The Big ‘Un 24 // Event Recap and Photos
This year’s Big ‘Un was a bit of an experiment. For the past three years we’ve run this event towards the end of October, when the days are shorter, darker and the crisp cool air of winter takes a grip of the countryside. For me, it’s my favourite conditions for cycling in and we always enjoyed the extra challenge it posed for riders with the very real threat of finishing the tough 115km route in the pitch black.
However, the conditions were so rough in 2023 (see HERE) that we thought in 2024 we’d bring the event into September – taking advantage of the warm Indian summer conditions that we’re often treated to in the UK. Also, the extra daylight (a full 3 hours more this time of year!) would allow riders to get more enjoyment out of the route as it winds its way up and over the beautiful Kent Downs.
This year we also encouraged guests to join us at Brother HQ on the Friday night, to take full advantage of the unique setup we have here. Based on a fruit farm in the Kent countryside we have fields for guests to camp in and a large tractor barn where we treated everyone to some drinks, campfires and an adventure film screening to build excitement for the following day.
The ride itself also saw some major changes in 2024 – simply put it was the original route but in reverse. With a few changes along the way to take in some newly discovered trails in the area. These are our local trails, we’re riding here every week and constantly finding hidden bridleways or forest tracks that we want to include on the route!
Doing it in reverse means riders are thrown straight in at the deep end as they climb up towards one of the highlights of the day, the beautiful King’s Wood with its towering pine trees and smooth gravel trails. After this they’re treated to a well deserved pit stop, The Hub in Wye serving up coffee and pastries before riders head back into the wilds of Kent, another 50km or so of technical woodland trails, flowing open fields and everything in-between. A highlight of doing the route this way around is that riders pass through Canterbury, with its beautiful cathedral, at approx 80km. It’s an opportunity to refuel and rest weary legs before completing the final section – a cruisy 35km back to Brother HQ.
At the finish guests are welcomed back to Brother HQ with roaring fire pits, local brewed beer and cider and a hot plate of freshly cooked food from a taco van! It was great to watch everyone kick back and relax around the fire until late into the night – sharing their stories from the trail with a well earned drink or two.
Below is the full set of photos, so make a brew and have a look through these brilliant shots from talented photographer and friend @cadenceimages – and hopefully those of you that couldn’t join us this year will make it along in 2025: