0118 988 6041 – info@cxsportive.com

8 Jan: Shackleford Turkey Burner

Shackleford (nr Guildford), Surrey

22 Jan: Shackleford Afterburner

Shackleford (nr Guildford), Surrey

20 Feb: Bramley Winter Warrior

Chilworth (nr Guildford), Surrey

24 Apr: Chilterns Ridge MTB

Princes Risborough, Bucks

7 May: Shackleford Spring Punch

Shackleford (nr Guildford), Surrey

June 12: Surrey Hills Bike & BBQ

Chilton, Surrey

Aug 6: South Downs Bike & BBQ

Duncton, W. Sussex

Oct 23: Bramley Autumn Explorer MTB

Bramley (Surrey Hills), Surrey

12 Nov: Ride to Remember

Salisbury, Wiltshire

10/11 Dec: Dirty Santa MTB

Chilworth (nr Guildford), Surrey

Gravel/CX (+MTB)*

6 Mar: Chilterns Wildwood Gravel

Woodcote, Oxfordshire

Mar 20: Wiltshire Wildheart Gravel

Salisbury, Wiltshire

3 Apr: White Horse Ridge Gravel

Chilton, Oxfordshire

22 May: Battle Gravel 100

Winchester, Hampshire

2 Jul: CX Century: South Downs Way

Winchester to Beachy Head

10 Sep: Ridgeway 100

Chilton, Oxfordshire

2 Oct: Badlands Gravel

Princes Risborough, Bucks

Click here for our full calendar

Event Calendar

Our events are open to all riders and kinds of bike! Events listed as MTB or CX are all open to any off road capable bike - MTB event courses are designed more for mountain bikes but are also rideable on gravel/CX bikes (care may be needed on some sections). CX/ Gravel events are also open to MTBs; mixed surfaces and longer / faster courses give you a great workout! We also welcome E-bikes on all of our open hill events events (which is everything except Battle in the Bowl). You can find specific bike information on individual event pages.

If you have any questions about any event, you can call us on 0118 988 6041.

Our Events

Supported by

Lezyne

Oct

2

2022

E-bikes are welcome at this event.

Tick the e-bike option when you sign up, and we’ll put you in the e-bike category for the event

Badlands returns with a new October date!

The Chilterns are a near perfect mix of roads tracks and trails for CX/gravel riding. Badlands spins out it’s route at the north of their range, allowing us to explore some of the darker, grittier folds of these deceptively demanding hills.

While the Chilterns might enjoy a genteel reputation today, their hidden history recalls them as a hotspot of dashing villainy, and for awhile at least, the dark hills north of the Thames were justifiably known as the badlands. Coaches loaded with cargo from trading vessels that docked at Henley had to make their way through the wooded hills where robbers watched and waited. The truth of these robberies were usually far from the romantic image of the gentleman robbers we have today, making this part of the country a forbidding proposition for tradesmen and travellers.

And the very things that made this area perfect for highway robbery, make it ideal for CX/gravel riding today. The densely folded and wooded hills conceal a network of lanes, tracks and trails the wind and climb and fall continuously. It’s a surprisingly harsh corner of the home counties; where the crumbling tarmac on the back roads can prove perilous for skinny road bikes, but where CX or gravel bikes come into their own. 29ers and 27.5in hardtails will eat up the miles on the dirt, and the constantly switching surface provides an entertaining ride and acts as a great leveller between the variety of bikes on the route.

Start Location

Princes Risborough School
Merton Rd
Princes Risborough
HP27 0DR

Location Map
Q
Close

Start Time

8:30am – 9:30am

Finish Time

Event Centre closes 4:00pm

Book Your Place Now

Add Junior Riders Here

Route Stats

The lowdown on this ride in numbers, profiles and maps; where the route goes, where it hills are, how demanding it is and which bike to use.

%

Physical severity

%

Technical severity

Short Route

kilometres

Mid Route

kilometres

Full Route

kilometres

Bike Suitability

Which bike will be best or this ride? The Wildwood is open to any bike and any rider – but here’s our guide to which type of bike suits this course best.

  • Gravel / Adventure Bike 85% 85%
  • CX (race style cyclocross) 75% 75%
  • MTB 80% 80%
  • MTB (29er) 85% 85%
  • Hybrid* 65% 65%
  • Road* 45% 45%

Warning: This ride contains off road sections and rough surfaces. Only use road bikes that are capable of some off road. DO NOT use any bike you do not want to expose to dirt and the risk scratches or some damage. Only use a bike with strong wheels and off road capable tyres. Remove commute style mudguards prior to the ride.

Terrain Split: This is a rough guide to the mix of terrains on this event. Figures may be approximate, and the exact nature of surfaces and conditions will vary within each of these categories.
  • Road 45% 45%
Predominantly B roads and smaller back lanes. Quality of road surface may vary greatly, and rough or broken lanes may feature as part of the mix. Busy or major roads are avoided wherever possible.
  • Gravel 35% 35%
Unmade roads, farm tracks, forest roads and broader, firmer gravel and dirt bridleways and byways.
  • Dirt 25% 25%
Dirt, grass and unmade bridleways, byways and tracks. May include less defined and semi-technical sections of riding.

Show / Hide Route Map

Route Direction: clockwise. Final route may be subject to change from the one published here.

Riding the Chiltern Hills

The Chilterns are distinctive for their high ridges, dense woods and closely folded hills. It all makes for a tough but hugely enjoyable place to ride!

You’re at the eastern end of the Ridgeway here, and the ride takes you straight out onto that ancient trail before a brief clip thorough corner of the town and then quickly out into the countryside for the rest of the day. You’ll soon find yourself climbing, as the pattern of the day is established. The Chilterns don’t lie flat for long; the climbs and descents come in continuous succession. And as well as rising and falling, the Chilterns twist and wind too; long, don’t expect straight sweeps of terrain. It’s a mix that creates plenty of physical and enough technical to test and entertain you, all the while leading you through the sort of landscape that makes cycling good for the soul!

75km Full Route

The full Gravel challenge, taking on the best and toughest riding in the area!
£37
  • Fully route marked by the event team
  • Route map for all riders
  • GPS files sent to pre entered riders (enter in advance to receive these)
  • Rider timing by transponder tag. Results posted to these web pages.
  • Mid ride Feed/Support Station.
  • Finishers medals
  • Hot food and drink available at event base.
  • Emergency contact numbers for our team made available for you to carry with you.
  • Additional late booking charges apply from 1 week before the event: +£2 in last week of booking, +£3 on the day entry.

55km Mid Route

A great day of riding, including the pick of the riding on the full route.
£37
  • Fully route marked by the event team
  • Route map for all riders
  • GPS files sent to pre entered riders (enter in advance to receive these)
  • Rider timing by transponder tag. Results posted to these web pages.
  • Mid ride Feed/Support Station.
  • Finishers medals
  • Hot food and drink available at event base.
  • Emergency contact numbers for our team made available for you to carry with you.
  • Additional late booking charges apply from 1 week before the event: +£2 in last week of booking, +£3 on the day entry.

35km Short Route

Shorter, sharp and fun, a terrific ride that avoids the hardest sections of the longer routes.
£35
  • Fully route marked by the event team
  • Route map for all riders
  • GPS files sent to pre entered riders (enter in advance to receive these)
  • Rider timing by transponder tag. Results posted to these web pages.
  • Mid ride Feed/Support Station.
  • Finishers medals
  • Hot food and drink available at event base.
  • Emergency contact numbers for our team made available for you to carry with you.
  • Additional late booking charges apply from 1 week before the event: +£2 in last week of booking, +£3 on the day entry.

Book Your Place Now

Add Junior Riders Here

Event Logistics

On the Ride
Once you’re ready to start, report to the start / finish area with your timing chap strapped to your ankle. Listen to the short briefing and ride across the timing mat as directed. As you go around the route, you will find bright orange signs and ribbons to follow. At route divide points, you will find yellow signs showing you which way to go to follow the Full, Mid or Short routes. These should guide you around the whole route, but use your map if you think you have strayed off course or have a problem with the route navigation. There are also emergency contact numbers on the edge of your map. Ride safely at all times, and remember that you are on public rights of way and roads. This is not a race, so please ride appropriately, and be friendly and polite to other trail users you meet. At the end of the ride, pass over the timing mat once again, and hand in your timing chip. For those interested in there ride time, these will be available on the computer screen at the finish.
Entry on the Day
You can enter the event on the day, although there is a small surcharge of £3 (so pre entering is recommended). Just arrive before the end of the registration period and pay at the desk.
Registration
Go to the registration desk on your arrival. If you’ve pre-entered via the internet or posted your entry, you’ll have a timing chip on an ankle strap to collect at the desk. If you haven’t pre-entered, pay at the desk and a chip will be allocated to you. Collect your colour A4 map at registration also. Next, get yourself ready to ride.
Following the Route
Follow the orange signs and orange ribbons (you will shown samples of these at the ride briefing) regardless of which route distance you are riding. Everybody follows orange. At route divide points, you will see a set of yellow signs, with “Full Route”, “Mid Route” or “Short Route” written on them, pointing in different directions. At this point, follow the right sign for the route you are riding. Once you get beyond the route divide point, you will start following orange signs and ribbons again.

(Please note, in spite of our best efforts, signs can go missing or be tampered with during the course of the day. Make sure you pick up a copy of the route map at event registration, and carry it with you for use if needed. We also send out GPS files to all pre entries prior to the event, so if oyu want ot have the route on your phone or GPS device, sign up online now!)

Food and Drink
There will be food, water and energy mix at a feed station on the course to help you stay fuelled during the ride. Hot and cold food & drink and snacks will be available to purchase from the event centre before and after the ride. (Including our ever popular home made chilli!)

 

Rider Timings & Medals
Riders are electronically timed, with rider times displayed on a screen at the finish line. Gold, silver and bronze time bands are set as an optional ride incentive, and finishers medals are presented to reflect the time band you achieve.

PLEASE NOTE: rider timings are provided for personal interest only and time bands are an optional target that you can choose to ignore. This event is not a race. No winner is declared, and no status or prizes are awarded for ‘beating’ other riders. The ride time and completed distance for any individual rider is taken on trust and cannot be definitively verified by the organisers.