Description
Ride Overview
Close to London but far off the beaten track, the Chilterns Gravel Xplorer 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 including some secret local spots & a few climbs both on tarmac and gravel. A cracking summer gravel day out 👊👊.
LONG ROUTE: 90km | Elevation: 1236m
MEDIUM ROUTE: 60km | Elevation:880m
Bike & Tyre Choice: Mid summer on a mix of wide gravel paths, a bit of singletrack, some grass & 25% tarmac. This definitely favours a gravel bike over a mountain bike though as with all off road rides, there is no perfect bike and on some sections wider tyres would be ideal. On our recon rides we used 38mm Schwalbe G One All Rounds, anything with a similar tread will work.
Countdown to July 16th
Ride Highlights
– Close to London but quiet & picturesque gravel riding
– Ride parts of The Ridgeway, the oldest road in England
– Secret local gravel sections in the heart of the Chilterns
– Social drink at the finish village
The Route
Watlington: 90km or 60km
In the middle of July, the perfect summer gravel day out. We start in Watlington and get on The Ridgeway almost straight away and stay on this for almost 15km 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 & chips.
FAQs
What type of bike should I ride?
This route is ideal for gravel bikes with wide (40mm plus) tyres. A mountain bike would be fine as there are few road sections. Road bikes are not suitable for this ride. We have carbon gravel bikes from Pearson available to hire for the day. E bikes are very welcome on our rides.
How do I find out my start time?
We will send you an email after you have booked to choose your start time between 8am and 10am, if you are riding with a friend you can choose to start with them.
Where is the start / finish?
The ride starts and finishes in Watlington. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments.
What happens if I have a mechanical / accident?
We have first aiders & mechanics at all the feed stops and ride captains along the route to support.
What shall I pack with me for the ride?
You need to have a water bottle, basic kit to repair punctures, inner tubes & riding with a helmet is compulsory. Our feed stops have water, coke, cake, fruit & the best tasting sports nutrition bars & nut butters from Outdoor Provisions.
When will I get my GPX file
Our local team do a final recon ride 1 week before the event and can make final tweeks then based on route conditions. We will then send out the route GPX within one week of the ride.
New To Gravel Riding?
Rent a Pearson Off Grid bike (£49)
Available in all sizes
Mechanics on hand for bike fitting
Pre ride briefing
Packing List emailed when you book
