← All eventsDorset Gravel Epic
Glorious Gravel sportive on varied Purbeck ridge and Dorset heath gravel from Wareham — 95/65km of rolling, coastal-fringe, mixed-surface riding. Fully signed, feed stations, no cut-offs, e-bikes welcome. Date approximate.
Varied coastal-fringe gravel across the Isle of Purbeck and the Dorset heaths. 95km from Wareham on firm ridge track, soft sandy heath and forest gravel, run in late September.
The Purbeck ridge gives short, sharp climbs and coastal views. The heath runs flatter and faster, but the sandy going drags. Three surfaces, each riding differently.
It's a welcoming day, not a race. No cut-offs, feed stations on course, e-bikes allowed, and a shorter 65km option on the very same terrain.
Is Dorset Gravel Epic for you?
- Riders wanting their first proper gravel day. With no cut-offs and a genuine 65km option, the distance is a choice you make, not a threat hanging over you.
- Steady riders who meter their efforts. The Purbeck ridge stacks short punchy climbs, so rationing the legs beats sprinting every one and cracking.
- Anyone comfortable across mixed surfaces. Firm ridge track, soft sandy heath and forest gravel each ride differently, and adaptability saves energy.
- Riders happy to pace off gravel numbers, not road ones. Power on gravel runs 5 to 10% slower than the same effort on tarmac, and worse again on soft heath.
Training plan for Dorset Gravel Epic
A training plan for Dorset Gravel Epic isn't a generic base build. Beina reads the event's exact demands, looks at your specific profile and the time you actually have, and maps a highly adapted plan to the start line.
- Punchy, repeatable Purbeck ridge climbs, short and sharp rather than long cols
- Soft sandy heath where momentum and line choice matter more than raw power
- Sustained tempo across roughly 4.5 to 7 hours on the 95km
- Coastal wind on the exposed ridge and open heath
- Rolling long ride, building 2.5hr up to 5hr on gravel, mostly Z2
- Repeated punchy climbs: 6 to 10 x 2 to 5min on gravel rises for ridge readiness
- Tempo-in-long: 3 to 4hr rides holding 2 to 3 x 20 to 30min tempo blocks
- Mixed-surface handling on firm track and soft sand, plus fuelling rehearsal at 60 to 90g carbs per hour
- Built from your current fitness and the time you actually have
- Adapts every week as Beina learns how you respond
- Syncs your sessions straight to Garmin and Wahoo
- One clear next session, never a wall of spreadsheet
