The route to rediscovery: The Rough Ride Gravel Challenge GPX Collection.

Run & Ride
4 days ago
2 min read

RR23 Rough Ride Gravel Challenge Team Fundraiser Ride, 13th December 2025.

We are excited to officially pull back the curtain on an event that has served us well over the years and been vital in raising much needed funds for our RR23 race team. Today, we are releasing the full archive of Rough Ride Gravel Challenge GPX routes.

Dating back to 2020, these routes represent a definitive map of the best mixed-terrain riding in the heart of the Midlands. Centred around the iconic Cannock Chase, the collection spans the rolling hills of South Staffordshire and drops into the rugged, hidden gems of East Shropshire.

Whether you are a local rider looking for fresh inspiration or a visitor ready to test your mettle on the "Chase's" famous red gravel, these files are your passport to the ultimate off-road adventure.

A Legacy of "Gravel" Before It Was Cool

It’s hard to remember now, but back in 2020, "gravel" was still finding its feet in the UK. While the rest of the cycling world was busy debating whether gravel bikes were just 90s mountain bikes with drop bars, we were already out there.

The Rough Ride Gravel Challenge was born from a desire to bridge the gap between pure road cycling and technical mountain biking. Our early events used these very routes to challenge riders long before the "gravel surge" hit the mainstream.

Ahead of the Curve: These routes weren't designed to follow a trend; they were designed to explore the limits of what a bike could do. By combining fire roads, canal towpaths, and ancient bridleways, we created a "multi-surface" experience before the industry had even settled on the terminology.

GPX routes available on Strava:

All our routes start and finish at Run & Ride, Milford. We offer free parking, very easy access to Cannock Chase plus an instore cafe for 'proper' coffee and homemade cake for your post ride refuel.