UNDER glorious sunny skies the third annual Fat Lad At The Back Up North sportive took place on May 7, with hundreds of new cyclists taking to the streets.

The event, the biggest in Ilkley-based FLAB’s history, saw 650 cyclists tackling the 25, 50 and 75 mile courses in the Yorkshire Dales, a 45 per cent increase in participation compared to last year. Six in ten were new to the sportive with 26 per cent more women registered.

Richard and Lynn Bye, of Ilkley, created Up North in response to customer demand for a sportive that caters for everyone. The cyclists of shapes and sizes assembled at Ilkley Rugby Club from the early morning before setting off on the routes covering some of the North of England’s most stunning countryside.

Highlights included scaling Greenhow Hill, Malham Cove and Littondale, while Up North delivered its famously hearty food stops. The post-event Hog Roast ensured that riders left Ilkley with full stomachs and wearing a smile.

Fat Lad At The Back co-founder Lynn Bye, said: “We’re so pleased by the success of this year’s sportive. Our number one ambition is to give people the confidence to ride, no matter what your level of cycling ability. Our annual inclusive event is completely about being on your bike and having fun.

“This is the third year of our Up North sportive and it really is the real deal – the landscape is stunningly beautiful, perfect for cycling. In Yorkshire, you don't have to travel far before you hit your first hill, but we ensured that our event had a broad appeal. Our oldest participant this year was 86 and cyclists were supported the whole way around, pushed over the finish line if needs be.”

Contributing to the significant increase in participants this year were female cyclists, with the largest turnout of women to date – more than 150 riders in total.

Sharon, riding as part of a group of female riders calling themselves the Pink Ladies, said: “It's been a really, really good day, I would say the best sportive I've done. We started out as a group training for 7-10 miles and now we are doing three day events and sportives, and as an experience this has been fabulous. It's a brilliant event, well-organised. The food stations have been in just the right places and the route is just spectacular."