OVERVIEW
Close to London but far off the beaten track, the Chilterns Gravel Epic takes in parts of the famous Ridgeway and the glorious hills in the heart of this region.
Nearly all of the route is off road or on quiet back roads including some secret local spots & a few climbs both on tarmac and gravel. A cracking summer gravel day out!
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Ride parts of The Ridgeway, the oldest road in England
- Explore lesser known gravel trails and some tasty off road climbs in the Chilterns.
- Close to London and easy to get to but on the ride you will escape the crowds and roll past parts of the Chilterns most people don’t see.
What to expect
If you’ve not ridden in the Chilterns before, you are in for a treat. You will ride on a mix of quiet backroads, plenty of smooth gravel amongst some chunkier stuff. There is plenty of climbing and most of these short & fairly steep.
Ride difficulty
There isn’t much flat on the route. On the long ride there are 9 significant climbs, 5 on gravel, 4 on tarmac. This ride is suitable for most riders but 1,300m of elevation on a ride with little flat will feel like a tough day.
Long Route ****
Medium Route ***
***** Reserved just for our hardest routes. Expect long distance & lots of challenging climbs both on and off road.
**** Typically longer rides with regular climbs which could be both steep & long. Suitable for regular riders with some training.
*** A mix of terrain & elevation. A decent day out with some tricky sections but still suitable for regular riders.
** Some harder sections but suitable for all regular cyclists
* Easy, suitable for all riders. Mostly flat route.
Technical difficulty
40% of the route is on tarmac (though it’s not always the smoothest on the quiet backr0ads). The off road is a mix of gravel, a few short sections of rockier terrain and some hard packed dirt trails which can be slippy if we get rain.
Long Route ***
Medium Route ***
***** A challenging route suitable only for experienced riders. Expect short hike-a-bike sections, a mix of terrain & loose climbs and descents.
**** Suitable for regular off roaders, the route may contain rockier sections, technical descents etc.
*** A mix of off road conditions with some more difficult sections.
** More typical UK gravel which may be muddy when wet but no challenging sections
* Smooth terrain suitable for all riders.
TYRE & BIKE RECOMMENDATIONS
This route is designed for gravel bikes but you will be fine on a hardtail MTB. We do send out tyre recommendations closer to the time. Unless it’s very wet, a standard gravel all-rounder tyre (35-45mm) will be ideal.
Included in entry
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-40km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-35km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
EVENT PROGRAM
3rd July: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
5th July: 7.45am: Ride village at Kingston Blount opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
5th July: 8am to 8,45amm: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
5th July: 6pm: Rider village closes.
5th July: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
We start in Kingston Blount and get on The Ridgeway almost straight away and stay on this for almost 20km before heading into the heart of the Chilterns.
Over the next 40km we take in 7 climbs on a mix of tarmac and off road with some amazing views. The last 25km is quick on some less known gravel sections before we arrive back for a well earned beer & food.
The seven climbs come in all shapes and sizes, the rest of the ride is fairly fast so this is a big ride but suitable for anyone happy to get over some climbs.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 104km
Elevation: 1300m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route cuts out 30km in the middle (and hilliest part) of the long route. We start with 20km on the Ridgeway and then head into the hills for a total of 5 climbs and nearly 1,000m of total elevation. A really nice & varied medium route.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 74km
Elevation: 1,000m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route cuts out 30km in the middle (and hilliest part) of the long route. We start with 20km on the Ridgeway and then head into the hills for a total of 5 climbs and nearly 1,000m of total elevation. A really nice & varied medium route.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 74km
Elevation: 1,000m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
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Percentage of Route Off Road: 40%
Distance: 104km
Elevation: 750m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Kingston Blount. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments. We will send the ride village address by email.
Yes, e-bikes are allowed on all Glorious Gravel ride. These must comply with UK law.
We have first aiders & mechanics at the feed stops. There will be a phone number on the back of your ride number – call this if you need collecting.
LOCAL AREA
The Chilterns Gravel Epic starts at Kingston Blount just off the M40.
If you are looking for somewhere to stay, there are lots of lovely pubs and smaller hotels in the nearby villages or High Wycombe is 20 mins away with lots of bigger hotels.
The nearest train station is 5 miles away in Princess Risborough.
Make a weekend of it
Complete your day with a visit to the Secret Nuclear Bunker itself. This is a fascinating place, designed to protect up to 600 people including the Prime Minister whose job was to “organise the survival of the population in the awful aftermath of a nuclear war.”
On the site is a high ropes course and the area is packed with lovely country pubs perfect for a post ride pint or Sunday roast if you are staying overnight.
Make a weekend of it
Complete your day with a visit to the Secret Nuclear Bunker itself. This is a fascinating place, designed to protect up to 600 people including the Prime Minister whose job was to “organise the survival of the population in the awful aftermath of a nuclear war.”
On the site is a high ropes course and the area is packed with lovely country pubs perfect for a post ride pint or Sunday roast if you are staying overnight.
Packing list
The route takes in some remote sections. We have support vans available but we recommend you are as self sufficient as possible including:
Bike spares
2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre
If running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant.
Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chain
Small pump | Brake pads (especially in wet conditions)
Personal Medical kit
1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
Assorted plasters | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes) | Prescribed medication
