This event is featured in 2024's UK Gravel Events Best of the Year on offroad.cc
Returning for a sixth successful year!
It’s ideal for gravel bikes, MTBs, cyclocross bikes and ebikes and takes in the best gravel trails of East Devon. This year it starts from Bicton College to the Imperial Recreation Ground in Exmouth. This just adds a few flat, traffic free miles along the excellent and very scenic Exe Estuary Trail to the Extreme, Full, Standard and Mini routes.
Please note that the Full is only 12K longer than the Standard but they are twelve very tough kilometres including Core Hill which is the toughest climb of the whole ride!
All routes take in some of the best sections of Woodbury Common. Highlights include Woodbury Castle and some great single track on the common, a section of the Exe Estuary path, a climb up for views of the sea at the top of Beacon Hill and also Mutter Moor.
The Mini route is fully marked. The Mini includes all the Woodbury Common sections of the course where it is easiest to miss a turn.
For the three longer routes you will need a Garmin, Wahoo or phone for navigation purposes.
The routes are designed to be ridden on a gravel bike but a cyclocross bike or a lightweight XC mountain bike will be almost as quick. E-mountain bikes are also welcome. The ride is not suitable for road bikes and a minimum tyre width of 35mm and 40mm+ will be best.
Don’t underestimate these rides! You need to add at least 50 percent onto the distances to get the ‘road’ equivalent in time and energy required to take them on.
Bicton College
East Budleigh
Budleigh Salterton
Devon
EX9 7BY
UK
There’s plenty of parking near HQ.
If you’ve booked camping you can park free in the camping area.
Just put this address in your phone or satnav: Imperial Recreation Ground, Exmouth, EX8 1EN
Sportiva Events is doing its best to minimise the environmental impact of this event. Here are a few of their initiatives:
For all events which include a t-shirt, there is the option to plant a tree instead through a partnership with Treesnottees
New paper cups have been sourced to be fully recycled back into high-grade paper.
Lots of competitors are not interested in finishers' medals so they are now optional. A £2 charity donation is made for every medal not selected.
Swim hats are provided for open water swimming events as they help the water safety teams keep track of swimmers. However for all pool events, swim hats are now on request to reduce wastage.
Reusable zip ties are used and all rubbish is sorted for recycling after the event.
At the Burrator 10K running race those who commit to walking or cycling to the event get £5 discount.
What a fantastic event, brilliant organisation and superb challenging course, had a bit everything. We will be back next year. Jake Goddard