Dirt Dashes, which organises gravel bikepacking events, has confirmed a new two-day challenge, the Lezyne Cateran Dirt Dash 5050. The bikepacking event takes place on August 26 and 27 in the Cairngorms National Park. It is the third event to be announced by Charlie Hobbs and Markus Stitz, who are the founders of Dirt Dashes.
Lezyne Cateran Dirt Dash 5050
The new two-day bikepacking event will provide participants with the experience of cycling 55 miles (87km) self-supported in the Cateran Ecomuseum in Perthshire and Angus.
Camping and catering will be provided at the Spittal of Glenshee, situated on the southern edge of the Cairngorms National Park.
Additionally supported by Paths for All through Smarter Choices Smarter Places and the Inspiring Scotland Rural and Island Communities Ideas into Action Fund (RICIA) in its first year, the entry fee for the newest Dirt Dash is £50, which includes the route, evening meal, campsite and breakfast. Participant numbers for the new event are capped at 50.
2 more Dirt Dash events
Dirt Dash in May:
May 27: Kinesis UK Dorset Dirt Dash 5050 (152km over two days)
May 28: Kinesis UK Dorset Dirt Dash 100 (152km on one day)
Dirt Dash in September:
Sept 23: Lezyne Dunoon Dirt Dash 5050 (130km over two days)
Sept 24: Lezyne Dunoon Dirt Dash 100 (160km on one day)
New sponsors for Dirt Dashes
Dirt Dashes has also announced a new commercial partnership with Upgrade Bikes. The West Sussex-based distributor of brands Kinesis UK and Lezyne will become the new headline sponsor of the event series.
Markus Stitz, director of Dirt Dash Ltd, said: “We are thrilled about the new partnership with Upgrade Bikes, which will add real value to our events in 2023. At the same time we are delighted to add a new two-day bikepacking event along some of my favourite routes in the southern glens of the Cairngorms National Park to our events portfolio.
“It follows old drovers trails and some really nice, quiet roads.”
Mark Noble, Head of Marketing at Upgrade Bikes, said: “Getting out there on bikes with good people and like-minded folks is one of the finest pleasures in life. Events like the Dirt Dashes are some of the best opportunities to do just that.”