Who is Lady Mary Towneley? Think of all the bridleways you love to ride. Most of these have only been made possible thanks to the work that Lady Mary Towneley and her horse put in, tirelessly campaigning to get them open again so that all of us can enjoy them. 

Lady Towneley never managed to see her work complete in the same way we are lucky enough to see it today, and the 47 mile Mary Towneley Loop was named in her honour and opened up in 2002 as part of the Pennine Bridleway National Trail. 

However, don't worry, the organisers of this CX Sportive are not asking you to take the two to three day horse-powered route, but nor are they asking you to take the easy option of riding round clockwise as the MTB riders do. 

Instead, they've had the much better idea of inviting you to ride round on the 9^th of August on cyclocross bikes in an anti-clockwise direction, starting and finishing at Watergrove Reservoir, Rochdale, and clocking over 2,000m of climbing in the process. 

You'll be fully supported with two feed stations loaded high with all of your favourite snacks and drinks, along with support from Clifbar and a hog roast at the end (vegetarian and coeliac options available.) 

Each rider will receive a brevet card designed by Matthew Burton Illustration, which, upon completion, will earn you a cloth badge and limited edition map of the route, also designed by the man himself. 

Not for the faint hearted, The Mary Towneley Loop CX is a challenging ride with sections of remote moorland, ancient roads of gritstone setts mixed with gravel tracks and paths climbing and descending as they wind their way around the South Pennine landscape. There’s no denying it, the route is really harsh on the bikes, so it’s a good job Fibrax have donated a pile of spot prizes for the most broken bikes, no cheating and deliberately breaking them though! 

For those who have ridden the Mary Towneley Loop before, you will remember the gates – many, many gates – and all of them must be closed in order for events like this one to continue. With this in mind however, the organisers have decided that part of your entry fee will be donated for the purchase of horse-friendly gas-closures for the gates (they will close themselves without a bang!) 

Entry is now open, costing £25 in advance or £30 on the day. Places are limited to 300. For more information visit: www.mtlcx.com.