Sunday June 7th 2026 – The Black Sheep Big Spoon Bike Ride in aid of Wooden Spoon charity.
Now in its fifteenth year, the Black Sheep Big Spoon Bike Ride is building on the success of the original Black Sheep Brewery sponsored “Firkin Challenge” rides by raising money for disadvantaged and disabled children and young people in Yorkshire whilst enjoying some of England’s finest scenery.
We are delighted that Black Sheep continue as our major sponsor. The event HQ is therefore again at the Black Sheep Brewery Visitor Centre in Masham www.blacksheepbrewery.com.
The Teaspoon Ride covers 24 miles of beautiful Dales countryside. You share the first checkpoint with your fellow riders taking on the longer routes, and take on board a much needed cup of tea and some energy boosting cake. You then tackle the return loop back to Masham and the Black Sheep Brewery for a late lunch.
The “Dessert Spoon” ride follows 55 miles of quiet, undulating roads through the lower reaches of Wensleydale heading north initially through the picturesque Hornby Park, before rising gradually to a glorious viewpoint at the top of Scarth Nick and a visit to the iconic Castle Bolton, before heading back down Wensleydale via Wensley, Middleham and Jervaulx Abbey. There are two checkpoints along the route with hot and cold drinks and plenty of food, a support vehicle should you need mechanical assistance, not to mention two top tea rooms if required to enhance your enjoyment of the day. Total climbing (none of which is worthy of a chevron on an O.S. map!) amounts to 3,200ft.
New for 2026, the Wooden Spoon 100 is a challenging 102 mile ride, taking the same gentle start to the second checkpoint at Redmire, before heading up the long steady pull of Hargill Lane over to Grinton and Reeth in Swaledale. From there you will take the long climb up to England’s highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn where you turn towards Keld. After a short distance back down Swaledale you turn to take on the Buttertubs pass, before heading back down Wensleydale to Redmire and then follows the same route back to Masham as the “Dessert Spoon” ride. This is a route for the serious cyclist and takes the total climbing over the 102 miles to 7,400ft. You will have three checkpoints with hot and cold drinks and food to replenish the energy used, as well as plenty of Dales villages to admire.
All riders will be welcomed back to the Black Sheep Brewery Visitor Centre with a complimentary hot meal and a pint of their award winning ale.
All profits and sponsorship monies raised will go to the Wooden Spoon Charity with every penny being used to help disadvantaged young people.
Further details from the website at www.bigspoonbikeride.co.uk
To enter your team click here – https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/329541/Black-Sheep-Big-Spoon-Bike-Ride-2026
Find out more about the charity and the work we do at https://woodenspoon.org.uk/region/yorkshire/