Gralloch 2024

Anyone doing the Gralloch gravel race tomorrow? Weather’s looking good so should be good fun.

Never heard of it – but looks like it will be using a bunch of trails I was going to saunter along on Saturday so might move my route north of the Queens Way to keep off track (just in case I pass too many racers on my hardtail) 😉

My boss is up there for it, he’s a pretty fit and competitive 53 year old and is taking it quite seriously and has done a fair bit of training, I’m looking forward to seeing his results.

Did it last year and got spat out the back within first km! Great route and good event, but it is primarily a race, hence why I’m not doing it this year.

Also, seemed to be plenty of folk unused to rough gravel – bottles all over the place on the first descent and a lot of folk puncturing.

I’ll be marshalling there tomorrow, somewhere at the start and then on the final road descent down from Gatehouse station. watch out for a change from last year as is now be turning off pretty sharpish partway down the hill to go past carstramon

Should be cool to see, they reckon there is 2000 people riding it this time. Saw that some of the riders joined in with the bike bus to school this morning which is nice to see.

For anyone looking for a less racing gravel event nearby there is ‘big onion’ gravel in a few weeks:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/solway-coast-big-onion-gravel-100km70km-tickets-875874252467

uses different trails but still a big day out, a bit cheaper than the gralloch too

Am entered to ride it but not organising or anything

My company sponsors Matt Holmes who’s racing Gralloch as his debut gravel event. He’s going pretty well, won the Lincoln Grand Prix last Sunday, so he’s one to watch out for.

A (actual) couple of the racers at our club are doing it, think it’s their first gravel race. I expect reports of much swearing, moaning and top 10 age group finishes for both!

Friend is doing it, he already gashed a new tyre in practice yesterday (he races a lot of enduro so is used to rocks)

He did it last year but found it tough going so has been doing a lot more cardio – running etc

According to FB we actually have 6 from our club up there, plus a couple of hangers on

Mums just back from her bike run around coastline to gatehouse for a half pint then back to kirkcudbright, she said gatehouse is absolutely **** hoaching wi folk everywhere, nice warm day for it at least but they’ll be a few folk suffering from heat exhaustion/dehydration I fear

Punctures seems to be a recurring theme, is it because it’s a proper race and people just smashing over stuff they might normally steer around?

Love a big gravel day out but sounds a bit hardcore for me 😬

Punctures seems to be a recurring theme, is it because it’s a proper race and people just smashing over stuff they might normally steer around?

Love a big gravel day out but sounds a bit hardcore for me 😬

I imagine there is a lot of roadies doing it with <28mm tyres or suchlike but the forest roads can have sections with a rough hardcore surface that may catch folk out.

As a local (kirkcudbright) I rode the big loops since early 90’s on our bikes and can count the number of punctures I got on one hand, used to spend days/long weekends up the Galloway hills without issues but I was used to riding on the forest roads

is it because it’s a proper race and people just smashing over stuff they might normally steer around?

I’d go with this – I definitely mash my bike far more in races than normal riding. Hardly ever break anything or pinch etc normal riding – racing different story. Something like the Gralloch you’re probably on wheels or in groups a lot so not a lot of time to react on a line, certainly can be impossible to plan a line which is most of the battle imo when avoiding pinches etc.

Mrs Yak had a good race today. Said it was hot and she wasn’t able to get into a group with the 2 cat leaders so soloed around for 3rd in cat. Pretty tough and she said it seems a slightly higher overall standard this year and more riders in the female cats. Was on 45mm schwalbe G One Rs and no issues.  Thanks to folk on the gravel tyre thread who recommended them.

Had a good ride today, 20 minutes faster than last year but I wasn’t ready for the heat! Great to see such a big event in Galloway and lots of locals giving support along the course.