Taking inspiration from the gravel racing scene of the US Midwest, home of SBT GRVL and UNBOUND Gravel (to name just two events), Dirty Reiver offers the same test of endurance, only a little closer to home. It ties together 200km of fire roads and gravel tracks in the Kielder Forest, along with 3,500m of ascent; a gruelling test of endurance and equipment in one of the most beautiful landscapes the British Isles has to offer.
The first edition, held in 2016, sold out in a week. Its popularity has only grown. With the explosion in off-road drop bar riding, it is now widely considered the premier gravel event in the UK and Weldtite are a key partner to the event.
The course is not intended as a race, rather a mass start Gran Fondo were finishing the event is the goal for most riders. This doesn’t stop people battling it out for the win.
Head over to Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling to discover Jacob Tipper's first hand account of the 2021 Dirty Reiver. Grab a coffee first! It's a great read.
Source & Images: Ribble Cycles Blog, Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling