Long Route
120km | 1250m
medium Route
90km | 900m
short Route
50km | 450m
Ride 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 75% 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 120km route, the fun 90km option or the short 50km course which is ideal for first time gravel riders.
Highlights
- Beautiful woodland tracks in Sherwood Forest.
- A proper summer epic for the120km 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.
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 - 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 video sent by email to each rider.
20th July – 7.45am: Ride village in Clipstone opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
20th July – 8am to 10am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
20th July – 6.30pm: Rider village closes
20th July – 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
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:
120km
Elevation:
1250m
Difficulty:
4/5
Medium Route
Similar to our long route in spring / autumn, the medium route cuts off a section at the start (including the worst climb) and a section at the end but is still a classic gravel route. Expect to be riding for 4 to 6 hours on this route.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 80%
Distance:
90km
Elevation:
900m
Difficulty:
3/5
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: 65%
Distance:
50km
Elevation:
450m
Difficulty:
1/5
Bike Selection & Packing List
Bike Choice: Most of the ride on smooth gravel, so a gravel bike is ideal. If there has been rain, there are a couple of sections that can be muddy where wider tyres will be better. Mountain bikes will be fine but slower, road bikes are not allowed. E-bikes are allowed on all of our rides.
Tyre Choice: We will send an update on conditions closer to the ride. A 35-40mm allrounder gravel tyre should be ideal for this route.
Packing List: Bring equipment to be self sufficient on the route (inner tubes, sealant, multi-tool, pump or CO2 etc). We recommend a bell to warn walkers / runners of your presence.
Clothing: It should be pleasant in mid July but check the forecast & bring layers if needed. Helmets are mandatory, you will not be able to ride without one.
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes near Clipstone with a rolling start any time between 8am and 10am. 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, we start between 8am and 9.30am and set people off in small groups so the off road sections are not too busy. Please come to the start line with anyone you want to ride with, we will give a short ride briefing and set you off.