Gran Fondo Guide rides "UK's Unbound", The Stone Circle

136 miles and 10,600 feet of savage single track, bridleways, farmyard tracks, cool forests, never ending gravel tracks, old railway paths and some quiet country roads to break it up. Plus some exclusive "American Style" gravel through MOD (Ministry of Defence) land.

Gran Fondo Guide (GFG) had the pleasure to ride, what it has coined as, "the UK's version of Unbound".

The SOLD-OUT Stone Circle was an amazing weekend festival of gravel cycling including camping, LIVE music, tasty pizza, craft beers, a fancy dress hill climb, bike jousting and prizes focused on inclusivity and fun.

The event village was hosted atop the english heritage hilltop fort of Old Sarum with carefully selected expo partners and secure bike park.

There were 3 routes for all abilities, the 80km Jester with 1,000m of climbing, the 130km Rebel with 1,800m of climbing, and the 220km Bastard with 3,220m of climbing.

4:30am Start

Gran Fondo Guide was up early and ready for a 4:30am start as the sun started to rise. Riding the 136 mile Bastard route required full commitment and some endurance training.

We rolled out in small groups of around 20 cyclists over the timing mat and descended down from the Fort onto some single track, through some woods, fields and hit a marshalled country lane to be asked to dismount as we walked towards probably the most iconic English landmark, Stone Henge.

As old as Yoga, dating back 5,000 years, Stone Henge is just as Spiritual. Our small group chatted about the exciting day ahead.

Strange to think some of these massive stones were carved and hauled all the way from the Welsh Preselli Mountains hundreds of miles away.

How? No one really knows?

Although it was a hot day at around 25C (78F), it was overcast with thick cloud and a 12 mph wind which made for perfect conditions!

Weapon of Choice

I decided to ride a Specialized Diverge, with a Redshift Shockstop Stem and 38mm wide semi-slick gravel tyres. As the weather turned out so well, I opted for faster tyres, especially for some of the road and old railway sections.

I wore a 2 litre hydration vest, equiped with a 500ml water bottle, tool kit, two spare tubes and lights for the early start and public roads.

Soon we were back our bikes and transported 3,500 miles to "Kansas", aka the MOD firing range, exclusively closed to us for the whole day, to provide an authentic American gravel experience.

I was in great group of 4 other cyclists, barreling along at 20 mph on wide champagne gravel roads as far as the eye could see.

It was here I reluctantly said goodbye to my new team mates, I had to pull over for my first puncture of the day, a pinch flat. Quickly checked the inside of the tyre, changed the tube and I was off.

I must have rode 10 miles without a group and turned west into the 12 mph headwind. It was going to be a long day, so I sat up and hooked up with another great group.

Sat at the back for 15 minutes recovering, made my way to the front, sharing turns into the beautiful cool headwind, with the low grey clouds making for perfect conditions!

First Feed

After 45 miles we rolled into the first feed station. I grabbed a handful of Styrkr Gels, Red Bull and Water Melon. I forced down as much as I could to hit my system with maximum carbs, liquid and sugar to get my system fired up.

Also grabbed a spare tube from the Tech Box.

Started going again and reached a fast downhill patch of knarly chunky gravel and suffered my second puncture just outside Warminster.

Fixed the second puncture, and decided to only put 25 psi in the rear tyre to minimise the risk of another pinch puncture.

A bit squishy, could feel bigger rocks hit the rim, but it worked! Bad Tyre choice to be honest, should have put those 47's on.

My Ride Buddy Jishnu

I sat up again and waited for a group. I met up with Jishnu Nandy and we decided to ride together.

We hit the cool forest paths south of Warminster and after 50 miles reached the Jester / Bastard turning. 

I convinced Jish to come with me on the Bastard for fun, he was undecided beforehand. Now we're cycling buddies for the next 86 grueling miles!

It was a long old slog through the woods, shady, cool and some technical single track and fast descents to keep us on our toes.

It was here we stopped to take in the stunning view of King Alfred's Tower.

After what seemed an age we crossed under the A303 for a beautful road section all the way to Sturminster Newsom.

I was feeling really good, so Jish sat on my wheel as I pushed into the light headwinds for 20 miles or so.

I managed smash out a 20 mph average, so we both made up some time from the previous slower technical forest sections.

North Dorset Trailway

This section we loved, an old railway track that went from Sturminster Newsom for miles and miles - and maximum smiles!

We caught up with a few other people here and there and rode as group all the way to the third feed station after 95 miles.

Lo's Coffe Shop in Pimperne

This is probably the best aid station I've ever experienced. Live music with a DJ, amazing outside restaurant with some free food and water.

But I had to "up the ante" and ordered some ice cold Cola, ice cream and a chocolate milkshake. Sat and chilled with the owners black Labrador and chatted to the DJ.

Everyone was chilling and smiling as this point.

I really didn't want to leave. Jish stayed here a bit longer!

We agreed to meet up at the last aid station and ride the final 25 miles together no matter what!

The next section was a mixture of open fields, technical woods and some road.

It was at Tollard Royal, we hit this crazy climb, a knarly limestone rock garden, steep with a long pitch at 12%+ that dragged on for ages. I only just made it up this climb.

Even when I thought I was at the top, there was more to come. Finally I was rewarded with a view over Monk's Down.

I was now starting too question my choice of route selection!

Donhead St. Mary Village Hall

I was relieved to make it to the final feed station after 111 "brutal" but "bloody fun" miles of UK gravel goodness.

I think I must of drank 6 ice cold colas and ate half a kilo of watermelon. One of the kind Stone Circle staff poured cold water over my head. It was in Heaven!

Jish rolled in and we laughed and chatted about the Tollard climb and got ready for final onslaught.

Eventually we said goodbye and pushed on. It was mid-afternoon and the sun had come out - you may have heard the famous poem "Mad Dogs and Englishman" by Noel Coward.

The Final Push

Jish and I gulped. Jish works in metric, myself imperial. It was 40 km or 25 miles back to Old Sarum Fort.

It was hot, dusty, the sun was beating down. 

I'll never forget the next climb, turning off a country lane we hit Shepard's Lane, a brutal 17% knarly gravel, rock garden climb. 

I couldn't stand, my back wheel lost traction, I was screaming to get off. It was just about then we came across the event photographer - so that wasn't happening!

I tried to smile but it looked more like a grimace! Don't show me the photos.

Jish dropped me, well he didn't drop me, he just had to ride at a pace so he didn't fall off!

We re-grouped at the top and Jish said "don't worry Mark it's flat for the next 20km so we can take it easy for awhile".

That couldn't have been farther from the truth. It was a hell of long straight gravel road that shone like a silver necklace into the distance.

But it was bumpy, with ruts and deep sections of gravel. No matter how hard we pushed we could only average around 13 mph.

Jish was shaking his hands. My neck had completely seized. We had pins and needles in both wrists. It was brutal.

The chatting slowed as the suffering increased. I started to hallucinate that smooth tarmac was ahead - only to find it was just another grade of gravel.

We were both relieved to get off this super gravel track over White Sheet Down and Chiselbury Hill towards Burcombe.

On a fresh day this would be just amazing, but after 125 miles we were begging to get off.

The next section was our favorite part, Jish and rolled along in the cool covered woods with a super soft road surface for miles.

It was sublime, especially after nearly 130 miles. This is the type of local ride you'd die for and reminds me of the Camel Trail.

We crossed the A36 and were rewarded with some smooth tarmac and a really fast descent, a final 6% road climb until we reached the bottom of Old Sarum Fort, to single track to the finish.

Jish and I joined hands as we rode over the final line together after 11 hours.

We hugged, grabbed some beers, ate some ice cream and both had a deep massage. 

We laughed and joked with everyone and re-told epic stories! Lots of fun loving people chilled out and watching bike jousting.

Jish and I burnt over 8,200 calories and climbed 10,659 feet over 136 miles of knarliest UK gravel you could find. I reckon I must have sucked on 10 yummy Styrkr Gels and washed it down with 15 colas, and ate a whole water melon!

I also had 2 litres of Lucozade in my hydration backpack and special Keto Fasting Electrolyte Tablets, of which I must have swallowed 8 or more.

Thank you to everyone who passed me out on the route and offered help when I was fixing punctures. I paid it forward!

Thank you to Ian and Jason at Sigma Sports bike retailers in Kingston Upon Thames for supporting the event.

Thank you to to my partner Specialized and Clive Mitchell Cycles in Newquay for setting the Diverge up.

What can I say.

Make sure you add the Stone Circle to Your Bucket List and make new friends and incredible memories.

Link to the 2025 Stone Circle Results: https://www.stonecircle.cc

See you next year!