OVERVIEW
The South Downs Way is one of the best gravel trails in England with long sweeping sections & views over rolling hills and the south coast.
Join us in April for a classic spring gravel ride taking in back lanes and gravel trails around Brighton, Lewes & the East Sussex coast.
With a choice from the medium 60km to the full 75km, there is a route suitable for all riders on this challenging terrain with plenty of punchy climbs and stunning long flowing sections on the Downs. A perfect early Autumn off road epic!
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Ride parts of the legendary South Downs Way.
- Five big climbs on the long route (with glorious views from the tops) including Plumpton Bostall & Itford Hill.
- Brilliant fast flowing sections on the South Downs.
What to expect
The South Downs Way is lumpy with some sharp climbs and steep descents mixed in with some lovely rolling sections in the valleys and on the tops.
The long route is approx 70% off road so expect the 75km to take between 4 & 7 hours.
Ride difficulty
Both routes involve some tough climbs. The medium route has 4 major climbs & the long route has 5, both starting with a punchy intro at 4.5km – the 1.2km long Streat Borstal averaging 10%.
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
The conditions will largely depend on recent weather. This part of the South Downs Way is chalk based with some long grassy sections. Look out for ruts when dry and slippy conditions when wet.
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. You may want wider, grippier tyres for more control on the off road descents. If dry, a wider all-rounder gravel tyre (40-50mm) will be ideal. In the wet, you will want wider and knobbly tyres to get some grip in the slippy chalk.
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
10th April: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
12th April: 7.45am: Ride village at Plumpton Racecourse. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
12th April: 8am to 8,45amm: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
12th April: 6pm: Rider village closes.
12th April: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
The South Downs way has long been a storied ride for the off road trip.
Starting from Plumpton Racecourse we hit the first (tarmac) climb after 4km and then hit the South Downs Way and follow it over two gravel climbs to the furthest point (Alfriston).
The way home takes in some great local off road tracks and three big climbs before rolling back into Plumpton for a well earned beer.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 75%
Distance: 75km
Elevation: 1,350m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route cuts out 17km at the bottom of the route towards Alfriston.
There are two climbs (one road, one gravel) on the way out and two on the way back. A challenging 60km option but very rewarding with most of the route miles away from the crowds and some stunning views.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 65%
Distance: 60km
Elevation: 1,050m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route cuts out 17km at the bottom of the route towards Alfriston.
There are two climbs (one road, one gravel) on the way out and two on the way back. A challenging 60km option but very rewarding with most of the route miles away from the crowds and some stunning views.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 65%
Distance: 60km
Elevation: 1,050m
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 Plumpton Racecourse. 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.
There is no camping available at the ride village but there are several great campsites nearby including:
https://www.blackberrywood.com/
LOCAL AREA
The South Downs Gravel X starts at Plumpton Racecourse, just over an hour away from South London.
The nearest big town is Lewes but Brighton is also close. These towns have plenty of accommodation options but there are also some lovely country pubs with rooms near Plumpton.
There is a train station next to the racecourse with hourly trains from London Victoria (duration approx 55 mins).
Make a weekend of it
There are loads of options to make a great weekend out of a trip to the South Downs.
Stay in a pub in one of the many charming villages near Plumpton or have a night out in Brighton.
There are lots of great hikes in the area and plenty of options for kayaking in the sea or rivers.
This area is also one of the the UK’s main wine growing regions and there is a vineyard within 5 miles of the ride village with wine tasting tours on offer. Check HERE for more info.
Make a weekend of it
There are loads of options to make a great weekend out of a trip to the South Downs.
Stay in a pub in one of the many charming villages near Plumpton or have a night out in Brighton.
There are lots of great hikes in the area and plenty of options for kayaking in the sea or rivers.
This area is also one of the the UK’s main wine growing regions and there is a vineyard within 5 miles of the ride village with wine tasting tours on offer. Check HERE for more info.
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
