Rossendale Triathlon
Rawtenstall, United Kingdom · May · Independent (Rossendale Triathlon Club)
Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 21 km (13.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 400 m (0.25 mi) pool / 21 km (13 mi) / 5 km (3.1 mi)
Why people love it
- 400 m (0.25 mi) pool swim of 16 lengths, so no open water nerves.
- A free recce day before the race, and marshals are praised for encouragement.
- Pennine bike with a 9 km (5.6 mi) descent back toward the finish.
- Small field of about 130 with a friendly club feel.
Watch out for
- The 21 km (13 mi) bike is hilly with Crown Point; one athlete said it is not for beginners.
- The 5 km (3.1 mi) run mixes road and trail and gets muddy in wet weather.
- Roads are open and exposed moor sections can be breezy.
- Most athlete accounts date from 2017 or earlier, so check recent feedback.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.1
Racecheck average 4.76 from 11 ratings, mostly from 2017. The 2019 average fell to 4.05 after a hard-course comment. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
Reviewers call it well run and well marshalled, with a free recce day. Most accounts are from 2017 or earlier. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
First-timers praise marshals, but a 2019 reviewer said not for beginners given hilly 21 km (13 mi) bike and off-road run · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.7
Hilly bike and part-trail run. The 2010 course record is 1:00:53 and the 2022 winner took about 1:05. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalRarelyn/a
Pool swim, so no wetsuit rule applies · High confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.3
Indoor leisure-centre pool; temperature not published · Low confidence
- Calm waterRoughn/a
Pool swim, so not applicable · High confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.4
16 lengths of a pool over 400 m (0.25 mi), with no sighting needed. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.6
Standard leisure-centre pool; a weak swimmer lost time but reported no problems · Low confidence
- Swim supportAbundant4.5
Pool swim with lifeguards and a small field of about 130. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.2
Moorland and valley roads; no surface comments · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.8
Open public roads; marshalled but not stated as closed · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.0
Reviewers and listings describe Pennine valley and moor roads. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind2.8
2022 report notes breezy sections on the exposed bike route · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.6
Hilly 21 km (13 mi) loop with Crown Point, partly offset by a 9 km (5.6 mi) descent back into town. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly2.2
Reviewers describe a hilly bike with Crown Point. No elevation figure is published for the 21 km (13 mi) loop. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.0
Long descent back to Rawtenstall; navigation described as easy · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
Finish in front of spectators; small local field · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
No aid problems reported; marshals praised · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.5
Road and bridleway laps ending at the track · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.8
Partly off-road and muddy in wet weather per a 2017 reviewer · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.0
Lapped 5 km (3.1 mi) mixing road and trail; elevation not published · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.2
Late May in the Pennines, roughly 8 to 16 °C (46 to 61 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.6
Pennine weather; 2019 reviewer hoped for better weather · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.7
Pennine valley setting around a town leisure centre · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Pool and finish at the same site; bike course leaves the area · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.6
Rawtenstall is about 190 m (620 ft) above sea level · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.4
Small valley town; Manchester and Burnley within reach · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
No data; typical for Lancashire · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Pool, transition and finish at Marl Pits; parking nearby · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.8
Day trip by car. Manchester Airport is the nearest major airport. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.3
Single venue, easy access, numbered racking and a free recce day · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.2
Rawtenstall town centre nearby · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Rawtenstall, Lancashire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 23 May 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Rossendale Triathlon Club)
- Field size
- About 130 athletes
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 21 km (13.0 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Marl Pits Leisure Centre pool (pool)
- Wetsuit
- Not applicable (pool)
- Swim laps
- 16
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Crown Point Roller Coaster
- Air temperature
- 8–16 °C (46–61 °F)
- Altitude
- 190 m (625 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Manchester Airport
- Where to stay
- Rawtenstall
- Booking
- Day-trip race; about 130 entrants.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck Rossendale TriathlonRaced 2019 · aggregator · Positive
11 athletes average 4.76 out of 5; ten written reviews, mostly from 2017. Reviewers praise friendly marshals, a well-run event and a free recce day. A 2017 reviewer noted a hilly bike and a muddy partly off-road run; a 2019 reviewer found it a tough bike and tougher run, not for beginners.
“Definitely not a course for beginners”
- Rossendale Free Press 2022 reportRaced 2022 · article · Positive
Report on the race returning after the pandemic: dry weather, a little breezy on the bike, fast times with the winner at about 1:05. The route runs along Burnley Road East, over Crown Point Road, then climbs toward Clowbridge and descends to Marl Pits.
- Dave Haygarth blog, first editionRaced 2005 · blog · Positive
Local athlete's account of the first Rossendale Triathlon with 80 starters. He lost time on the 16-length pool swim, then climbed to fourth on the 20 km (12.4 mi) bike through Crown Point and fifth on the two-lap run on road and bridleway.
- Dave Haygarth blog, 2007Raced 2007 · blog · Positive
About 150 entrants. The author called the organisation very slick and the course really enjoyable: 16 lengths of the pool, a hilly ride of about 14 miles (22.5 km) and a tough mixed-terrain 5 km (3.1 mi) run. He finished third overall.
Raced Rossendale Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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