SPRING CHALLENGE

The Spring Challenge provides an ideal return to warmer weather, with tracks and trails that should have dried out a bit after what is usually a sticky mud winter in these parts. Starting and finishing in Ludlow, Shropshire, the Spring Challenge takes in a mix of forest tracks, bridleway and gritty back roads.

The route is around 50% off-road in distance, but more like two thirds in time. Coming fairly soon after the winter some bits of the route are likely to be mucky in places, but the ride is not too technical in nature. You may need to put a foot down occasionally on one or two slippery sections if there’s been recent r ain, and you should expect to get quite dirty, but you will not need advanced off-road riding skills.

Sunday 16th April 2023

  • Distance: 63Km
  • Off Road/Paved Split: 50%/50%
  • Total Climbing:  1000m
  • Max Gradient (up): 18% (off road)
  • Max Gradient (down): 18% (on road)
  • Suitable for: Gravel/Cross Bike (33mm+ tyres) or MTB
  • Start/Finish Location: Epic Cycles, Tower St, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1RL
  • Registration: Open – See Below
  • GPX download is available here (right click and ‘save link as’)

How to Register

Registering is a pretty simple process:

  1. Set up a free Strava account (if you don’t have one already)
  2. Join the Cross Cartel group (called a club in Strava)
  3. Scroll down to the Spring Challenge event, and click on “I’m In” (you won’t be able to see the event in Strava until you join the Cross Cartel group)

In common with all our rides, this is not an organised mass start event, so there is no HQ or indoor start venue, no support staff or marshals out on course and no participation registration on the day – that’s done via Strava.

Parking is available around the town and the biggest car park in central Ludlow is only 100m from the start at Epic Cycles in Tower Street. See below for more information on what to bring and what to expect.

This is not an organised mass start event – it is a challenge ride on a route that is open to the public along its entire length, that you can begin at any time you like. We will be setting out between 9am and 10am ourselves, but feel free to ride it when it suits you. Riders will soon spread out as we will be heading into off road segments very early on.

The Spring Challenge is virtually gate free as there are no sections that cross field boundaries – there’s just one swing gate on a paved section, as it’s a gated private road that is also a bridleway. The route passes near one village (Leintwardine) where you could easily pick up supplies if needed – but it’s really intended as a non-stop ride, as the weather is unlikely to be hot enough at this time of year to leave you gasping for water.

The final route will be published, ready for downloading, a few days before the ride. We leave it this late so that we can double check there are no last minute access issues.

About Cross Cartel Rides

Cross Cartel rides neither races nor traditional organised leisure rides. They are are similar to what were traditionally called “reliability trials”, where the objective or challenge is to complete a pre-determined route on a particular date within a time limit – but in our case the limit is all day and we have no set start time. The challenge is simply to ride a mapped route on a given day, at a time of your choosing. Go as fast or as slow as you feel comfortable with!

What kind of bike do I need?

We have tested all of the tracks, trails and lanes ourselves on gravel bikes using 40mm tyres, but they would also be equally suitable for hard tail/cross country MTBs which would offer more comfort on the rougher terrain but be a little slower over the faster stuff.

Our rides are not suitable for road bikes, and bigger travel full suspension bikes might prove to be a bit of drag over much of the terrain.

How fit or skilled do I need to be?

We have planned all of our rides to be achievable for any rider with a reasonable level of fitness and who is comfortable riding off road – a challenge yes, but extreme no.  You don’t need to be an expert cyclocrosser or MTB cross country racer, but you will need to be comfortable riding off road on mixed surfaces for several hours.  In places you may even need to “hike a bike” if the weather is very wet on the day – but these sections will be short.  Each ride description will include an approximate break down of surface type (paved vs off road).

How do I sign up for a ride?

There are no entry fees and no registration forms.  All you need to do is sign up for a free Strava account if you haven’t got one; join The Cross Cartel Strava group (Strava calls them “clubs”), and click “I’m in” next to the ride.  It only takes a few minutes, and once you have joined the group you can enter any future rides just with the “I’m in” click.  Full step-by-step instructions will be included alongside each ride overview, once we are ready for sign-up.

When do rides start and what is the time limit?

On the day of the ride you can start at any time you like, with the cut-off for finishing being midnight. As we don’t require riders to sign on or be scanned through a start line, we don’t need to be rigid about start times – feel free to choose a time that’s convenient for you. Most of our rides benefit from riders being spread out in the early stages, as there are narrow tracks near to the ride start, so we would suggest setting out as soon as you are ready, with optimal “bunches” being no more than 10 or so. You would soon be well spaced out anyway, due to the nature of the rides!

What other equipment will I need?

Apart from a suitably equipped bike, the only mandatory equipment would be a helmet and a GPS device of some sort, as there are no route signs.  Most of us use a Garmin type GPS unit, but we have also used a phone with Komoot or similar mapping app loaded up.  In fact, our advice would be take both if you have them, as the phone maps are much more detailed than dedicated GPS units, so are handy if you need to navigate back on course etc.  It’s also wise to have a backup.

Otherwise, please be sensible and take exactly what you would pack or wear for any lengthy ride on your own in remote areas, as there won’t be any support out on the route – such as warm enough clothing, waterproofs, sunscreen, spare inner tubes, chain link, multi-tool, pump, food, plenty of water, phone etc.

How do I record my ride completion?

Just upload your ride file to Strava from your GPS device or smartphone app before 9am on the day following the ride. But remember there are no “winners” and no prizes – this is a challenge ride where the prize is the satisfaction of completing a fine day out on your bike.  Don’t worry if you get carried away during the ride and miss a turn, or pick the wrong trail momentarily; if this happens just back-track and pick up the trail where you left off.

Your GPS unit will soon alert you if you have gone off course, and will record that you have followed the full route – just with a little addition.

Important

You will need to be fully self sufficient – Cross Cartel rides are all self-supported on routes that are open to the general public, with no emergency back up or mechanical support of any kind. You need to take spares and supplies with you. There will be no rescue vehicle to collect you if you have a mechanical, so please make sure you take a mobile phone for any emergencies. You will need to call a friend to collect you or the emergency services in the event of a medical incident. And it is sensible to be insured – you don’t need race insurance, as our rides aren’t races, but public liability insurance is highly recommended.

The Cross Cartel has no responsibility for any incidents that occur during or as a result of your ride – you are solely responsible for your own actions and safety while riding our routes, whatever day you choose to ride them. The Cross Cartel do not provide ride support or event venues (with the exception of the Blaenau 600). Our routes are on public trails, tracks and paved roads. 

Please follow the Highway Code at all times when on the roads, and the Countryside Code when off road – and PLEASE close all gates and take litter home with you.  We are huge supporters of #leavenotrace.