OVERVIEW
A glorious spring gravel ride in the stunning North Yorkshire Moors.
Our route takes in the best gravel trails from the Dalby, Broxa & Langdale Forest with beautiful views over the Moors. The long route is challenging but achievable for regular riders and a perfect ride to target this spring.
Camping available on Friday night at the ride village.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Flowing gravel trails of Dalby Forest and being in the heart of the North York Moors
- Endless views over the North York Moors from Langdale Forest
- If you have time, bring along the MTB and stay for an extra day to try out the miles of MTB trails at Dalby.
What to expect
Being in the North York Moors, Dalby and the surrounding forests are not flat by any means, so if you like cycling up and down hills, this one is for you. The surface goes from smooth wide gravel tracks to singletrack and everything in between. With 3 route distances, the event is suited to all abilities and there are not many technical sections on the routes to worry about. Dalby is a hidden gen for gravel cycling in the UK and it should be high up on your list to come and visit. .
Ride difficulty
All routes involve climbs up steep terrain off road. However the distances and overall elevation gain will ensure this event will be suitable for the majority of cyclists.
Long Route ***
Medium Route **
Short 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
Conditions in Dalby hold up quite well in all weather conditions, however if it has been raining a lot you will get muddy and some sections will be slippy. The long and medium route involves long ascents and descents on steep ground so make sure you have sufficient gearing.
Long Route ***
Medium Route **
Short 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. If dry, a standard all-rounder gravel tyre (35-45mm) will be ideal. Make sure you have sufficient gearing as there are some long steep ascents. In the wet, you will want wider and knobbly tyres to get some grip in the muddy stuff.
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
24th April: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
26th April: 7.45am: Ride village at Adderstone Field opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
26th April: 8am to 8,45amm: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
26th April: 6pm: Rider village closes.
26th April: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
Starting in the heart of Dalby, the route wiggles through the long forest gravel trails with a mixture of smooth gravel descents and some sharp inclines to get the heart going.
After the first loop on the West side of the forest, the route then heads East with panoramic views of the North York Moors National Park and then climbs on quiet gravel trails through Langdale Forest where on a clear day you can see out to the coast.
The route then descends back to the valley and then into Broxa Forest for some more stunning views of the National Park. After a short road section, the route cuts through Wykeham Forest on a mixture of smooth gravel and fast singletrack to take you back to Dalby Forest.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 80%
Distance: 78km
Elevation: 1,250m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
This is a cracking medium route almost entirely off road on smooth gravel through the forests.
We follow the long route for the first 37km and then skip two loops on the long route before a sharp 1.5km road climb and flowy bit of gravel to the finish.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 90%
Distance: 57km
Elevation: 900m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
This is a cracking medium route almost entirely off road on smooth gravel through the forests.
We follow the long route for the first 37km and then skip two loops on the long route before a sharp 1.5km road climb and flowy bit of gravel to the finish.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 90%
Distance: 57km
Elevation: 900m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
One of the best 40km loops in England – all off road on lovely gravel tracks.
We follow the long & medium route for 33km and then turn back to the finish without the punchy climb to get back to Dalby.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 95%
Distance: 39km
Elevation: 600m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Adderstone Field. 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.
Yes, you can book camping in the checkout when you add your ride entry.
LOCAL AREA
The Wessex Gravel Epic starts at the Frome Cheese Show in Frome – about 30 mins south of Bath or 45 mins West of Salisbury.
The nearest town is Frome but Warminster is also nearby. These towns have plenty of accommodation options.
There is a train station in Frome approx 3.5 miles away.
Make a weekend of it
Camp at the ride village on Friday night (book your spot in the checkout when you book your entry).
Frome is the gateway to a number of cool places to visit nearby including:
– Longleat (safari park)
– Bath
– Glastonbury
– Wookey Hole (the UK’s largest show caves system)
Make a weekend of it
Camp at the ride village on Friday night (book your spot in the checkout when you book your entry).
Frome is the gateway to a number of cool places to visit nearby including:
– Longleat (safari park)
– Bath
– Glastonbury
– Wookey Hole (the UK’s largest show caves system)
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
