Pathways to the Future…Biddulph to London Cycling Challenge

Pathways to the Future…Biddulph to London Cycling Challenge…

On Wednesday 9th April 2025, the Mayor of Biddulph, Councillor Nigel Yates, will set off from the Life Stream Church car park in Biddulph (ST8 6NN) on a four-day cycling challenge to promote sustainable travel and to explore our country's fabulous canals and waterways.

Nigel will be supported by fellow cyclists from Biddulph and I will be one of the riders for all of the route.

The ride will take us from Biddulph to Regents Park in London over four days (a distance of 212 miles) mainly using canal towpaths, with a very minimal use of connecting roads.

The ‘local’ route on Day 1 will be;

• along the Biddulph Valley Way.

Then along the tow paths on the Caldon Canal to the Etruria Industrial Museum.

• alongside the Trent and Mersey Canal to Fradley Junction

• then onto the Coventry Canal to the Hawkesbury Junction

• Oxford Canal to Braunston

• Grand Union Canal to Paddington

• and the final stretch will be along side the Regents Canal and into Regents Park, London.

Day 1 the ride will finish in Tamworth (approx 52 miles)

Day 2 will see us riding to Blisworth in Northamptonshire (a further 55 miles)

Day 3, we will ride to Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire. (a further 63 miles)

On Day 4, the final day, we will ride to the finish in Regents Park. (30 miles)

All sponsorship monies donated will be divided between Nigel‘s Mayoral Charities and the Canal and River Trust https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/

who are the UK's largest canal charity, looking after 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales protecting and revitalising the nation’s canals for the benefit of future generations.

So if you feel inclined, you might wish to sponsor me for a few ‘bob’ and I’ll pass on your donation to the Mayor for his chosen charities. Thank you for your support.

The Mayor’s Cycling Challenge will start a year of bike related activities throughout the Staffordshire Moorlands. Working with Recycling Centres unwanted and discarded bikes will be re-homed and cycling activities will be promoted through the work of Outside Arts. This new initiative called ‘Chain Reaction’ has the goal of reaching out to hundreds of children and families in our area, to promote cycling as a active means of travel and to encourage walking and cycling on safe routes around Biddulph.