British Heart Foundation Over the Edge charity bike ride

Jason Addy cycling wearing a full white protective overall

Riders from all over Greater Manchester and beyond will be tackled Blackstone Edge - the road over the Pennines - on the annual British Heart Foundation "Over the Edge" charity bike ride held on Sunday 13 May.

Participants had a choice of three routes, they could tackle the 22 mile Bronze route, the 29 mile Silver Route or go for gold in the 55 mile Solid Gold Route. All routes started and finished at Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre and took the cyclists Over the Edge, Blackstone Edge that is, as they headed out into the beautiful West Yorkshire and East Lancashire Moors.

On a good day, from this high point of the Pennines, the view takes in the whole of Rochdale, onto Manchester and the Cheshire Plain to Wales.

Professional Cyclist and future Tour De France Rider, Roger Hammond, fired the gun to start this years Over the Edge.

Part of the reason the Over the Edge can lay claim to being a legendary ride is that it is the only organised ride that takes participants on the Solid Gold route up and over the UK's longest continuous Hill climb - six miles up!
 
Save Spodden Valley coordinator Jason Addy cycled wearing a full white protective overall and the mask to raise awareness about the little known connection between asbestos and heart disease.
 
Mr Addy said: "There is also a strong bond between the towns of Rochdale and Hebden Bridge on the route of the bike ride - both towns had asbestos factories that damaged the health of countless people."

"Two and hours and half a stone lighter, the ride went well with really good weather.
 
"I completed the Silver Route that went over hill and dale with a clear view of the old Cape Asbestos site at Old Town accross the Calder Valley. It was particularly poignant to cycle the same country roads used by so many former Cape Asbestos employees on their way to the work that would kill them. The route also passed Scout Road tip where Cape Asbestos dumped some of its waste.    
 
"Those 'lost souls' should never be forgotten.
 
"Hopefully a good amount was collected for the British Heart Foundation. Perhaps Rochdale Council will donate a sum from all the Pay and Display car parking charges taken, if not perhaps they could fill some of the dangerous potholes in on Halifax Road!"
 
If Rochdale Online readers would like to donate to the British Heart Foundation they can via: 

• www.bhf.org.uk/get_involved/sponsor_a_friend.aspx?e=2091