These are blessed times, dear reader. Nary a week goes by without news of another gravel event popping up in the calendar. Great news for those of us who like our drop-barred events long and gritty, rather than short and muddy.
The majority of events in the UK have so far been single day affairs, so it’s interesting to see Gritfest popping up over a weekend in June. Here’s the Press Release before we get into the deets:
Gritfest – Wales’ Premier Gravel racing event
Gritfest is set to become Wales’s biggest and best gravel event using the fantastic terrain of mid wales and captivating surroundings in an event format that equally rewards and challenges all! It celebrates all that is great about adventure and gravel bikes.
Matt Page – Event Director “ We’ve been riding cross bikes around these tracks and trails for years and now with the trend of fatter tyred, better handling gravels bikes it seemed a perfect time to share the riding we loved with others!”
Mid Wales with its rugged and gravel laden terrain make the perfect location for drop barred Enduro racing. Over 2 days riders will test themselves riding 120km of wild welsh mountains and forests across 6 timed stages. It will be a challenge. However, for those who want a weekend of fun and riding that encompasses all of the joy that riding any number of drop barred adventure/gravel bikes bring then Gritfest 2018 is for you! We know not all of you will have drop bars and that some bits might even be faster on wide flat bars ,so the choice of bike is down to you. Come join us for a celebration of Gravel in Cilycwm, Llandovery.With Partners and Prizes to be announced soon it’s the perfect time to get involved in Gravel with Gritfest!
Bringing the best of Welsh Gravel to those wanting something a little bit different!
Sounds rad! Matt Page and A Cycling are the team behind Battle on the Beach, and know a bit about putting on an event. We are also fans of the “enduro” style format of racing – linking together timed stages with a longer route is a great way of getting your racing fix while also enjoying a sociable and challenging ride. The route details certainly don’t make the weekend look like a walk in the park:
- Day 1 – 80km, 1600m climbing
- Day 2 – 45km, 1000m climbing
- 70% off-road
- 30-40% on timed stages
The weekend kicks off on Friday 22 June, with camping opening and evening entertainment, with racing on Sat 23rd and Sun 24th of June. Should you want to relax after finishing, the campsite doesn’t close until Monday 25th, so no need to rush off.
If you are as keen as we are, it might be worth getting your entry in sooner rather than later. Early bird prices apply until 31 December – £69 for the weekend. Prices go up to £99 after then.
For more details, check out the Gritfest website.