← All eventsSolway Coast Big Onion Gravel
Grassroots, gritty SW Scotland gravel sportive across Galloway coast and forest — exposed, wind-hit Solway shore plus forest fire roads, self-reliant. 'Big Onion' long and short routes; exact distance/climbing and the late-August 2027 date are approximate (confirm with organiser).
A self-reliant gravel day across Galloway, South West Scotland's quiet corner. The Big Onion links the exposed Solway shore with Galloway Forest fire roads: big forest, open coast, long gaps between help.
The coast is the defining test. Open and wind-hit, it takes the full Solway weather, while the forest adds loose, rolling climbs. Genuine gravel, mostly rideable, rough and loose in places.
It's a timed sportive with a rolling start, not a race, and long August daylight makes it a kind date. But support is minimal and signal patchy, so you carry your own spares and food. A shorter route trims the exposed miles.
Is Solway Coast Big Onion Gravel for you?
- Riders who can fix their own flat and feed themselves. Remote forest and coast, patchy signal, minimal support: self-sufficiency is the whole point.
- Diesel-engine endurance riders who pace evenly. The day rewards steady tempo on the fire-road climbs over anyone who attacks the loose ground.
- Anyone comfortable in the wind. The exposed Solway takes the full weather, so riding smart into a headwind beats fighting it head-on.
- Adventure-minded gravel riders after Galloway character, not a result. It's grassroots and gritty, with a friendly, self-reliant field.
Training plan for Solway Coast Big Onion Gravel
A training plan for Solway Coast Big Onion Gravel 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.
- Exposed, wind-hit coastal gravel where the open Solway takes the full weather
- Loose forest fire-road climbs: power-on-gravel that runs slower than road
- A tiring run back to the coast on legs that have climbed all day
- Remote terrain, patchy signal and minimal support: you are your own mechanic
- Long Z2 gravel rides building toward the full day, the core durability work
- Loose-climb tempo: 3 to 4 by 8 to 15 min on gravel climbs
- Tempo-into-wind blocks rehearsing the exposed Solway sections
- Back-half durability: tempo efforts placed late in a long ride
- 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
