UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew
UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
Hey all.
A friend of mine has been dieting / training hard for a ride in the Dolomites in June... except it's very much looking like we're not going to be going as things aren't looking good there with COVID cases.
It seems a real shame for him to have put in all that work and then no challenge at the end so I'm trying to find UK rides we might be able to do instead. I've had a quick look through some of the rides I've done with crazy amounts of climbing, and YD300 / Jennride / Braunton 150 look like they could fit the bill, albeit either with modification to make them into single day rides, or some sort of B&B stop half way.
Anyone got any other suggestions? I've excluded BB200/300 rides as I'd probably like it if he was still talking to me at the end of it.
A friend of mine has been dieting / training hard for a ride in the Dolomites in June... except it's very much looking like we're not going to be going as things aren't looking good there with COVID cases.
It seems a real shame for him to have put in all that work and then no challenge at the end so I'm trying to find UK rides we might be able to do instead. I've had a quick look through some of the rides I've done with crazy amounts of climbing, and YD300 / Jennride / Braunton 150 look like they could fit the bill, albeit either with modification to make them into single day rides, or some sort of B&B stop half way.
Anyone got any other suggestions? I've excluded BB200/300 rides as I'd probably like it if he was still talking to me at the end of it.
Last edited by Richard G on Tue Apr 20, 2021 11:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
i have 100 mile route in the NYM. all rideable on a gravel bike.
i will post it when i can find it.
i will post it when i can find it.
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Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
Road bike with 32 to 34mm gravel tires Ton... Would that be pushing it for this route of yours
- BigdummySteve
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Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
South Downs Way, I don’t recall too much chunk and plenty of climbing.
We’re all individuals, except me.
I woke up this morning but I’m still in the dark
I woke up this morning but I’m still in the dark
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
I've never really enjoyed it to be honest, and I have a long running debate with a friend of mine that it doesn't actually have any hills in it.BigdummySteve wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:39 pm South Downs Way, I don’t recall too much chunk and plenty of climbing.
Said friend does have a route down there that I was interested in doing though, so that could kill two birds with one stone.
- BigdummySteve
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Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
Nearly 14000' was plenty for me!
We’re all individuals, except me.
I woke up this morning but I’m still in the dark
I woke up this morning but I’m still in the dark
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
They're soft Southern hills though, they're not proper hills.
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Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
This now has me wondering why you want an off-road route?Road bike with 32 to 34mm gravel tires
May the bridges you burn light your way
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Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
Ton described his as a gravel route though Stu. I wouldn't dream (only a bit) of trying an off road with 32mm knobbliesBearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 3:06 pmThis now has me wondering why you want an off-road route?Road bike with 32 to 34mm gravel tires
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Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
Me too. But then my road tyres are 35mmBearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 3:06 pmThis now has me wondering why you want an off-road route?Road bike with 32 to 34mm gravel tires
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
i would choose a bigger tyre for the route. trying to load it on here but it wont play.
i will keep trying. it is a old 1 day polaris route from the 90's. a 100 mile route to be done in 1 day. took me 16 hours IIRC.
i will keep trying. it is a old 1 day polaris route from the 90's. a 100 mile route to be done in 1 day. took me 16 hours IIRC.
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
How about Mr Barrington’s ton of gravel or 2 tonnes of gravel. A wee bit of climbing in those and South Wales based
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
Haven't a clue what I'm talking about, but what about the GBdivide/ BGduro route?
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
Have you looked at the 120 mile Dirty Reiver route, nice place to ride and can be done with bivvy/ the bothy in middle?
If you wanted a big day out, but on the road, i can send you the Dragon Devil ride, 180 miles and 4800m in a day and in Wales, so really scenic riding?
If you wanted a big day out, but on the road, i can send you the Dragon Devil ride, 180 miles and 4800m in a day and in Wales, so really scenic riding?
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
the route i have is 120 miles with 4000 metre of climbs. with not much road.
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
Happy to have a look if you can find a link / file.
I would have assumed that would take a fair bit of mapping. Probably my best options for the two day rides are figure of eight style routes like the SD300. If not, I'm considering AirBNB on route somewhere, driving to the start, then stopping at the end of day one where we've got accommodation.
My friend isn't a bikepacker, and as I'm not sure of his fitness I'd rather not be carrying a bunch of gear to make things harder!
I'll see if I can dig up the route, cheers.Scud wrote: ↑Tue Apr 20, 2021 5:08 pm Have you looked at the 120 mile Dirty Reiver route, nice place to ride and can be done with bivvy/ the bothy in middle?
If you wanted a big day out, but on the road, i can send you the Dragon Devil ride, 180 miles and 4800m in a day and in Wales, so really scenic riding?
Definitely not road, riding on the road scares the sh*t out of me unless it's a closed course.
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
How about the Trans Cambrian Way. It's not highly technical but a large % is off-road?
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
There are events starting to open like Devon Grit and Dorset Grit.
Choice of route length and people/clock to race against.
Have a google around see what comes up.
I know the area where the Devon Grit route is so lots of climbing on the long route.
Choice of route length and people/clock to race against.
Have a google around see what comes up.
I know the area where the Devon Grit route is so lots of climbing on the long route.
Zazen - nothing happens next this is it.
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
Thanks Ton / Stu / Mariner. I'll have a look at those.
Right now I'm leaning towards doing the King Alfred's Way over two days (Starting in Reading, using Winchester as half way stop). Not as much climbing as I'd like, but to be honest I think having a bit more distance than elevation will suit him better as he's a good chunk heavier than me.
Relatively close too, so less hassle sorting it out.
Right now I'm leaning towards doing the King Alfred's Way over two days (Starting in Reading, using Winchester as half way stop). Not as much climbing as I'd like, but to be honest I think having a bit more distance than elevation will suit him better as he's a good chunk heavier than me.
Relatively close too, so less hassle sorting it out.
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
KAW is a good route. Not a lot of climbing but really nice old school XC riding.
This went up on STW the other day from the guy who created it, looks well researched and interesting to me as it passes through where I used to live in the Cotswolds -
https://www.escapism.bike/routes/tour-of-the-cotswolds 400km, 5,300m climbing.
This went up on STW the other day from the guy who created it, looks well researched and interesting to me as it passes through where I used to live in the Cotswolds -
https://www.escapism.bike/routes/tour-of-the-cotswolds 400km, 5,300m climbing.
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
Not quite in England but if you want a hilly gravel route with lots of climbing and some great views, remote at times and loads of places to camp check out The Argyll Trail.
http://bikepackingscotland.com/argyll/
Pictures on the website dont really do it justice.
http://bikepackingscotland.com/argyll/
Pictures on the website dont really do it justice.
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
I'd love to be back in Scotland, but sadly that's a bit too far!
Looks lovely. I might keep that around just for me!jameso wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:07 am This went up on STW the other day from the guy who created it, looks well researched and interesting to me as it passes through where I used to live in the Cotswolds -
https://www.escapism.bike/routes/tour-of-the-cotswolds 400km, 5,300m climbing.
Re: UK (off road / gravel) Rides with Tons of Climbing?
See you there maybe.Richard G wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 11:29 am I'd love to be back in Scotland, but sadly that's a bit too far!
Looks lovely. I might keep that around just for me!jameso wrote: ↑Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:07 am This went up on STW the other day from the guy who created it, looks well researched and interesting to me as it passes through where I used to live in the Cotswolds -
https://www.escapism.bike/routes/tour-of-the-cotswolds 400km, 5,300m climbing.