You understand that by using the Site you may be exposed to Content that is incorrect, or objectionable. Glorious Gravels Forest of Bowland Gravel Sportive. Patrick took part in the Glorious Gravels Forest of Bowland Gravel Sportive. Its your responsibility to ensure that you navigate within your own abilities and on property that is open to riding. Your access to and use of the Site may be interrupted from time to time as a result of equipment malfunction, updating, maintenance or repair of the Site or any other reason within or outside the control of GranFondoGuide.com. Our first event of 2023 will be inaugural 'The Big Lancs Charity Sportive' with the amazing Wheels for All being the main charity beneficiary. Starting from the charming village of Slaidburn, we begin with 16km on quiet back roads to warm up the legs before heading into Yorkshire & some climbing on the Pennine Bridleway over tarmac, stone & grass tracks. The Print+ membership where Singletrack magazine drops through your door, plus full digital access, is normally 45, now only 22.50 with the code. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 23 min to complete. Our route director will then be at the start to give you last minute advice and tips. Earlier this year, we highlighted a growing range of cycling sportives and events that allow participants to take part using an e-bike. Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty 1 specifications, Size: medium frameWheels: 650b with 42mm WTB Resolute tyresMotor: Bosch Performance Line CX motorBattery: Bosch PowerTub 500Wh batteryDrivetrain: SRAM X01 Eagle eTap AXS 12-speed drivetrainSuspension: Lefty Oliver Carbon fork with 30mm travel, Kingpin suspension system (in the frame). Fellow riders were extremely friendly, and not once did I hear thats cheating!, which is a first. Strictly necessary cookies do not require the user's consent, as they are essential for the proper functioning of the website. Experience this 2.4-mile out-and-back trail near Thousand Oaks, California. The contents of the cookie are encrypted and secured. Tracking and targeting cookies are a type of cookie used by websites to collect information about a user's browsing behaviour across multiple websites. Theres no denying some of the off-road sections were tricky, with some descents needing to be walked perhaps not for the superior bike handler, but as someone very aware of the value of the bike I was riding that I didn't own, I decided it best to not try my hand at becoming Rachel Atherton overnight. Let the community know how you got on and leave a review. See why Glorious Gravel is Britains most popular gravel events. After Settle we head north on the Pennine Way before cutting back into Lancashire for the final 23km on the famous Salter Fell Road finishing back at Slaidburn. Yes did it last year. Print/PDF map. A northern classic. Company No 13212861. Off-Road Made Easy Epic rides need epic support. All you need to do is sign up with us and then fill in our submit event form. This is a very wild ride with parts a long way from a paved road. There are many sites that will GPX files for a fee, a donation, or in some cases free. Learn more about our Strictly necessary cookies. If you have a complaint regarding this website, our policy, our terms of use, your membership details or any other matter, please use the Contact Us form to notify us. GranFondoGuide.com reserves the right to suspend or discontinue the availability of the Site and/or any Service and/or remove any Content at any time at its sole discretion and without prior notice. Once there, you'll find GPS information and GPX files pre-sorted by geographic location. You are currently viewing our UK site from France, would you like to switch sites? We took part in the Forest of Bowland Gravel Epic sportive using an e-bike, and this is how it went. We did the longer route and it was fantastic. Buses from the Interchange serve many of the surrounding major towns and a number of the smaller rural villages, including Slaidburn. After Settle we head north on the Pennine Way before cutting back into Lancashire for the final 23km on the famous Salter Fell Road finishing back at Slaidburn. Our route director will then be at the start to give you last minute advice and tips. Hell yeah bring it on! ROMANIA | STAGES: 4 | DIFFICULTY 3.5/5 | SEPT 2023, Get early-access to our most popular offers, (last one sold-out in just 22 min. Probably not. 1030 - Last riders start. Privacy | Terms | Work For Us, Copyright 2022 Glorious Cycling Ltd. 2 Upperton Gardens, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 2AH. This is final. Print/PDF map. Explore the scenic Macclesfiled Forest this May in this 75k sportive. One of our favourite gravel rides in the north of England, this ride is packed with amazing views and a wide variety of terrain. We then ride on quiet country lanes and then venture into the Gisburn Forest, which has a few technically easy (blue graded) single track sections before returning to Slaidburn. The Forest of Bowland Gravel Epic is part of a wider series of gravel events across the country (and even Europe) organised by Glorious Gravel. We will email you the GPX route & a full breakdown of the route one week before the ride. We have a newsletter (each week or fortnight) which contains the latest news. If you disagree with any part of the terms then you may not access the site. A northern classic. Near the Provo Temple, follow Rock Canyon Trail until it forks. Become a Gravel Union member for free! These cookies are necessary to provide services requested by the user, such as login authentication, shopping cart functionality, and other similar features. Probably not. Very good fitness required. Pre Ride Briefing Free pint or soft drink at finish pub The long route packs in over 3,500m of elevation & 6 big climbs in 100 miles. A northern classic. Account. The signage on the route and communication before the event with GPX files was excellent, and it was a very welcoming and accommodating atmosphere. The route itself took in some fantastic scenery. We aim to have an accurate, comprehensive and IMPARTIAL listing of all cycling events and the latest news and results. More gravelly inspiration? Terrain can be very difficult to ride, even for experts and outright dangerous. The failure of either party to exercise in any respect any right provided for herein shall not be deemed a waiver of any further rights hereunder. 7. The problem with electronic guidance devices is that they often display a route based on their programming, not the route you want to follow. GPX Files. I'm still buzzing, top work chaps! Here are the USA sections (excluding Alaska): There are also GPX files and information for the rest of the world (including Alaska). Gravel and off-road climbing is a whole other ballpark when it comes to draining a battery compared to climbing on the road. 0800 - 3-1-5 Health Club opens. The Forest of Bowland Gravel Epic is part of a wider series of gravel events across the country (and even Europe) organised by Glorious Gravel. KLR650 vs. GranFondoGuide.com may transfer, assign or delegate the Terms and its rights and obligations without consent. By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree not to use the Services: Please read this section carefully before posting, uploading, or otherwise submitting any Content to the site. Ill admit I fell foul of this and vastly underestimated the level of skill needed to tackle some of the route, but felt that a gravel bike was probably the better choice of bike for the overall route. You will ride over a variety of terrain, including gravel, long off-road sections and three stretches on quiet backroads. It's important I also state that unfortunately, I didn't complete the full route. Ride marshals supporting you on the route. There was one section of hike-a-bike which involved carrying it up a few steps to cross a bridge. This will include any content or any other information you provided. The Raptor Sportive is a great ride that explores the many miles of remote cycling country in and around this outstanding area - quiet roads and lanes throughout - along with breath taking scenery and challenging ascents. 20 miles to go how hard could it be Id managed to survive so far! While it is aimed primarily at gravel & adventure bikes, which are essentially fat tyred drop bar bikes, you are also most welcome on a mountain bike or cyclocross bike. We will email you the GPX route & a full breakdown of the route one week before the ride. Eventually, you are just trying to follow the ridgeline. In our world gravel riding is for everyone: e-bikes are welcome & there are no cut off times. By accessing the site, viewing any content or using any services available on the site (as each is defined below) you are agreeing to be bound by these terms, which together with our Privacy policy, governs our relationship with you in relation to the site. You are responsible for your own safety and actual navigation. The land has long been managed for game hunting and for farming; and the large country estates have had a controlling influence over the nature of building and development in the area. If you have authorized a minor to use the Site, you are responsible for the online conduct of such minor, and the consequences of any misuse of the Site by the minor. everyone: e-bikes are welcome Compare. Your personal details are secure and made available only to you, unless you share certain information with friends or family - that you authorise. Discover warm local cultures, exceptional food & some of the best gravel cycling on the planet in places most people will never go. And then the thirty thousand false flats of the Salter Fell Road seemed to carry on going up forever until eventuallyit turned into a downhill section that was not the comfiest on a gravel bike, but seemed to bring some energy back, well enough just to keep rolling to the bottom of the hill and to the finish. . But even as the battery charge hovered around 90%, the range estimate dropped significantly, to the point where Id ridden 30 miles, with roughly 20% of that using the assist, and the estimated range lay at about 19 miles on Tour setting. Here are the USA sections (excluding Alaska): Northeast, Southeast & Florida. With distances ranging from around 50km - 80km, and the promise . Epic rides need epic support. Explore some the beautiful scenery of the Ribble Valley and Bowland fells with a ride mixing paved roads, fire roads and single-track trails. One of the best gravel loops in England taking in two iconic sections - the Pennine Way and the ancient Salter Fell Road. Did you race? I bought a gravel bike with the idea of maybe riding some gravel, perhaps having a go at some CX racing and also because it could be used as my road training bike. In our world gravel riding is for Services include, but are not limited to, any service and/or content GranFondoGuide.com makes available to or performs for you, as well as the offering of any materials displayed, transmitted or performed on the Site or through the Services. It starts with some quiet lanes before hitting the highlight being towards the end of the route, Salter Fell Road, which follows most of the route of the old Roman Road. Difficult. When a user visits a website, a cookie may be set to track information such as the user's preferences, login information, or items in a shopping cart. Our Community About Strava Community Standards Careers Pros on Strava Follow Blog Facebook Instagram Twitter This is a very wild ride with parts a long way from a paved road. Rail services from the Interchange run to Rochdale via Blackburn and Manchester Victoria, and also through to Settle and Carlisle. Our events are fully sign-posted & include accurate GPX files + mechanics at stops. Each year I like to set myself a new cycling challenge. Shortlist. With a brilliant route and exceptionally well-organised event, it was tempting to give Glorious Gravel the full five stars for the Forest of Bowland Epic (especially considering the sausage rolls). Although it would have been nice to challenge myself along Salter Fell, I did get to see some of the organisation and logistics that go into running one of these events, and the team ran it with impressive efficiency and coordination. You will be asked to select a start window which we will then confirm one week before the ride to ensure you roll out in group sizes based on current restrictions. Heres a smattering of these types of sites. 45 in Hiking [+] Land Owner. 0900 - First riders start. Come ride the best fire roads, gravel trails, bridleways & singletracks. No membership is required to view much of the content on GranFondoGuide.com, but as a condition to posting or publishing content on GranFondoGuide.com, you are required to open an account with GranFondoGuide.com and select a password, and to provide registration information. Careful planning is necessary to ensure your GPS takes you via the route you want. with friendly faces, real food and GPS device with route loaded,Spare tube or Tubeless plug, Pump and/or CO2,Mini tool,Jacketand/oradditional layers. Nonetheless, there were times when I wished I had a mountain bike and a dropper post, but the gains made on the downhill would have been quickly lost on the road or more compact terrain. All Content posted or otherwise submitted to the Site is the sole responsibility of the account holder from which such Content originates and you acknowledge and agree that you, and not GranFondoGuide.com are entirely responsible for all Content that you post, or otherwise submit to the Site. Will I ever do a CX race? The Raptor - 63 Mile Forest of Bowland Sportive 20 Jun 2021 - Lancaster, Lancashire Summary Location Routes Nearby Comments Join us in exploring the many miles of remote cycling country in and around this outstanding area that is rarely ridden except by local enthusiasts (like us). What to bring:You will be further from van support or facilities you would find in most towns than with our road trips so it is advisable to take a little more with you. Looks similar to a pdf that has OS map refs from forestofbowland.co.uk just wondered how doable it is as on the pdf it says mountain bike. This is a very wild ride with parts a long way from a paved road. Were pretty sure that your local bike shop is supposed to sell you stuff, but this time its been the customers selling the gravel bike concept to bike shop mechanic Patrick at Blazing Saddles in the UK. We have created the following routes using the outdooractive App. Learn more about our Tracking and targeting cookies. Make the most of your run or ride with Strava Routes. A brilliant mixture of surfaces that made for such a great day out. Suitable for all skill levels. These cookies are often used for advertising purposes and can track the user's interests and some personal information. I'd highly recommend it if you're after a challenging day out and want to explore some of the best Yorkshire and Lancashire countryside on offer. Strictly necessary cookies are a type of cookie that is essential for a website to function properly. They are sorted into larger chunks and include: These files will give you a pretty good head start on finding some excellent routes/tracks. Discover Bowland and explore 803 sq km of rural Lancashire and Yorkshire. Length 13.9 miElevation gain 4,875 ftRoute type Out & back. To get them tocooperate, you often have to program them so that they take you on the precise route planned. Surfaces can be paved, dirt/gravel, sand etc. Find out why our riders call these events ride of a lifetime. Just to say I loved the event yesterday so much it was a brilliant route great organising and super vibe. You can control these by clicking 'Manage settings'. Well first was the age-old question of what tyres should I use. A northern classic. Then came the first feed station, where the organisers had laid on a nice spread including some lovely cheese and pickle sandwiches which went down a treat as did the toilet in the village hall. Ride marshals supporting you on the route Considering my strength was on the road (I am a closet triathlete after all), I thought Id choose some with a smooth central rib to help me on the road sections and some knobbly bits on the sides to help with the gravel sections and ended up with some Specialized Pathfinder Pros and I wasnt disappointed they turned out to be the perfect choice! Become a member for free and enjoy the benefits! Each year I like to set myself a new cycling challenge. They never said it would be in sideways wind and up 17% gradient climbs thanks god for the waffle! You get the idea. The Hardest Hundred Sportive Series comes to one of the most beautiful parts of the country in May, the glorious Forest of Bowland. One of the best gravel loops in England taking in two iconic sections - the Pennine Way and the ancient Salter Fell Road. Clitheroe Interchange is about 8 miles away. In the last few years, individual apps have become available that let you plan your route without connecting to a computer. Difficulty: If any provision of the Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that the Terms shall otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable. GPS device with route loaded,Spare tube or Tubeless plug,Pump and/or CO2,Mini tool,Jacketand/oradditional layers. GPS device with route loaded,Spare tube or Tubeless plug,Pump and/or CO2,Mini tool,Jacketand/oradditional layers. Trans Canada Adventure Trail (TCAT) Trans Canada Adventure Trail GPX files are provided through Gravel Travel. One of our favourite gravel rides in the North of England, this ride is packed with amazing views and a wide variety of terrain. There were two routes to choose from the long, at 110km (68 miles) with 2300m climbing, and the shorter which consisted of 96km (59 miles) and 1900m climbing. Join a friendly, supportive peloton of off-roaders just like you for multi-stage gravel rides as far from the beaten-path as you can get. The battery remained quite high as I endeavoured to use it as little as possible, fearful of the amount of climbing to come. Some software also provide the capability to edit the GPX file you just downloaded. I'd recommend it to anyone and I'll definitely be back. To register as a member you need to allow cookies within your browser. The views made up for it though as we rode past the Ribblehead Viaduct. It is possible that the GPX files provide routes that are impassable at certain weather, times of the year, or outright impassable. Forest of Bowland Gravel epic: what's it like to do a sportive on an e-bike? Cascade Mountain is a series of several peaks, with the tallest being one of the furthest. We took part in the Forest of Bowland Gravel Epic sportive using an e-bike, and this is how it went . What's Included GPX Files Pre ride briefing The road section seemed to go uphill forever and I was pretty broken by the time I got to the top where the road had turned into loose gravel and lots of people were walking and pushing their bikes. Its a challenging gravel climb that will reward you with spectacular views in all directions before getting a coffee stop in Wray. Reach the finish to enjoy a post-race beer and earn your medal. New car reviews; Used car reviews; Long-term reviews; Services are available only to individuals who are either (i) at least 18 years old, or (ii) at least 14 years old, and who are authorized to access the Site by a parent or legal guardian. Filter Once inside, youll find all sorts of information with GPS topics. The route starts in the small town of Slaidburn. We recommend a tyre width of 33+mm for most for our rides. There are three questions everyone asks when buying something Cycling shoe brand Quoc has launched the Lalashan Collection, a Golazo Cycling have announced that this year's edition of the Not every ride can be an epic bikepacking adventure, but even Glorious Gravel: Forest of Bowland Gravel Sportive, Gucci, GRVL and GranGuanche: Pete digs deep in the Canaries, Review: Rockrider Mountain Bike Hydration Pack ST 500, Quoc launches new shoes inspired by forest mushrooms, Tour of Cambridgeshire to fold after final 2023 edition, Ride marshals supporting you on the route. Even the first 15km or so on the road was spectacular, climbing up into the base of the Yorkshire Dales and eventually heading onto the first gravel section. While it is aimed primarily at Gravel & Adventure bikes, which are essentially fat tyred drop bar bikes, you are also most welcome on a mountain bike or cyclocross bike. Our route director will then be at the start to give you last minute advice and tips. This trail starts out as a pretty clear trail, but gradually dissipates as you reach each peak. A brand new style of cycling event - our Bellions are a cross between an Audax and a Sportive - using modern technology to reduce the need for event numbers, signage, marshals, timekeeping, mass starts and feed stations - using GPX, Strava and local facilities en route instead.