Gravel Corner

Monthly gravel ride

Launched in late 2024, our monthly gravel rides have had large numbers attending and clearly filled a gap. These are not just Club road rides taking place off road: they represent a way of discovering new terrain, developing new skills and of riding together in a different way. A more social and non-competitive way of riding where there is more scope for relaxed conversation and where taking time out to appreciate the wonderful landscape is more important than getting to the top of a hill first. 

Please consider coming along - even if you are not yet a club member - just turn up as notified in the weekly club email. Feedback from non-members who have taken part has been extremely positive. If you are already a strong off-road rider, join the Moderate Level option which is slightly faster and longer than the Entry Level with more climbing and slightly more technical sections (but we're not talking Downhill Mountain Biking level !). 

When and where

• Every first Thursday of the month. 
• Dates through to the end of 2025 are:
• Q1 2025 - 2nd Jan, 6th Feb, 6th Mar 
• Q2 2025 - 3rd April, 1st May, 5th June 
• Q3 2025 - 3rd July, 7th Aug, 4th Sept 
• Q4 2025 - 2nd Oct, 6th Nov, 4th Dec
• The default starting point and time will be 9.30am from Ludlow Eco Park. Where a starting point away from Ludlow is chosen,  this will be made clear in the e-mail communication a few days beforehand which will include precise details of the start location. There may also need to be some variation in the start time for one or both rides.
• Please note that these will not replace our regular Thursday 09.30 road ride from the Eco Park which will still be available to members who prefer.

What to expect - Moderate level rides:

• Distance 40 - 56 km (25 - 35 miles) with approx. 914m (3,000ft) of climbing
• Surfaces - whilst billed as “gravel” riders should also expect grass, pressed earth, quiet asphalt lanes and, given our location, sometimes a bit of mud. Whilst most of the routes will be double track requiring only modest off-road competence, there may be short stretches of more technical single-track, to join up bits of the route
• Fitness level and other participant requirements - “Moderate” club road ride group capability is required. Bike choice needs to be appropriate to the conditions and participants should have independent means of communication and navigation. Whilst the ride leader is there to help get everyone home safe these are unpaid volunteers and participants need to take a high level of personal responsibility for their own safety. 
• Most routes particularly in winter will include a cafe stop but where this is not possible there will be a target stopping place for participants to rest, recover and make use of "on board" refreshments.

What to expect - Entry level gravel rides

• An entry level gravel ride will take place on the same days and times as the main gravel rides (see above dates). The aim of this will be to help support and encourage those who are less experienced, less confident or simply have a bit less time.
• The entry level gravel ride will follow the same principles as the moderate level ride but will offer a shorter, easier and gentler option. As a broad guideline participants should expect between half and two thirds of the distance and level of climbing of the main route. 
• Where possible we will try to have some interlinkage between the two routes. The default starting point will usually be the same, some of the same route may be used and if it is feasible to make use of the same cafe or refreshment stop we will. The ideal, as with our regular Sunday rides, is that participants have the choice of going out with one group and coming back with the other but in practice this will often be very difficult to achieve and should not be relied on.
• Although necessitating a somewhat lower level of fitness, participant requirements are otherwise the same as for the moderate ride. Bike choice needs to be appropriate and participants and should have independent means of communication and navigation. 
  

Additional Information

• Choice of Bikes
• All our gravel rides are suitable for any gravel, cyclocross or cross country mountain bike. We recommend tyres have at least some knobbles, especially in winter, as there are often muddy sections. Mudguards are encouraged as getting seats filthy doesn’t endear us to cafe owners. 
• Please ensure you have sufficient tools to deal with punctures and minor mechanicals on route. This should include 2 inner tubes (even if running tubeless), tyre levers, puncture repair outfit, a decent pump and a multitool. If you run deeper section rims make sure valves on spare tubes are long enough. A spare rear mech hanger and spare disc pads are a good idea too. A GOPS device, same food and water are also advised.

• Ride Leadership - Each month one person will be nominated to be the group leader for a session. Before the event they will help plan a suitable route the main details of which (meeting place, distance, climbing and café stop) will be communicated to all members a couple of days beforehand. On the day they will share any salient points with the group at the start of the ride and then help “Lead” the ride around the route, endeavouring to keep the group together. If unforeseen circumstances arise they will take responsibility for decision making, prioritising safety. The initial pool of ride leader volunteers is:
• Moderate Level - Isla Rowntree, Paul Rogers and Richard Bates
• Entry Level - Andy Creed and Gwyneth Bowyer

• Navigation and the use of GPX files - Although cyclists rode together in groups for over 100 years without GPS devices, many of us now find it stressful setting off without a GPX route to hand. For a variety of reasons, detailed below, it should be noted that at this stage in the development of the Clubs Off Road initiative, no GPX level route information will be provided to ride participants beforehand. Instead, we will issue a detailed description of the general route, the distance and amount of climbing involved, and also the likely ground conditions to expect. In case of emergency we all have instant route planning facilities on our phone, should we need to abandon a ride for some reason. 
• The conundrum in organising regular off-road rides at a Club level is that on the one hand it is significantly more difficult to keep a group together and on the other it is even more important to do so. The nature of the terrain and ground conditions mean that riders naturally get strung out and easily separated. Mechanicals and the occasional tumble are part of the territory and in remote areas it becomes critical that any accident/incident is spotted quickly and dealt with by the group. 
• Plotting a route off-road is often imprecise and the ride leader, having usually tested out the route beforehand, needs to be in a position to show the actual way on the ground. In particular to be able to stop the group and advise in advance of difficult technical sections, a hazardous junction or a requirement to walk a short section because it is classed as a footpath. Inevitably GPX files lead to the tendency for a group to spread out and break up as stronger riders press on. Routes often have to be altered immediately before or during a ride, and it is impossible to switch participants across to “contingency options” if riders have disappeared out of earshot. 

• Off-road access
• Off-road access for cyclists in England and Wales is complex, nuanced and sometimes murky. Our leadership group is experienced on the subject and always strives to exercise careful judgement and local knowledge when planning routes, using Cycling UK’s resources as a useful reference to keep up to date with the latest situation (see https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/cycling-guide/where-can-i-cycle-off-road for a general overview)
• When planning routes, clearly established Club policy is not to ride on Public Footpaths where cycling is not permitted. All rides to date have adhered to this policy and will continue to do so.