DRACULA COUNTRY GRAVEL - 28th May, 2022

RIDE OVERVIEW

Welcome to Dracula Country in the North Yorkshire Moors. It is from our base in Whitby that Bram Stoker wrote his famous book based on local events.

And we have a suitable 90km gravel epic with a bite ?. With a mix of seaside riding & epic sections across the moors, the route gives you a perfect view of this stunning part of Yorkshire finishing by Whitby Abbey.

LONG ROUTE: 90KM, 1600M

MEDIUM ROUTE: 55KM, 900M

LONG ROUTE DIFFICULTY 4/5

MEDIUM ROUTE DIFFICULTY 2.5/5

PERCENTAGE OF ROUTE OFF ROAD 50%

Bike & Tyre Choice: A mix of ride surfaces await on the Dracula Country Gravel Epic. 50% of the 90km route is on quiet backroads so a gravel bike is preferred for overall speed. The Cinder Track south from Whitby is fast and smooth though some of the off road sections over the moors can be rougher with some rocky patches and a couple of hike a bike sections. We will send out an email with tyre recommendation based on conditions at the time.

RIDE HIGHLIGHTS

 – Beautifully varied route along the coast & over moors

 – Ride the Cinder Trail from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay

 – One epic off road & one epic backroad sections over the Yorkshire Moors

 – Social drink at the finish village

THE ROUTE

Whitby: 90km long route OR 55km medium route

A gravel epic with a bite! Choose between two mostly lumpy routes with varied terrain and stunning views. Suitable for all abilities, the 55km ride is a great introduction to gravel riding with some climbing or take on the full 90km epic.

LONG ROUTE

Whitby: 90km, 1600m

Starting from Whitby, the route takes the Cinder Trail south to Robin Hood’s Bay over some tarmac and gravel. After some glorious coastal miles we continue down to Harewood Dale Forest for more varied terrain before turning inland and heading over the moors on a stunning 25km off road section.

We then take some lovely backroads on the moors up to Egton Bridge before heading back to Whitby after a final climb and descent to the coast. The final section by the sea gives us views of Whitby Abbey before a well deserved beer back at the ride village.

RIDE DIFFICULTY: 4/5

MEDIUM ROUTE

Whitby: 55km, 900m

A mega medium route in Dracula Country taking in a mix of coastal riding and off road sections over the Moors.

The medium follows the long route for the first 40km before the split. You can choose on the day which route to ride so if you are feeling great, head left, if not, turn right with just 15km to go.

The start of the medium route takes us south to Robin Hood’s Bay over the Cinder Trail and continues down to Harewood Dale Forest before a stunning 12km gravel section over the moors, mostly slight uphill.

From the route split, there is a long fast descent on tarmac but as with everywhere in the Yorkshire Moors, there is always one more hill to get over to get home before getting back to Whitby and a beer & food.

RIDE DIFFICULTY: 2.5/5

FAQS

WHAT TYPE OF BIKE SHOULD I RIDE?

A mix of ride surfaces await on the Dracula Country Gravel Epic. 50% of the 90km route is on quiet backroads so a gravel bike is preferred for overall speed. The Cinder Track south from Whitby is fast and smooth though some of the off road sections over the moors can be rougher with some rocky patches and a couple of hike a bike sections. We will send out an email with tyre recommendation based on conditions at the time.

HOW DO I FIND OUT MY START TIME?

Riders start in groups of maximum 6 at a time. We will send you an email after you have booked to choose your start time between 8am and 10am, if you are riding with a friend you can choose to start with them.

WHERE IS THE START / FINISH?

The ride starts and finishes in Whitby, where Bram Stoker wrote Dracula. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE A MECHANICAL / ACCIDENT?

WHAT SHALL I PACK WITH ME FOR THE RIDE?

You need to have a water bottle, basic kit to repair punctures, inner tubes & riding with a helmet is compulsory. Our feed stops have water, coke, cake, fruit & the best tasting sports nutrition bars & nut butters from Outdoor Provisions.

WHEN WILL I GET MY GPX FILE

Our local team do a final recon ride 1 week before the event and can make final tweeks then based on route conditions. We will then send out the route GPX within one week of the ride.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

ROUTE GPX

GPX sent to you a week before the ride with a full route description & packing list.

FEED STOPS

We have feed stops approx every 30kms with fruit, cakes, coke, water, hydration tabs & tasty ride nutrition from the experts at Outdoor Provisions.

FULLY MARKED ROUTE & TIMING CHIPS

Focus just the stunning views & thrilling ride. The route is marked out all the way & you can check your time for the route at the end.

RACE VILLAGE AT THE FINISH

After an epic ride, grab a pint, coffee or cake at the end. Free parking for the day, toilets & bike wash also included in your entry.

BIKE RENTAL & MECHANICS AVAILABLE

New to gravel riding? Hire a Pearson Off Grid gravel bike for the day. We also have mechanics on site to support with any issues before & during the ride.