It’s been more than a year, but, finally, we’re back!
SIGN UP NOW CLOSED –
Sign-up to the Made of Stone ride is now closed and we’re not taking any entries on the day.
If you’ve missed out on this one, make sure you sign up to the RideStaffs email database to find out about our next ride.
RideStaffs will return on 27th June 2021 with an all new event called Made of Stone.
The title is a nod to our host venue (the event starts and finishes in Stone) and the challenge you’re taking on.
This might be a sniff under 50 miles, but with some stiff climbs along the way there’s plenty of challenge to make sure you’ve earned a drink when you get to the finish.
So now I come to think of it, made of stone might be an apt description of how you feel when you hit the hills too!
Ups, Downs and everything in between:
These are the key climbs on the Made of Stone ride
There’s plenty of up and down throughout the route, but there are 5 particular climbs that demand a little more attention, here’s what you’re up for as you find out if you’re made of stone:
Hayes Bank
With just over a mile in your legs after the start you’ll tackle the first big challenge of the day as Hayes Bank takes you up onto the ridge that forms the spine of this ride. Hayes bank is a long drag of a climb (2.3m ave 3%) that’s a little steeper at either end. A great start to the ride that will let you know whether you’re in for a day pain or pleasure!
Up to Alton
All the early climbing at least comes with a little reward. So after you summit Hayes Bank it’s more down than up all the way to Uttoxeter then a fairly flat run to Denstone where your second significant bot of climbing kicks off to see you to half distance at Alton.
The Raddle
Featuring in our Spring Forward sportive for a number of years, the Raddle is an old favourite that would be worthy of a spring classic with early ramps of over 25% before a long drag to the top where, to add insult to injury, there’s not even a descent to recover on. On the approach to the climb you’ll pass the ruins of Croxden Abbey and there’s a great view from the climb down onto the Abbey from the midpoint of the climb. After all the exertion to this point, you might feel like stopping at the pub handily placed to take advantage of the view!
Huntley Hill
The penultimate climb of the day is new territory for RideStaffs and I’m delighted to have found this one. It’s a mile and a half long and on paper the average gradient of 4% doesn’t sound too tough. But it’s got sections of 15%+ that are going to sting with 35 miles of riding in the legs already. At least on this one there’s a descent from the top to take you down to Cresswell where the final challenge of the day begins
A Meir Pimple
Remember that ridge that started the day? Well home is on the other side of it still at the 38 mile point and that means one just thing – more climbing. This final ascent isn’t so much a single climb as a series of ramps and respite over roughly 5 miles, each step takes you a little closer to the high point of the ride and by this stage you’d be forgiven for thinking you can actually smell that bottle of beer that’s waiting for you at the brewery down in Stone. But that’s still another 7 miles away!
We’ve called it the Meir pimple in the spirit of Monty Python’s Black Knight…”merely a flesh wound” – just pretend it’s not hurting!
Downhill to the finish
Having scaled the heights of Meir Heath you can start to relax a little, knowing there’s no more real climbing to do between here and home as you sweep down around Barlaston, through Wedgwood back to check in at Lymestone Brewery to finish.
Everything Else – AKA The RideStaffs Wraparound:
The planning for this event began in early April and as I type this we have a roadmap for the easing of covid restrictions that means things should be normal again when the ride happens in June.
So being a cautious sort that doesn’t want to let you down, I’m planning a straightforward ride that could happen as things stand today – but lining up a few bells and whistles to add on if the rules allow.
The ride is designed to be as simple as possible. So, I’m promising you:
- A signed route
- Checked on the day
- Contactless registration
- First aid on site at Start/Finish
- A beer at the end to take away.
Then if I can, I’ll start to add a bit more fun to the mix…
Like the opportunity to get a coffee and breakfast inside at Bear before the start (at the moment they’ll be serving outside on the day)
And that beer to take away might be beer at the bar
Plus you might be able to grab a slice of woodfired pizza to go with it.
And it felt better to be adding those things than taking them away.
So to recap.
27th June
50 miles.
Informal start between 7am and 10am, cut of time is 3pm.
Looking forward to seeing you again.
Hit the button to enter now, it’s £19.99.
A quick note about the online entry process:
We’ve partnered with njuko to manage our online entry process. Here’s what happens when you click on the Enter Now button:
- You’ll go to the njuko website in a new window on your browser
- The site will ask for basic details about all the people you’re signing up to the ride
- You’ll be asked for payment details
- Once this is all complete you’ll receive 2 emails, the first is an entry confirmation with a QR code that you’ll need to bring on the day of the ride. The second email is your receipt.
- Both emails you receive include a unique link to enable you to go back and change details of your entry up to 7 days before the ride.
