One Gear, All The Way

Bikepacking to Singlespeed UK 2026 in the Cotswolds

124 miles. 10,130 feet of climbing. Four days. Fully loaded bikes. One gear.

Sometimes the best adventures start with a simple idea: load up the bikes, leave the van behind and see what happens.

This one started with a drive down to Tibberton, where we parked the van, unloaded the bikes and strapped on everything we’d need for four days of riding and camping. The plan was to bikepack our way to Singlespeed UK 2026 at Hayles Fruit Farm, race on Saturday, then ride all the way back to the van on Sunday.

My Salsa El Mariachi was fully loaded and running 32×18t. One gear for the next four days, regardless of what the terrain had in store.

Day 1 Tibberton to Tewkesbury

From Tibberton we headed towards Tewkesbury via the Malvern Hills, and it didn’t take long for the weight of the camping gear — and the reality of having only one gear — to make itself known.

The Malverns provided a proper opening-day test, but that’s singlespeeding. You settle into a rhythm, keep the pedals turning and deal with whatever gradient comes next.

We’d also landed an incredible spell of weather. For September it was remarkably warm and sunny, making it feel more like a late-summer bikepacking trip.

Day 2 Tewkesbury to Winchcombe

Day two took us from Tewkesbury towards Winchcombe, Huddleston Table and Cleeve Common.

Another cracking day on the bikes, with more climbing, brilliant trails and plenty of opportunities to stop for coffee. That’s one of my favourite things about bikepacking — the ride matters, but so do those little stops along the way.

There was no need to race to the destination. We’d be doing enough of that tomorrow.

Eventually we arrived at Hayles Fruit Farm, home for the weekend and venue for Singlespeed UK 2026.

Day 3 Race Day

Saturday morning started chilled, so we headed out to recce the course.

Three miles doesn’t sound particularly intimidating.

Then you discover each lap contains roughly 500 feet of climbing.

It was short, punchy and tough, with lots of grassy climbs, very little gravel and some absolutely brilliant sections weaving through the orchards. Conditions were bone dry and fast.

About three-quarters of the way around was the all-important beer stop. Technically an opportunity to rehydrate. Alternatively, an opportunity to make the remaining quarter of the lap considerably harder.

Then it was time to race.

Nearly three hours at full gas on a singlespeed left me absolutely cooked: 19.82 miles and 3,102 feet of climbing.

And we still had to ride home the following morning.

Saturday night brought the only real rain of the entire trip. Fortunately, by then I was tucked up in my bivvy beneath a gazebo, listening to it come down outside.

Sometimes you just get the timing right.

Day 4 The Muddy Road Home

By Sunday morning that rain had transformed the trails.

We packed the bikes, loaded everything back on and started the final 33-mile journey to Tibberton through soaked trails, deep mud and country lanes.

One of the highlights of the entire weekend came that morning: rolling into Broadway in the Cotswolds and stopping for coffee. Muddy bikes, tired legs, warm September sunshine and a decent coffee — one of those simple bikepacking moments that stays with you.

From Broadway we headed towards Evesham, where a Turkish breakfast provided some much-needed fuel.

Then came perhaps the most unexpected part of the trip: crossing the River Avon on a tiny hand-pulled ferry. Bikes aboard, ferry pulled across the river by hand and just £1 per person. Brilliant.

Eventually we rolled back into Tibberton.

The van was still there. The bikes were considerably muddier. The legs were considerably more tired.

124 miles. 10,130 feet of climbing. Four days carrying our camping gear. Coffee stops, sunshine, orchards, beer, bivvies, mud and a £1 ferry.

All on one gear.

Wouldn’t have it any other way. 🤘

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