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

Now in its thirteenth year, the Black Sheep 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.

We are delighted that Black Sheep continue as our major sponsor. The event HQ is therefore again at the Black Sheep Brewery Visitor Centre in Masham www.blacksheepbrewery.com. From here you have traditionally had  two routes to choose from on Sunday 9th June 2024, but this year we have added a new shorter version for a less strenuous ride out:

The new Teaspoon Ride covers 24 miles of beautiful Dales countryside. You share the first checkpoint with your fellow riders taking on the longer routes, and take on board a much needed cup of tea and some energy boosting cake. You then tackle the return loop back to Masham and the Black Sheep Brewery for a late lunch.

The “Dessert Spoon” ride follows 55 miles of quiet, undulating roads through the lower reaches of Wensleydale heading north initially through the picturesque Hornby Park, before rising gradually to a glorious viewpoint at the top of Scarth Nick and a visit to the iconic Castle Bolton, before heading back down Wensleydale via Wensley, Middleham and Jervaulx Abbey.  There are two checkpoints along the route with hot and cold drinks and plenty of food, a support vehicle should you need mechanical assistance, not to mention two top tea rooms if required to enhance your enjoyment of the day.  Total climbing (none of which is worthy of a chevron on an O.S. map!) amounts to 3,200ft.

The “Serving Spoon” challenge is a hilly 87 mile ride, taking the same gentle start to the second checkpoint at Redmire, before heading up the long steady pull of Hargill Lane over to Grinton in Swaledale.  It comes back over the ridge via the north face of the Buttertubs pass, before heading back down Wensleydale to Redmire and then follows the same route back to Masham as the "Dessert Spoon" ride.  The two major climbs take the total climbing over the 87 miles to 6,400ft, but you will have three checkpoints with hot and cold drinks and food to replenish the energy used.

All riders will be welcomed back to the Black Sheep Brewery Visitor Centre with a complimentary hot meal and a pint of their award winning ale.

All profits and sponsorship monies raised will go to the Wooden Spoon Charity with every penny being used to help disadvantaged youngsters. The previous Black Sheep Big Spoon Bike Rides have raised over £110,000 to date for this great cause.

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

Find out more about the charity and the work we do at https://woodenspoon.org.uk/region/yorkshire/

Info for Riders

Watch the event video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JArczVcw7N8&t=0s

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

This year we have added a 24 mile Teaspoon Ride alongside the traditional 55 mile Dessert Spoon and 87 mile Serving Spoon rides. Each of the rides starts and finishes at the Black Sheep Brewery Visitor Centre, where all participants will receive a complimentary hot meal and a pint after the ride. 

Start times on Sunday 9th June 2024:

87 mile Serving Spoon ride from 08.30

55 mile Dessert Spoon ride from 10.30

24 mile Teaspoon ride from 11.00

Registration opens at 08.00 at the Black Sheep Brewery Visitor Centre, Masham, North Yorkshire HG4 4EN www.blacksheepbrewery.com 

Parking for the event is provided in the car park signed just after you cross the bridge into Masham. It is a short 200 yard ride to the registration and start point.

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

The entry fee covers feed-stations and a post ride meal plus pint whilst a support vehicle will cover the route in case of difficulty. This year we have continued the option to make a voluntary donation of either £20 or £50 in addition to the standard entry fee, we hope you will support Wooden Spoon by either raising additional sponsorship or making one of these donations. 

Please note that as this is a charity sportive event entry fees are non-refundable, except in exceptional circumstances.

All profits, donations and sponsorship go to Wooden Spoon to be spent on projects to support disadvantaged children and young people in Yorkshire. Find out more about the charity and the work we do in Yorkshire at https://woodenspoon.org.uk/region/yorkshire/