In late summer 2025, on a single day, along with Tom Mouse, I successfully completed three laps of the UK’s largest reservoir (by surface area), Rutland Water. The first lap was on my carbon fibre road bike; the second lap was on my Trott & Sons penny farthing; and the final lap was on my touring / gravel bike. As well as being an exercise in planning & logistics, I rode a total of over 50 miles. I had to use predominantly tarmac surfaced routes on the road bike and on the penny farthing, but on my gravel bike I was also able to ride all of the rough tracks with their steep gradients including on the Hambleton Peninsula.
Pictures from the challenge are shown below:
Rutland Water reservoir was created in the mid 1970s in part by building a 1.2km long dam and flooding the Gwash Valley. The villages of Nether Hambleton and Middle Hambleton were demolished, presumably after giving the residents a wee bit of warning.
Fully loaded, I set off from home at 6 am and headed up to Rutland Water in the East Midlands of the UK … I would return over 14 hours later.
Base camp for the day was the excellent Horse and Jockey pub in Manton on the south side of Rutland Water. I arrived over three hours before opening time!
I had carefully developed a comprehensive cunning checklist of what I needed to do before setting off on each lap.
… when you get tired (& get older!) it is handy to have a few prompts!
My first stop on my first lap (using my road bike) was at Normanton Church, on the edge of the reservoir.
… same venue on laps 2 and 3, riding different machines, later in the day.
Normanton Church (St Matthew’s Church) was built on the site of a 14th century building. It was saved from demolition in the mid 70s when the reservoir was being constructed.
The 1.2km long dam at the east end of the reservoir, with the best cycling surface of the entire route!
The stunning, atmospheric and thought-provoking bronze sculpture, “The Great Tower”, by Alexander (1980), on the east bank of the reservoir.
Alexander states, “Mankind is capable of an awareness that is outside of the range of everyday life. My monumental sculptures are created to communicate with that awareness in a way similar to classical music. Just as most symphonies are not intended to be descriptive so these works do not represent figures or objects.”
… contemplating the classic penny farthing, outside the range of everyday life …!
On Hambleton Peninsula, with its quiet, picturesque and rolling trails. (although not at all suitable for the penny farthing nor the road bike!)
Tom Mouse enjoying the ride!
Summaries from each of the three rides (courtesy of Strava). An overall elevation gain of 1863 ft, 51.9 miles travelled, with 6 hours 9 minutes & 37 seconds of pedalling …
At the end; after successfully completing the Three Cycles Challenge, refuelling with elite athlete nutrition at the Horse and Jockey!
A grand day out, fundraising for the Down’s Syndrome Association and for Woolgrove Special Needs School. Thank you for your kind support.
