Over the Edge charity bike ride returns

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Participants in the Over The Edge Bike Ride 2010

Popular charity bike ride event Over the Edge is set to return in May this year.

On 22 May, over 400 riders of all ages and experience levels will take on ‘Rochdale’s ultimate cycling challenge’ to raise money for local charities Jolly Josh and Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home.

Rochdale Round Table is bringing back the event, over 20 years since it first commenced, with riders offered the opportunity to take on either the bronze, silver or gold routes.

All routes begin from Littleborough RUFC at Hollingworth Lake, continuing up Blackstone Edge and through some of West Yorkshire and Lancashire’s most idyllic areas.

The bronze route is 22 miles – up Blackstone Edge, down Cragg Vale to Mytholmroyd, then on to Todmorden via Hebden Bridge before returning to Littleborough.

The silver route is 29 miles – up Blackstone Edge, past Baitings Dam towards Ripponden before turning off to Sowerby Bridge, then to Mytholmroyd, then on to Todmorden via Hebden Bridge before returning to Littleborough.

The gold route is 55 miles – up Blackstone Edge, past Baitings Dam towards Ripponden before turning off to Sowerby Bridge, then to Mytholmroyd, and then a big loop from Heptonstall, via Mereclough and Holmes Chapel to Todmorden, back via Hebden Bridge to Mytholmroyd and then a punishing climb up the long gradient through Cragg Vale before dropping back down Blackstone Edge to Littleborough.

Jolly Josh aims to relieve the needs of those with additional needs, complex needs, disabilities and those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, their families and carers within Rochdale and the wider area.

Rochdale Children’s Moorland Home, meanwhile, has two distinct functions in providing services and facilities for school children during term time and for children referred to them by children’s social care, schools and community groups, during school holiday periods.

If you are interested in signing up for the event, you can do so at https://rochdaleovertheedge.co.uk