What makes the Dorset Gravel Dash so good?

The Dorset Gravel Dash can count itself as one of the first – if not the very first – gravel ride weekenders to take place in the UK. Kicked off by Charlie Hobbs and his trusty adventure-loving friends over ten years ago, they handpicked a route over assorted terrain through the beautiful hills and coastal byways of Dorset, England and invited likeminded folks to join them.

An immediate success, the Gravel Dash has continued ever since and has developed into one of the most fun, most varied, and most desirable bikepacking weekends on the calendar. We asked Charlie all about the history of Dorset Gravel Dash, what makes it so good and all-encompassing, and what to look out for next year.

Caven O'Hara

When did you first start the Dorset Gravel Dash?

The Dorset Gravel Dash was started in 2014 by me, Charlie Hobbs, formerly known as ‘Charlie the Bikemonger’. Around 35 people gathered in a pub garden and set off for 100 miles of Dorset trails. We added the overnight bikepacking option for a more relaxed adventure weekend a couple of years later. I had started pre-riding it as a two-day ride, and people wanted to join me. The overnighter soon became the more popular option, but there is always demand for 100 miles in a day. That is a true achievement… especially when talking to roadies… “100 miles on road you say, that’s cute”.

What was the inspiration behind creating one of the first gravel weekenders?

I have always had my eye on the next weird wave in cycling. I was an early adopter of singlespeed, fixed, fixed offroad, 29ers, monstercross, clunker racing and even orienBEERing. If there was not a scene, I would start one. There were two gravel events in the USA that looked like great fun, so I organised one. Plus I had a container of Warbirds coming to my shop – the first production gravel bike.

And low and behold it turned out I was not the only bike weirdo who wanted to do 100 miles off-road. It was all made possible by the old Bikemonger crew – especially Sam Watts, who you will see at sign on – my friends who marshal, and riding buddy Ian Stockley who did all the exploratory hell rides with me.

You know what… I was sat outside a café in France in June, with my ancient 1984 ATB with a surfboard rack, watching the world go by... Mug dangling bikepackers, fat bikes, 29ers, gravel bikes, even the police had electric fat-bikes. And I thought, it was not that long ago when there was only one guy to go to for these niche bikes that are now super normal. I’m pretty pleased with myself for being one of the instigators of this new wave cycling world.

Fast-forward to 2024 – when did you start work on the Kinesis Gravel Dash 2024?

Within days of the previous one finishing, I am getting applications and permissions in place. Some of the larger bureaucracies we work with don’t move quickly, so you have to start a year early. It’s not all riding bikes. There is a lot of paperwork.

What’s the best thing about riding around Dorset then?

Ahhh man. That is a tough one. Ok, here we go. For me it is that Dorset has provided me with my cycling playground from the ‘80s to now, from a teenager to a fifty-something-year-old, from rigid mountain bikes, through full sus, and back to rigid gravel. The terrain is so varied that there is a place in Dorset for almost every type of cycling. Geez… we even have a cycle speedway track.

On the Kinesis Dorset Gravel Dash you travel through many different types of countryside, every variation of trail: costal, hilly, heathlands, woodlands, ancient hill forts, headlands, beaches, fast farm track, swoopy singletrack, easy old railway track miles etc. It is like a Dorset trails greatest hits compilation.

How do you plan the route?

It took almost two years of reconnaissance rides to get this super-polished route for the first event. We waded rivers, sunk up to our knees in mud, got chased by cows, debated rights of way with the ill-informed, froze our bits off and buckled our wheels.

Once I am happy, it is recorded as GPX file. Around two weeks before the event, me and my buddies load up our hip flasks and pre-ride it. You must pre-ride it as we have found impassable trails, fallen trees at head height, and once even a full-sized road bridge had gone missing in the winter floods.

If I don’t pre-ride, as the organiser, I don’t get to ride the route as I am flat out throughout the event weekend. In 2024 I cheated. Right now I have long covid so 100 miles is out of the question, three miles is my max. So, I used a KTM enduro motorbike for the green-lane legal bits so I could get some trail and campfire time in.

What was the overnight like?

It’s just great. You roll into camp after a screamer of a downhill – you can actually hear the screams from the camp – and once Sam has signed you in as alive and present, you will find a big peaceful field with a canvas stretch tent to keep the sun off, bails of straw to rest upon, a horsebox with Jules the farmer serving excellent ale and strong cider, giant pans of paella… And lots of happy cyclists.

There is also a cheese contest. Bring a cheese… and the best cheeses win prizes. It also means we all get to eat a lot of cheese.

What were your personal highlights for Gravel Dash 2024?

Yeah, we get lots and lots of returning riders, we are now all great friends. As the organiser I really enjoy watching people finish in a pub garden by the sea. They get cheered across the line by pirates, holidaymakers and the other riders. It’s the smiles, the happy faces, and the joy. They have just ridden 100 miles, smashed their preconceptions of what is possible, and they are super jazzed… crazy with joy… and ready for a cold beer. A beautiful dirty sight.

As a rider… it’s 100 smiles over 100 miles. The route just keeps you moving and entertained. I’ve done long gravel-road forestry miles, and it’s boring. In Dorset, it never feels like you are slugging it out as the trail and views keep changing. Never a dull moment.

So – on to Kinesis Gravel Dash 2025 – when will you start planning, and what can we look forward to?

So, yes, 2025. The work has already started, and I hope to make an announcement about the start location. We are looking at moving the start a couple of miles. I won’t say where right now, but anyone who knows me can guess where I would like to wait for a few hundred jolly gravel bikers.

So, don’t miss out in 2025, get yourself over to www.dorsetgraveldash.co.uk.

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