Surrey Hills Off Road Epic

[JD82]

Anyone done this before?

https://just-pedal.com/surrey-hills-epic/

Feel like a challenge...

If you have, MTB or Gravel bike best suited to the terrain? I've ridden both in Surrey Hills, but wondering how they skew this route in particular most years?

[MarcelM6]

Haven't done the one you've posted a link to, but have done this one (The Surrey Hills one)
https://sportivebreaks.com/gravel-rides/uk-gravel-...

Sounds like a similar route. 4 of us on gravel bikes, nobody felt out of their depth. Very pretty, nice route. Don't need a mtb unless you are an extremely nervous rider.

[option click]

any chance of a link to that Surrey Hills route / GPX?

[cml24]

I live in Dorking, so regularly ride around here (road and trails). I'd have a go at that I reckon, quite tempted.

I've never done any organized events though, so would be a bit nervous of my ability!

I've done 100mile plus rides, and I've done the Leith Hill Octtopus as well, all on an old steel MTB, so reckon i'd have a reasonable go at it.

[yellowjack]

For once an organised event that actually looks interesting!

I've only ever done races (MTB XC on closed lap courses) or one entry to RideLondon/Surrey. Normally a sportive wouldn't interest me in the slightest though.

This one (or two, as another link was posted) actually look different enough to get me considering an entry. Not sure what state my bikes are in right now though, so I'm going to have to do some garage sorting to work out how much bike maintenance I'd need to be doing to get the bikes "fit" for the start line. I'm spending far too much on my road bike right now as well, so these events may be (financially) beyond my reach this year...

[maccas99]

I might have a go at the Epic 75 as I normally (pandemic aside) spent each weekend up on the Surrey Hills as it's only about 30 minutes from me. Thanks for the heads up.

[seiben]

MarcelM6 said:

Don't need a mtb unless you are an extremely nervous rider.

Apols for selective quoting, but as someone without a gravel bike - would this mean a full-sus MTB is going to be complete overkill? Or am I overthinking it

[MarcelM6]

seiben said:

Apols for selective quoting, but as someone without a gravel bike - would this mean a full-sus MTB is going to be complete overkill? Or am I overthinking it

Full sus XC bike will be fine, but if it's a 150mm trail bike I'd say it's overkill. Some downhill singletrack that was testing on a gravel bike, but majority is road and gentle gravel

[MarcelM6]

option click said:

any chance of a link to that Surrey Hills route / GPX?

This is the strava route

https://www.strava.com/routes/2747412955660041180

[option click]

^ brilliant, thanks for that

[JD82]

MarcelM6 said:

This is the strava route

https://www.strava.com/routes/2747412955660041180

Great - thanks - good training route!

[upsidedownmark]

seiben said:

Apols for selective quoting, but as someone without a gravel bike - would this mean a full-sus MTB is going to be complete overkill? Or am I overthinking it

Probably complete overkill, but who cares? Ride what you have and enjoy it

[dogbucket]

upsidedownmark said:

seiben said:

Apols for selective quoting, but as someone without a gravel bike - would this mean a full-sus MTB is going to be complete overkill? Or am I overthinking it

Probably complete overkill, but who cares? Ride what you have and enjoy it

MTB would be absolutely fine. In fact you could modify the route and for example go down Barrys Knows Best rather than Radnor Road which is much more fun. (If you were doing it outside of the actual event)

Edited by dogbucket on Monday 29th March 14:33