With four beautiful and varied routes, the Cyclone Challenge is one the great events of the UK cycling calendar. Established in 2007, the event is highly inclusive and has hosted over 35,000 riders. It's a “must-do” ride for cyclists of all abilities and ages.

Starting from the well-equipped Newcastle Falcons Rugby stadium, on the edge of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, four different routes rapidly transport riders into the picturesque landscapes of Northumberland: quiet roads along beautiful river valleys, over remote moorlands and through pretty villages.

The practicalities are simple. The 2024 event takes place on Saturday 6th July. Choose a route to suit your cycling ability, fitness, age and experience: there are 34, 65, 93 or 109 mile options.

Enter online and then turn up on the day and enjoy the ride thanks to plentiful parking, covered sign-on with snack bars, electronic timing/tracking, mobile support, up to four feed stations and lots of “top-up” culinary delights in village halls, not to mention that Northumbrian countryside.

Full details at cyclonecycling.com

Info for Riders

The Cyclone Challenge Rides is one of the UK's longest-running "sportive" events and regarded as one of the country's "must-do" rides, with four beautiful routes transporting riders out into Northumberland's quiet, unspoilt and spectacular landscapes. The event takes place in one of England's most sparsely populated counties and with a huge network of minor roads in all directions, cars are few and far between, making for a peaceful and relaxed riding experience. Maps of all four routes can be found here.