THE 18th instalment of a legendary charity bike ride has once again raised hundreds of pounds for a worthy cause.

The annual ‘Pike on a Bike’ ride took place on Saturday, 11 August, with six participants taking on the gruelling 50-mile loop including one of Wales’ highest public roads.

Darren Wilkes, who is the pike on a bike, set up the event in 2000 to raise money for Barmouth RNLI as he was a keen diver and appreciated their endeavours.

Over the years, the event has evolved from a 100-mile bike ride from Cannock, near Stafford, to Barmouth to a taxing 50-mile cycle through south Snowdonia, starting and ending in Dinas Mawddwy.

The new route takes in Bwlch y Groes, which summits at 545 metres, on two separate occasions and also sees the cyclists in their fishy garb circumnavigate Llyn Vyrnwy and Llyn Bala.

“It’s always a tough but enjoyable day,” Darren told the Cambrian News.

“We don’t have a set figure as of yet but we believe we’re well over £700 which will go to Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team. We raised money for South Snowdonia Search and rescue Team last year and my friend has recently starting volunteering for the Aberdyfi team so it seemed a good choice. We’ve raised well over £10,000 for worthy causes over the last 18 years and we hope there’ll be plenty more to come yet.”

See this week’s north editions, in shops and online now