Yorkshire True Grit Race Report

<Back to News Home |

Editor’s Note: This is a release from the United Kingdom, Yorkshire, where their first gravel grinder event was marked by “truly appalling conditions”. In other words, it sounds perfect! Read on to see how this type of event is just now finding its footing over the pond.

Cyclists Show Yorkshire True Grit at New Event

September 7th, 2016: One hundred and fifty-four cyclists departed from Duncombe Park, Helmsley, on Sunday 4th September in appalling conditions to take part in the first Yorkshire True Grit.

yorkshire_mg_9715

Yorkshire True Grit had been devised by Easingwold-bike shop Bikewright owner, Andrew Wright. Based on the popular US Gravel Grinder format this event was designed to test endurance and skill. Using a combination of public bridleways and gravel tracks on private land this event journeyed across the North York Moors. yorkshire_mg_9572

There were three route choices – The Stampede (20 miles), The Drive (40 miles) and The Outlaw (60 miles). The Outlaw proved the most popular and this was a real test of True Grit as the winds blasted across the open moorland and the clouds descended.

Twenty-six riders failed to finish the courses – mainly beaten by the weather. “It had always been designed to be a ride to test”, said Andrew Wright,” but add in the rain and wind and this became a real challenge, driving riders to find their ‘True Grit’ and determination to finish”. “It was an emotional moment for everyone involved when all the riders departed Duncombe Park – there has been a lot of behind the scenes work to get this new event off the ground. The volunteer marshals were essential to the running of the event – without them we couldn’t have gone ahead”. said Andrew.

yorkshire_mg_9771“The feedback from the participants has been amazing – we are delighted with the way that they embraced the conditions and the challenge they presented. There was a mix of Gravel Bikes and Mountain Bikes out on the course, the Gravel Bikes swept up with 8 of the 10 first riders at the finish using them in The Outlaw. We’re already talking about next year’s event…”.

York-based Chia Charge supported the event; as did The Forresters Arms, Kilburn; Curious Table, Easingwold; T-café, Kilburn; Norstar Real Estate and Neil Thorne Engineering. The event was raising money for three charities: St Monica’s Hospital, Easingwold; Scarborough & Ryedale Mountain Rescue and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. An announcement will be made over the next few weeks regarding the amount to be donated.

Note: Words and images provided by Deborah Goodall of Aer8 Marketing. Images credit: Michael Kirkman.

Discuss and share your questions or thoughts about gravel bikes, gear, events and anything else on the Riding Gravel Forum.

Share:

Author: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted hails from Iowa. Home of over 70,000 miles of gravel and back roads. An inaugural member of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame and Co-creator of Trans Iowa in late 2004- Guitar Ted has been at the forefront of the growth of gravel events and riding since then. Creator of Gravel Grinder News in 2008, he produced the premier calendar of gravel and back road events. GT joined forces with Riding Gravel in late 2014.

Related Articles

2 thoughts on “Yorkshire True Grit Race Report

  1. Being one of the nutters who set of in the down poor into the sticky glup that then turned to silt ? I would say bring on next year with some sun shine please ( I must get my arse to the us and do a proper ride ) Neil

  2. Thinking of doing one of the 2018 True Grit rides on a cyclocross bike. What 700C tyres did you use? Were they ok or would you recommend any others? Thanks, Dave.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.