OVERVIEW
A perfect starter ender in glorious Suffolk. This all new route stays in the Thetford & Kings Forest for almost the entire ride with 75% of the route off road.
The gravel here is as good as anywhere in the South of England with miles and miles of smooth sections through picturesque countryside & forest. Suitable for new & experienced gravel riders alike.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- An all new route with over 75% of the route off road on fast flowing, smooth gravel, this is ideal for all riders.
- Stunning sections through Thetford & Kings Forest and pretty Suffolk villages.
- Perfect season starter with a flat / rolling route and options for long or medium routes depending on how the legs are feeling.
What to expect
The vast majority of this route is flat on smooth fire roads through Thetford & Kings Forest. Please note – the trails in Kings Forest are being worked on, if this is not finished by March the route will change and be 50/50 road to gravel but still on flat terrain.
Ride difficulty
Out of all our rides, this is one of the most straight forward with no major climbs. The route is rolling and flows well on smooth fire roads.
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
75% of the route is on fire roads through Thetford Forest & Kings Forest with no rocky sections. There are some sandy parts which can be challenging to ride on if you are new to it but these are short and the vast majority of the gravel in the forests are smoother fire roads.
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. A wider tyre is helpful for the sand but an all-rounder, 35-45mm will be fine for this route.
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
20th March: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
22nd March: 7.45am: Ride village at Thetford Forest opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
22nd March: 8am to 8,45amm: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
22nd March: 6pm: Rider village closes.
22nd March: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
This all new route starts at High Lodge in the heart of Thetford Forest and heads onto the gravel straight away. The first 11km is all in the forest on fast & flat terrain before we head south for a couple of small climbs as we head out to King’s Forest.
We spend 20km mostly on gravel with a couple of connecting back roads in the King’s Forest before heading out to Euston & Thetford before heading back to the forest for a final 10km on the gravel.
There are no tough sections on the route and ride times should be 4 to 6hrs, an ideal way to start an epic 2025 on the gravel!
Percentage of Route Off Road: 75%
Distance: 77km
Elevation: 400m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
A perfect ride for newer gravel cyclists or a relaxed final sportive of the gravel season. The medium route follows the long route until the split near the 45km mark in the Kings Forest and heads straight back into Thetford Forest for the last 16km. You can choose on the day to do the long route if the legs are feeling good at the split.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 80%
Distance: 60km
Elevation: 300m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
A perfect ride for newer gravel cyclists or a relaxed final sportive of the gravel season. The medium route follows the long route until the split near the 45km mark in the Kings Forest and heads straight back into Thetford Forest for the last 16km. You can choose on the day to do the long route if the legs are feeling good at the split.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 80%
Distance: 60km
Elevation: 300m
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 the Thetford Forest. 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.
LOCAL AREA
The Suffolk Gravel X starts in Thetford Forest
The nearest big town is Thetford which has lots of accommodation options and restaurants / pubs.
The nearest train station is Thetford (2 miles away).
Make a weekend of it
Thetford Forest is a large space with plenty of other things to do.
There is a Go Ape on site and play areas if you have kids.
There are some good MTB trails and lots of options for hiking & running. There are also segways to hire and trails in all directions to explore.
Make a weekend of it
Thetford Forest is a large space with plenty of other things to do.
There is a Go Ape on site and play areas if you have kids.
There are some good MTB trails and lots of options for hiking & running. There are also segways to hire and trails in all directions to explore.
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
