This Gruff year, our seventh, we have permission to use one of the areas greatest examples of permissive bridleway – the four gritstone edges that make our valley so unique.We hope everyone will appreciate the choices we have made, with some challenging but rewarding riding our priority. If you have ridden the Gruff before, you will recognise many sections; as always we have introduced variations to ‘peak’ your interest, a few tweaks to improve the flow and given you the option of a steady or a BIG finish. 

We have retested and ridden every metre of the ride; no apologies for including the superb Long Dale via some quality gravel tracks which we can’t reach without the extra (s)miles. Again, with 4 options, it’s your choice; you can switch as you like on the day. It’s been dry virtually all summer so consider tyre choices with the weather in mind ? it has all been tested on a gravel bike with 35s although 40+ / 650B wheels / hardtail MTB will add comfort. Throughout the route there are several quality coffee and cake stops and a few pub options if required. Stay safe, hydrate and please share photos and feedback!

We believe in a relaxed start where you register and go in your own time, maybe after a butty and complimentary barista coffee/tea. This allows us to stretch out the riders and keep the tracks and trails free for you and your mates to enjoy. It’s still not a race!

Dave and the Goat Team

Our good friends along the valley at Alpkit Hathersage and Eric of The Cycle Shed and Gravel Bikes UK are providing mechanical support at the Event Centre,  plus spot prizes for a couple of the Gruff ‘Strava Segments’.

Previous Gruff editions were forays into the Dark Peak, often over tough, off-road tracks shared with our MTB community. After feedback, we turned our focus to the White Peak and the green lanes, quarry tracks and trails, drove roads and bridleways that suit the gravel riding we love.

Last year’s loops emphasised the gravel tracks and trails we have in abundance in the South Peak and were very well received, described as the ‘Strada Bianche’ of the Derbyshire Dales. Take all the time you need and  enjoy the views, the flow & maybe a cake in a caff (or pint in a pub garden 😉

FAQs, advice on terrain, food and drink stops, equipment and conditions will be updated via email on Thursday 11th September.

All participants can register from 8.30 a.m. and are free to set off individually or in small groups in your own time from 9 a.m, leaving the roadies to queue in their roadie pens.   If you are Old School Audax, you’ll bring your own OS Map for your back pocket…