Southern Grit | Gravel Cycling Event London & South East

Southern Grit | Gravel Cycling Event London & South EastSouthern Grit is a gravel cycling event starting in London and heading deep into the trails of the Surrey Hills and surrounding countryside. Designed for riders across London and the South East, it combines challenging off road terrain, flowing gravel and a proper day out on the bike. WHAT IS SOUTHERN GRIT This is not a guided ride or a follow the leader event. Southern Grit is a self supported gravel sportive a route to ride at your own pace, on your

Southern Grit is a gravel cycling event starting in London and heading deep into the trails of the Surrey Hills and surrounding countryside.

Designed for riders across London and the South East, it combines challenging off-road terrain, flowing gravel and a proper day out on the bike.

🧭 WHAT IS SOUTHERN GRIT

This is not a guided ride or a follow-the-leader event.

Southern Grit is a self-supported gravel sportive — a route to ride at your own pace, on your own terms, with the terrain doing the talking.

Expect chalk climbs, woodland trails, flint-strewn descents and long stretches where rhythm matters more than brute force.

🎯 WHO IT’S FOR

Southern Grit is ideal for riders with some off-road experience looking to step up to a longer gravel challenge.

Whether you're building towards bigger rides, testing yourself over distance or simply looking for a properly satisfying day out, this is a ride that rewards patience, pacing and good judgement.

🌍 LOCATION & ROUTE

Starting in South London at Herne Hill Velodrome, the route heads out towards the Surrey Hills and surrounding trails, linking together some of the best off-road riding accessible from the city.

It’s a route built on discovery — quiet tracks, hidden cut-throughs and sections that feel a long way from London, even when they’re not.

⚙️ WHAT TO EXPECT

• A high percentage of off-road riding

• Mixed terrain including chalk, gravel and woodland trails

• A physically and mentally engaging ride

• Self-supported format — you manage your day

• A strong sense of progression from start to finish

🔗 BUILD YOUR RIDING

New to this kind of riding or looking to improve? Explore our gravel coaching sessions →

Want to explore more routes? Browse our GPX gravel routes →

🧠 WHY RIDE SOUTHERN GRIT

Southern Grit isn’t about ticking off miles — it’s about riding well.

It’s a ride that rewards control over chaos, patience over power and good decisions over bravado.

Discover what makes Southern Grit special →

Ride Details

• Date: Sunday 17th May 2025
• Distance: 80 & 110 km (ish) options.
• Climb: tba
• Percentage off-road: route will be at least 60% offroad - aiming for higher 
• Trail surface: Natural, Gravel, Cycle Paths,  Single Track

What is included in the price?

All rides are supported with 

• Coffee and Croissant to get you going.
• GPX route maps.
  
• Feed station midway.
• Pizza and beer when you return to the Velodrome. 

Is this ride for me? 

The longer 110 km ride is a tough 'Challenging' grade ride, suitable for most 'Club' level riders competent riding off-road.

While the shorter ride 80 km option is a long 'Moderate' grade route suitable for most regular cyclists with off road experience. 

Routes are a mix of bridleways, gravel paths, quiet lanes and some single track, with some steeper climbs. descents, roots and other features.

Suitable for MTB, gravel, cyclocross bikes and off-road e-bikes.

LEARN MORE> 

Is my bike OK for this ride? 

Suitable for MTB, gravel, cyclocross bikes and off-road e-bikes.