Saturday 4 July 2026
Pull yourself together and ride ‘A Pair of Kirtons’. It is a 600 with everything; a climb over the Pennines, a crossing of what was once the the world’s longest bridge, some fabulously flat cycling in Lincolnshire, and marvellous 24 hour catering throughout. The ride counts towards both the PARTY award, and the Peak Audax SR award .
We start at 6am from Poynton (near Stockport), We are no longer able to offer accommodation on Friday night in the Church Hall, instead the control will open early for all riders to have a simple self service breakfast. There is pay as you go parking at the start via the ringo app and Poynton train station is less than 2k from the start. There is a Travelodge at Adlington and camping at Elm Beds Caravan Park, both less than 3km away from the start.
Saddleworth Moor is the literal high-point at 493m with a long descent to Holmfirth, so the major climbing is over with before the first 60kms. Be warned; there’s nowhere to hide on the dead straight roads of Holland in Lincolnshire, so if it’s windy you will have your work cut out.
You are aiming for Boston, via Kirton in Lindsey and a fantastic ride alongside the River Witham. There is a McDonalds in Boston which should be open through the night. However, it may be operating as drive-thru only after 11pm, and therefore unavailable to cyclists, so it is a good idea to carry emergency rations to sustain your progress through the night.
We have a village hall control at Corby Glen, at about 350km. There will be hot food and drinks, as well as the LEL airbeds, so you should be able to grab a few hours of shut-eye. Bring an eye-mask and ear-plugs!
You will need to leave Corby Glen before 6am in order to reach the next control at Donington within time. The approach roads to these motorway services are busy during the day but, you should reach them without difficulty in the small hours using the dedicated cycle approach.
Save something in the tank for the stretch after Uttoxeter control. There are three steady climbs that you would hardly notice on a shorter ride, but they can play with your mind with 250 miles in your legs. They are infuriating, as climb is followed by a descent, meaning that your height gained is lost and you start again.
After Stone, the going is much easier with no more surprises on the fairly flat roads through Wem and Audlem.