on our Fullock route), a new challenge.

The Epic is guaranteed to test, taking you deep into the stunning Dales and up some of Yorkshire's most iconic climbs. Setting off from Ilkley and heading through Bolton Abbey and up the valley, your first leg warmer skirts around Appletreewick, climbs to Hebden and flattens through Grassington and Kettlewell, where you'll stop for your first refreshments at Kettlewell Village Hall.

Thereafter you'll snake up the breathtaking (literally) Park Rash with it's 25% inclines and hairpin bends and on through Coverdale. Your next big climb is up Kidstones and then it's all downhill back to Kettlewell and lunch.

You're onwards towards Kilnsey, before picking up the route to Malham and your final challenge of the day. You can also take a quick refreshment stop at Malham Visitors centre.

*** Route change for 2023 *** After Malham, you will ride through beautiful Yorkshire villages until you reach Burnsall where there will be another refreshment stop on the village green. After this you'll ride past the Bolton Abbey estate until the finish line at Ilkley Rugby Club.

Riders will need experience of long distances and Yorkshire (style) territory to get the most from this day. Ride Marshalls will be around to mentor and coach but for your own safety and enjoyment, riders will have to make our checkpoints by certain times to continue on the ride.

Riders registered on this ride can swap to the shorter routes before or on the day via our sign up pages.

View/Download 100 Mile TCX Route

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