Slaithwaite

600km cycling event starting from Cockerton, Darlington. Controls at Brampton, Carnforth, Settle, Clitheroe, Milnrow, The Elms (Milnsbridge), Belton, North Ferriby, Elvington, Leeming Bar and Cockerton.

This will be a ride in two halves, with a few hills in day one, where the route crosses the Pennines, skirts the Lakes, Bowland and the Dales to the overnight control in Huddersfield, to finish with a flatflat Sunday

This'll be a well-supported ride, with a village hall start and finish (including optional sleeping on the Friday night for a small fee), and a proper overnight control in Huddersfield with a bag drop. The route also passes Woolley Edge Services if you wanted to book your own hotel. Route is in the link to 'organiser website', feel free to check it out.

I like a few hills in my PBP qualifiers, as PBP is not a flat ride, but they're all sensibly graded with no hidden beasties. There is an optional shortcut over Pendle Hill and through the middle of Rochdale if you want a few more hills. You could even take your Carradice back to Nelson if you wanted and what do you mean, you don't have a Carradice.

There's also a semi-urban overnight stretch through Todmorden and the outskirts of Burnley which is great for night-time riding, street lights most of the way until you get to Delph and the crossing of Standedge (another tricky pronunciation) for the howl down the valley to the overnight control at Milnsbridge.

It's rolling country for a while after that, but it's rolling downhill to the flatlands, a crossing of the Humber Bridge, back through the middle of York past the Minster (watch out for lemming tourists!) and back to Darlo via a quick call-in at Leeming Bar.

If you can pronounce it, you can ride it. In fact, you can ride it either way.