Long Route
92km | 550m
Medium Route
68km | 450m
Short Route
47km | 350m
Ride Overview
The relatively flat open landscape near the Suffolk and Norfolk border along with a mix of quiet lanes and off road tracks make this area ideally suited to gravel bike riding. You’ll pass through contrasting areas of dense forests to wide expanses of open heathlands whilst following sections of ancient trackway that make up the Icknield Way, one of the oldest roads in Britain. With three route options from 47 to 92km on flat / rolling terrain, this is a perfect season starter and ideal for riders of all abilities.
Highlights
- Ride the Icknield Way, one of the oldest roads in Britain
- Stunning sections through dense woodland and pretty Suffolk villages.
- Perfect season starter with a flat / rolling route and options for long, medium or short routes depending on how the legs are feeling after winter.
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
16th March: GPX files and pre ride briefing video sent by email to each rider.
18th March – 7.45am: Ride village in Thetford opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
18th March – 8am to 9.30am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
18th March – 5.30pm: Rider village closes
18th March – 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
Long Route
Starting from the outskirts of Thetford near the Suffolk/Norfolk border the route heads south to take in a mixture of quiet roads and tracks through the neighbouring forests and heath land of Suffolk.
You’ll ride sections of the ancient Icknield Way trail to bring you back to the finish. The area isn’t renown for hills and whilst it’s not completely flat this is one of our flatter routes. The sandy nature of the trails makes it ideal for early spring where the rain can pack the trails. In dry conditions, this can add some challenge making it difficult to hold your line and keep your momentum in places but there are no technically difficult sections of this ride.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 45%
Distance:
92km
Elevation:
550m
Difficulty:
2.5/5
Medium Route
A perfect ride for newer gravel cyclists or a relaxed first sportive of the gravel season. The medium route follows the long route until the split near the 50km mark, you can choose on the day if you want to take on the extra 30km of the long route.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 55%
Distance:
68km
Elevation:
450m
Difficulty:
1.5/5
Short Route
The short route follows the medium for the majority of the day but cuts off a section in the middle and near the end to make this nearly 20km shorter. With some nice variety on the off road sections & very little climbing, this is ideal for riders of all abilities.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 55%
Distance:
47km
Elevation:
350m
Difficulty:
1/5
Bike Selection & Packing List
Bike Choice: This is a tough route to get the right bike for – on the long back road sections a gravel bike with fast rolling tyres would be ideal BUT a lot of the off road is on sand based soil where a wider tyre is preferred. E-bikes are allowed on all of our rides.
Tyre Choice: We will send an update on conditions closer to the ride. If there has been some spring rain, the sand will be hard packed and fast. If it has been dry, you will want a wider tyre to stay upright on the slippery stuff.
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: Likely to be fresh this early in the year so layer up accordingly (arm & leg / knee warmers, gilet, waterproof jacket etc). Helmets are mandatory, you will not be able to ride without one.
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes in Thetford. 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.