“It’s not the mountains we conquer, it is ourselves”
Sir Edmund Hillary

Welcome to the home of an incredible and unique UK cycling challenge.

Pure Peak Grit was created in 2019, and tested by a group of inspiring mile-munching ladies (see how they got on here).

The idea was to design a continuous route (no out-and-backs), linking together every famous and categorised road climb by bike, the hardest way up, in the Peak District National Park and the immediate vicinity around it. The resulting route was approximately 600 km (380 miles) long, with 13,600m (44,600 feet) of ascent.

The route changes slightly every year, but remains just as long, just as hilly and require just as much grit to complete. 

There are over 40 categorised climbs to ‘tick off’ in this endurance hill venture, including 9% of Britain’s ‘100 Greatest cycling climbs’. This makes it the hilliest long distance road cycling event in the UK.

The 2025 edition route and ride handbook will be circulated to riders in the months prior to the event.

Details

Start/Finish HQ:

Barn Farm, Birchover, Matlock, DE4 2BL

Date and Time: 

Saturday 28th June 2025

Sign-On from 06:30

Rider Briefing at 07:30

Depart at 08:00

Route: 

Approx 640km / +13,500m ascent. 100% on road (GPX route to be released to riders shortly before the event)

Cost:

£130

What's included?

• Food/drink at the start and finish
• Use of event HQ for refreshments and respite
• Tracker rental and website hosting
• Goodie bag
• £30 minimum donation to the charity a local charity

• Most importantly, the experience, achievement and satisfaction of completing one of the most difficult road cycling routes in the UK.
• Participants must ride the whole route and every hill, in the correct direction, to have their attempt validated. If trackers malfunction/fail to record for whatever reason, you must provide the GPX file or upload your ride to Strava for ride validation. If attempted as an ITT, you must provide the GPX or upload your ride to Strava for validation.
• Completing the route within 48h or 72h will allow you to be a Pure Peak Gritter in these categories. If during the event you finish later than 17:00 on Monday 30th June, the HQ will be closed but you will still be honoured as a Pure Peak Gritter, and your ride showcased on the wall of fame as a finisher.

Sleeping, nutrition & being self supported

Please note, you are obliged to make your own arrangements for sleeping and rest during this event. This is a self supported event so there is no provision for recovery from Pure Peak Grit and aside from the event HQ you must self supply with food and water.

This is not an entry level event and your previous experience/ride ability will be screened on application and Pure Peak Grit reserves the right to refuse applications.  Applications from under 18 years olds will not be accepted.

Registration will close when the event reaches capacity.

Timings

There will be three time categories for riding PPG 2025:

< 48 HOURS OF PURE PEAK GRIT

The ultimate challenge!

< 72 HOURS OF PURE PEAK GRIT

A more manageable timescale, but still an epic challenge.

- AIMING TO JUST COMPLETE THE ROUTE

Sole completion of this route is a massive achievement, and tribute to your tenacious grit. Not only that, but PPG allows you to cycle across and summit some of our greatest hills, in some of our most beautiful countryside. This is an absolute privilege to be valued and enjoyed. However long it takes you, if you endure and embrace this ride, you will very much be a ‘Pure Peak Gritter’.

Charity

PPG is closely tied to the valuable work of charities across the region. All registration fees will cover the basic running costs, with a proportional amount going straight to the charity. We anticipate this donation to be at least £30 pp. The charity for the 2025 edition Is Derbyshire Air Ambulance.

There is an opportunity whilst registering for the event to make an additional donation to the charity if you are feeling particularly generous. All donations are greatly appreciated.