Gravel Rally

Gravel Rally by Panceltic Race Series - 80 miles & 10,000ft.

The Gravel Rally is an all-new micro-adventure that plants your tyres firmly on the earth beneath you, paying homage to the spirit and roar of the traditional motor rally scene that can be found echoing around the forests and mountains in Snowdonia. The course tackles a range of terrain, from mountain balcony road to deep immersive forests, with stunning lakes, open moor land and green lanes, The Gravel Rally promises to whisk you away into a deep rooted and hearty challenge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVs65l3oZWw

Anyone else entered? A friend did the inaugural version last year & it sounded ridiculously tough, but a decent laugh. So naturally our gravel riding group has signed up.

Why not just rock up to llanberis beddgelert or blanau and go from there. Plus that “follow the motors”that rag it round the forests is rather annoying.

@platypus @giofox and @amey are in

Fair comment. I'll be honest & say I'd be unlikely to plot a route as devious as this sounds, & it's sometimes hard getting mates together for a ride these days, so nice to have something to aim for.

Not much gravel in that video. I guess it doesn’t sound as cool to call them ‘bridle-path bikes’

SFAB bikes also applies. Gravel in the UK is a spectrum.

Thanks but I have my holidays sorted already this year

I think it looks like a lot of fun. But again with sportives like this you're paying to be a 'part' of something, you're not really getting anything else for your money. I get that back in the day what used to be valuable local knowledge was worth paying for, but it's now just a free ridewithgps click away, so now if you want to go do it you can - there's not a reason really to pay if you just want to ride your bike.

There is obviously a reason non-racing events exist though, and there is a spectrum: from £6 entry X-rated audax events up to those Fyre Festival Haute Route all-inclusives for when the Audi TTS is in the shop. Somewhere on the lower end is for example is the Hell of the Ashdown sportive which I'm doing with my local lycra brigade. It's basically a waste of money but as a group we'll be into it - I'm not sure that makes it worth the entry fee but I will get something for my money if you see what I mean.

A lumpy course in Wales that has been designed for CX bikes sounds awesome, especially as I don't own a money-pit MTB. I for one look forward to stealing the route for future use.

And can someone tell me what SFAB is? I missed it's coinage and I can't look back through the gravel bike thread due to its radioactive nature.

Shit From A Butt, aka primo british gravel

Sad this is type of gravel bike, although fairplay I have ridden in epping before and it fits

Unsurprisingly turned out to be a corker of a route = 80 miles & 11,000 ft of climbing. Stunning scenery, punchy climbs & fab descents.

I'd have liked to have gone a bit harder, but slept poorly before & struggled with keeping on top of energy all day. Managed to come ninth in my category, which is alright, no way I could hold onto the wheel of my mate who managed fourth! The format of timed secteurs & chiller bits in between meant that I could ride with my friends in between & then regroup afterwards which was nice.

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Looks awesome. Looks like maybe 3/4 sharp ones but the rest of the climbing was fairly steady? I am obviously jealous. And great riding, you put in some efforts!

Yeah, it was bookended with a killer first & last climb, then one in the middle - all of which were paved & about 20%. Rest were much gentler & gravellier gradients.

Cheers! Didn't go too hard, so it was a fun day out. The Panceltic crowd are a proper friendly bunch.