OVERVIEW
A classic mid summer ride through the forest trails and farm tracks of northern Nottingham.
One of our smoothest routes of the year, about 80% of the route is on good gravel or hard-packed earth and the rest on quiet back roads. The route takes in a mix of fire roads & trails in Sherwood Forest, some gentle rolling hills and fun flat sections through this lovely part of rural Notts.
Choose between the epic 116km route, the fun 80km option or the short 55km course which is ideal for first time gravel riders
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Beautiful woodland tracks in Sherwood Forest.
- A proper summer epic for the 116km route taking in a variety of rolling hills, forest roads and farm tacks.
- With smooth gravel and no major climbs, this is a great first gravel ride.
What to expect
One of our best routes of the year across smooth fire roads in Sherwood Forest and farmtracks & gravel trails of rural Notts. The route is rolling but there are few hard climbs.
Ride difficulty
Any 116km off road ride is going to be a big day in the saddle but this route rolls really well just the one tough climb (1.5km at 6.5%) so this event is suitable for riders of all abilities. You can choose which route to do on the day.
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 Sherwood Forest can vary a lot based on weather. When dry, the course is fast rolling on gravel & hard packed mud. In the wet, it will be slippy in places & muddy with some deep puddles.
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. An all-rounder gravel tyre (35-45mm) will be ideal for all three routes.
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
17th July: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
20th July: 7.30am: Ride village at Sherwood MX opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
20th July: 7.45am to 8.45am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
20th July: 6pm: Rider village closes.
20th July: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
Starting from Clipstone, we head west and our first 20km is on rolling terrain & good gravel. It can be muddy if we have a wet summer but in normal conditions it rolls quick here.
After 20km we have one punchy road climb (0.5km, 12%) just to wake the legs up and then we head north and east back into Sherwood Forest for some fun woodland trails (again on smooth gravel).
After the lunch stop we jump in and out of the forest with most of the climbing behind us so its time to find some ride mates and have a good chat while you chew through the miles.
For anyone that have ridden with us in Sherwood Forest, this route takes in the best of those sections and added some nice gravel further afield to make a proper summer epic day out!
Percentage of Route Off Road: 75%
Distance: 116km
Elevation: 1,050m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route cuts out 20km after the first feed stop and cuts south after Creswell to skip the western loop.
You can choose which route option to do on the day but the medium is a great option with some great off road sections.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 80%
Distance: 80km
Elevation: 700m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route cuts out 20km after the first feed stop and cuts south after Creswell to skip the western loop.
You can choose which route option to do on the day but the medium is a great option with some great off road sections.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 80%
Distance: 80km
Elevation: 700m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
The short route follows the medium cutting off a couple of sections to make this a fast & fun 50km. The biggest climb is at 22km (3km at 2%) but this is a route all riders can get round and is ideal for first time off roaders with a mix of smooth gravel & back roads.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 70%
Distance: 55km
Elevation: 500m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Sherwood MX. 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, camping is available on Saturday night at Sherwood MX. You can book this in the checkout when you add your entry.
LOCAL AREA
Sherwood Forest is located in the East Midlands in between Nottingham & Sheffield.
The nearest towns are Mansfield & Worksop, both which have plenty of hotels & restaurants.
The nearest train station is around 6 miles away in Worksop.
Make a weekend of it
Camping is available in Sherwood MX (book in the cart when you add your entry).
Whilst there, a trip to nearby Sherwood Pines is recommended. In the forest, there are some great MTB trails and a bike shop onsite with bike rental. There is also a Go Ape, disc golf course & lots of walking routes.
Make a weekend of it
Camping is available in Sherwood MX (book in the cart when you add your entry).
Whilst there, a trip to nearby Sherwood Pines is recommended. In the forest, there are some great MTB trails and a bike shop onsite with bike rental. There is also a Go Ape, disc golf course & lots of walking routes.
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
