The Route

The Polka Dot Challenge route includes some of the classic climbs used in many of the famous British cycle races. The 100 mile route includes 8 major climbs – Cat & Fiddle (7 miles), Long Hill (3 miles), Chinley Head (1 ½ miles), Chunal Head (1 mile), Snake Pass (3 miles), Winnats Pass (1 mile at 25%), Axe Edge (2 ½ miles), Gun Hill (1 ½ miles).

The shorter route is 70 miles and includes 4 of the climbs - Cat & Fiddle (7 miles), Long Hill (3 miles), Axe Edge (2 ½ miles), Gun Hill (1 ½ miles). For 2007 there is an extra climb called "Martinside", which is immediately after the turn onto the shorter route. This is a 1 mile climb, 15% gradient.

All the turns on the two routes are signed and the start of every hill is signed with the distance to the top. The 2 routes divide on the approach to Chapel en le Frith. The short route takes a right turn, the long route carries on to the usual left turn in the town centre (signposted Glossop). There are two feeding stations on the route (one on the shorter route).

For 2007 both routes have been modified to cut out the busy A6 between Chapel and Buxton. The short route comes from Chapel over the new climb, crosses the A6 in Dove Holes, and proceeds to Peak Dale where it joins the long route. Both routes then proceed to Batham Gate, where the new checkpoint/feeding station will be situated (this checkpoint has been brought forward 6 miles from the present position on Axe Edge).

The long route remains as previously until 2 miles after the top of Winnats Pass, where it now turns sharp left half mile before Sparrowpit, to proceed to Peak Forest, where it goes across the A623 to Smalldale, and into Peakdale to join up with the short route just before the second checkpoint/feedstation.

The final 10 miles run-in to the HQ has been changed to eliminate the main road through Macclesfield. It now turns left 2 miles before Macclesfield, at Fools Nook/Oakgrove, through Warren, Broken Cross and Prestbury, to pick up the old route at Bonis Hall Lane.

You can download a route profile here, thanks to Jonathan Foote of Westmead Team 88 who recorded the ride last year on his bike computer.

The Spud Riley memorial ride is based in Derbyshire and Staffordshire and includes even more climbing than the Polka Dot Challenge (around 10,000 feet). The distance is again 100 miles but there is a shorter option at 54 miles. The climbs are different from the Polka Dot being usually shorter but steeper and there are more of them (around 17 for the 100 mile route and 8 for the 54 mile route). Again all turns and climbs are fully signed. There are two feeding stations on the route (one on the shorter route).

It is generally accepted that the Spud Riley is the harder ride of the two events and cyclists who complete both events usually take about an hour longer to complete this ride. You can download a profile of the route here – thanks again to Jonathan Foote.