Bill's Blog

Ribble Valley Ride gears up for a record-breaking 2024 with Ribble Cycles

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 12:42:02 GMT

The Ribble Valley Ride charity bike ride is back with a prestigious new sponsor for 2024 offering all participants the chance to win a Ribble bike worth £3,000

This year’s Ribble Valley Ride again takes place in June, with an easy 25-mile route, a testing 50-mile route and a challenging 75-mile route taking in some of the best hill climbs in Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales.

The last Ribble Valley Ride raised £4,000 for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation and other local charities and thanks to the support of a major new sponsor, the organisers from Accrington and Clitheroe Rotary Clubs are hoping to significantly increase the total raised this year.

The 2024 edition of the ride will be sponsored by Lancashire-based Ribble Cycles, who are backing the organising team to scale up the event and raise even more money for local charities.

Ribble’s proud cycling heritage stretches back more than 125 years and much of the research, design and testing of its bikes has often taken place among the undulating terrain and demanding hillclimbs of the Ribble Valley.

This year’s routes will showcase some of the most picturesque landscapes in the area. The 25-mile ‘Enthusiast’ route is a fabulous ride through idyllic Ribble Valley scenery, while the 50-mile ‘Expert’ is a tough, hilly ride through the upper Ribble Valley into the Dales. The 75-mile ‘Elite’ route goes even further, taking in both the Dales and the hilly climbs of the Bowland Fells.

All three routes will be signed and marshalled, with regular food and hydration stops along the way. Technical back-up is also available and food and drinks are included in the entry fees.

Organised by the Rotary Clubs of Accrington and Clitheroe, this year’s ride has again received generous backing from a number of local sponsors, including Heidelberg Materials (formerly Hanson Cement) and Rufus Carr.

Chip timing and full classified results will be available to all riders, although the ride is absolutely non-competitive and if cyclists wish to shorten (or lengthen) their ride, then they have ample opportunity to do so.

Thanks to Ribble’s generous support, entry fees remain unchanged from last year, starting at just £20 for the 25-mile route and the organisers are offering a discounted ‘family’ ticket to encourage active families to take part together.

All registered entrants who participate in the event on the day will be entered into a prize draw to win a brand new Ribble bike worth up to £3,000 and in keeping with the inclusive nature of the Ride, the prize options will include models from Ribble’s road, gravel and e-bike ranges.

Event founder Bill Honeywell, from Clitheroe Rotary Club said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be working with Ribble to increase the profile of this year’s ride and attract cyclists from further afield to experience the delights of this beautiful corner of rural Lancashire.

“The Ribble Valley has a rich cycling tradition, producing some outstanding riders who went on to excel at national and international levels. It’s also an incredibly popular destination for hundreds of club cyclists, who head here for their Sunday ride each weekend.

“The Ribble Valley Ride has always appealed to riders of all abilities and thanks to the generous support of Ribble, we are expecting this year’s ride to be sell-out event – introducing many more riders to the area and raising several thousand pounds for local charities.”

Ribble Cycles’ commercial director David Stacey said:

"We are proud to be sponsoring this year’s Ribble Valley Ride and to be a part of such an established event with its route set amongst this iconic landscape. Riding with colleagues, family and friends to help raise greater awareness and fundraise for such important local charities is a huge privilege for Ribble. Our brand origins lie at the very heart of the landscape and the community. The spectacular scenery and diverse terrain have influenced the design and technical development of Ribble’s bikes for more than a century.

"Inspiring people to get on a bike and enjoy the benefits of cycling is in our DNA - I set myself the goal to ride this event last year which I rode with my family. It was exhilarating and great fun. So, we are very much looking forward to welcoming riders from across the UK and of all abilities to come and ride with us, to experience the warmth of the community, explore ‘Ribble Country’ and get an insight into the landscapes that inspired one of Britain’s most iconic cycling brands whilst raising money for some incredible causes."

Entries for the 2024 event open on January 14 and demand for places is expected to be high this year. Entries will close on Thursday, June 6 or whenever the 500 places have sold out.

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‘Artist in residence’ will capture riders' magic moments during this year’s Ribble Valley Ride

Fri, 12 May 2023 14:23:06 GMT

We’ve teamed up with local artist Gosha Gibek to offer entrants to this year’s Ribble Valley Ride the chance to capture a unique memento of their day.

Gosha specialises in creating bespoke sports portraits that capture special achievements and unforgettable moments.

From the intensity of competitive races to the grace of athletic movements, Gosha brings your cycling journey to life on canvas. Whether you want to commemorate your own cycling triumphs or surprise a loved one with a one-of-a-kind gift, Gosha’s custom portraits make for an unforgettable souvenir.

With a keen eye for capturing the motion and the essence of each athlete, Gosha ensures that every portrait reflects your unique personality and cycling spirit.

Gosha will be present at Ride HQ at Hanson Cement throughout the event on Sunday, June 11 ^th to discuss special commissions with riders and their families and friends. Any orders placed on the day will benefit from a 10% discount and Gosha will also be making a donation to the Ribble Valley Ride’s designated charities: Rosemere and Rotary Great Britain and Ireland.

Give yourself or your favourite cycling enthusiast a gift they'll cherish forever. Commission your custom sports portrait today and relive those victorious moments with pride!

Don't wait! Visit www.goshart.co.uk or email: info@goshart.co.uk now to discuss your vision and reserve your spot in the exclusive sports portrait lineup!

Quote: RVRide in your message to receive a 10% discount.

Take on the Ribble Valley Ride in style!

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 15:41:44 GMT

Luxury accommodation packages for group entries now available!

Who fancies combining the challenge of the Ribble Valley Ride with a weekend retreat incorporating luxury accommodation, fine dining and a range of complementary therapies to help riders recuperate?

Clinical reflexologist Sarah Pate is offering a 5-star accommodation package to include a stay at luxurious Thorneyholme Hall and a variety of therapeutic treatments to ease those post-ride aches and pains plus some indulgent treats over the course of the weekend.

Experience state-of-the-art cryotherapy, red light therapy and compression boots to enhance your cycling performance and alleviate stress and anxiety and unwind with the soothing benefits of foot reflexology, easing those aches and pains post-ride

Located on the banks of the River Hodder near Dunsop Bridge, Thorneyholme Hall is a stunning rural retreat dating back to the 1800’s. Standing in its own grounds in the heart of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Thorneyholme boasts 10 exquisite and uniquely styled, en-suite bedrooms, a relaxation suite and exclusive bar.

The luxury accommodation package includes two breakfasts, three lunches and two evening meals – including one 5-course private fine dining experience, drinks and snacks.

"This retreat is designed for every level of cyclist who loves life on two wheels," said Sarah. "All activities and services have been carefully curated to provide you with an experience that leaves you physically, mentally and emotionally rejuvenated.

"Reset your mind and body with three days of mood-boosting activities and relaxing recovery, while soaking in the stunning views of the Bowland fells, rolling streams and an abundance of wildlife."

Sarah is offering an early bird discount of 10% for group bookings in March. Contact Sarah via her website: sarahpateclinicalreflexology. co .uk

Thinking about entering this year's Ribble Valley Ride....? Just do it!

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 18:00:59 GMT

Am I fit enough? Do I have the time to train?

Will I be properly prepared for it?

The Ribble Valley Ride is back again in 2023 and it's one of the friendliest cycle events in the UK, where EVERYONE is welcome to join in!

If you've never entered a cyclosportive before, it's easy to talk yourself out of it by worrying about these kind of questions. The fact is, pretty much anyone can enter the ride and everyone is almost guaranteed to have a great day out. If you're worried about whether you're up to it, you'll find a few pointers below...

The Ribble Valley Ride is probably one of the friendliest and most accessible cyclosportives in Britain and is the perfect introduction to road 'racing' for absolute beginners, while providing a serious challenge for more experienced riders.

The Ride has always been more of a community bike ride than a race, but there's something special about riding with hundreds of fellow cyclists through the beautiful countryside of the Ribble Valley and Yorkshire Dales.

And here's the thing: worrying about whether you are up to it - or whether you'll do enough training to be properly prepared for the ride is putting the cart before the horse. In our experience, the best incentive to getting in the training miles is to simply sign up and get back into the saddle this weekend!

Serious competitors will find plenty to test their legs on the 100-mile elite course , which takes competitors on a demanding tour of the hilly landscape of the Forest of Bowland and Yorkshire days with a series of challenging hillclimbs.

But for us mere mortals, the 25- or 60-mile routes are much more manageable, and with a bit of modest training, the vast majority of participants make it round the course just fine. Remember you'll be sharing the route with riders of all abilities and there will be marshalls stationed at various intervals around the course, together with food stops offering tasty snacks and cakes to refuel with.

The Ribble Valley Ride takes place on Sunday, June 11 , giving you four months to prepare - which is plenty of time to shed a few pounds and tone those cycling muscles!

Signing up now puts to a date in the diary which you can start working towards. It's the ideal way to hold yourself to account and provides motivation to get out for a few training rides over the coming weeks. Better still, tell your family and friends you've entered and tap them for some sponsorship money so they will be expecting you to perform on the big day.

Over the coming weeks, we'll bring you some training tips and advice and share some targets to ensure your preparation is on track.

So sign up now, put your friends and family down for some sponsorship and get back in the saddle!