Long Route
84km | 460m
Medium Route
61km | 330m
Ride Overview
A perfect season 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.
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 ender with a flat / rolling route and options for long or medium routes depending on how the legs are feeling.
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
2nd Nov: GPX files and pre ride briefing video sent by email to each rider.
4th Nov – 8.15am: Ride village in Thetford opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
4th Nov – 8.30am to 9.30am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
4th Nov – 5.30pm: Rider village closes
4th Nov – 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
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 finish an epic 2023 on the gravel!
Percentage of Route Off Road: 75%
Distance:
84km
Elevation:
460m
Difficulty:
2/5
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: 75%
Distance:
61km
Elevation:
330m
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: Either a hardtail or gravel bike would be suitable for this ride, our preference would be a gravel bike due to the lack of any technical sections and the long, fast flowing gravel miles on the route. We have Sonder gravel & hardtail bikes available to rent for the day. Please see options for this in the checkout. E-bikes are allowed on all of our rides.
Tyre Choice: We avoid the sandier sections of this part of Suffolk so a 35 to 43mm all rounder gravel tyre will be suitable for this ride.
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 late 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.