About

Tor Divide

‘Tor’ from the Old English ‘torr’: a high hill, esp. a bare rocky one
‘Divide’ is a popular choice of name for a bikepacking route that crosses a land.
Also wordplay from a similar sounding bikepacking event in the USA: Tour Divide

The biggest obstacle I found when I tried bikepacking for the first time was the lack of local groups and beginner-friendly events. The only options seemed to be 600km (or longer!) races and nobody wants to try something like that - solo - with no previous experience.

Having now taken part in bikepacking events and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and comradery found on the trails, I wanted to create exactly the event I would have loved to sign-up to when I took that first step into bikepacking.

An event not too easy so that it is still challenging and rewarding, not too expensive so that it is still accessible, and not too sanitised so that it is still representative of unsupported bikepacking. An event that is welcoming and inclusive.

If you are an experienced rider don’t worry, there will be plenty of trails to keep you entertained if you’re after a fast finish time.

I hope to see you in the Peak District.

Valerio Stuart

(he/him)
vaˈlɛ.rjo
from the verb "valere", meaning "to be strong" [Latin]
also: “a whining stubborn imbecil” [my other half]

Just like many others I’ve discovered cycling thanks to Covid-19 and bought a bike in 2021 after lockdown. What was something I was highly skeptical about and meant to be nothing more than a temporary hobby, ended up taking over much of my free time and I now regularly commute to work and explore the countryside around Manchester on my bike.

Things got even “worse” when I tried bikepacking for the first time, and I’ve enjoyed multiple trips since then. From chilled overnighters to an ultra-cycling race, from exploring the Scottish Highlands to the smooth white gravel paths in Tuscany.