Long Route
91km | 1150m
Medium Route
65km | 950m
Ride Overview
A glorious 91 or 65km gravel sportive in the charming Cotswolds. Taking in sections of the Roman Fosse Way and off road tracks in the hills including the Cotswolds Way & Monarchs Way, this is a great day on the bike suitable to new & experienced gravel riders in a lovely part of the country.
Highlights
- Get into the Cotswolds Hills on the Cotswolds & Monarch Way.
- Finish with a fast, flat 20km section on the famous Fosse Way.
- Enjoy stunning views over the charming Cotswolds as we ride through picturesque villages and varied countryside.
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
18th May: GPX files and pre ride briefing video sent by email to each rider.
20th May – 7.45am: Ride village in Didmarton opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
20th May – 8am to 9.30am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
20th May – 6.30pm: Rider village closes
20th May – 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
Long Route
A ride of two halves taking in some of the best gravel & backroads of the beautiful Cotswolds.
Heading out of Didmarton, we head north west into the hills for a punchy first 45km packed with climbs of all shapes and sizes.
After a stop for a sandwich at feed two we head onto the Fosse Way – get in a good group and work together to smash through this fast 20km section. After this, its a quick 13km section on a mix of tarmac and gravel back to the finish line.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance:
91km
Elevation:
1150m
Difficulty:
3/5
Medium Route
The medium route takes out a chunk at the start and near near the end but has the routes have the same shape with a tough first half in the hills and a quick second half on the Fosse Way.
For a medium route it does have challenging sections but is rideable for cyclists of most abilities.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance:
65km
Elevation:
950m
Difficulty:
2.5/5
Short Route
The short route follows the medium route for the first 25km and then branches off missing 16km and a couple of small climbs making this an ideal route through the bluebell woods and ridges of this part of South England.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 55%
Distance:
50km
Elevation:
750m
Difficulty:
2/5
Bike Selection & Packing List
Bike Choice: The route is about 50% on backroads and 50% off road on a mix of smooth gravel, grass & singletrack. We recommend a gravel bike though a mountain bike will be fine. E-bikes are allowed on all of our rides.
Tyre Choice: We will send an update on conditions closer to the ride. The gravel on the route is mixed so a 40mm all rounder gravel tyre will be ideal.
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: Mid May in this part of England should be pleasant. Check the forecast, the morning is likely to be fresh so pack accordingly (arm & knee warmers, gilet, lightweight jacket etc). Helmets are mandatory, you will not be able to ride without one.
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes in Didmarton. 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.