Is this a race?

No the event is a personal challenge against yourself and against the route. Having said that you can make the event what you like it to be. You can decide to go all out and be as fast as possible. You can take it as a chilled long weekend and take all the time you want to complete the route. The fastest finisher won’t win any prizes but times will be recorded and a list of finishers published.

Is the route waymarked?

No, you will need a GPS device (e.g. Garmin, Wahoo, phone) to navigate the route(s). You may want to take with you a back-up device (e.g. GPS unit & phone or phone & paper map).

We advice against using a mobile phone as navigation can quickly drain the battery however this is also an option. If you do, ensure you pack a power bank or similar.

How can I get to the start?

We would recommend travelling by train, as the start is near Edale train station, which is connected to Manchester and Sheffield via regular direct trains. Travelling with Northern doesn't require to pre-book a bike space.

Manchester and Sheffield can be reached from most of the Country via train.

For those travelling by car, there's a pay and display car park near the Edale train station that can be used for long stay.

Which bike should I use?

We have scouted the route on a gravel bike with 40mm tyres and on a rigid bike with 2.25” tyres.

The best bike is the one you already have HOWEVER should you have the choice we would recommend either a hardtail with fast tyres or a gravel bike with wide tyres (47mm) and a mullet drivetrain.

A hardtail is likely to make the gnarly sections more fun while still be fast on the smooth sections. A gravel bike with big tyres is likely to be equally fun (for different reasons!) as long as the gearing is right.

Due to the variety of surfaces covered along the route and the presence of both steep and flat sections, no bike is going to be “ideal” along the full length of the route.

Ultimately the bike choice will depend on your fitness level, confidence on the bike and weight of kit/bags. If unsure we’d recommend going with the bike you’re most comfortable with.

Do I need expensive gear to start bikepacking?

No you don’t! There are plenty of brands providing entry level gear at affordable price.

Most of the kit we've been using was bought second hand, saving money and waste.

Check out Bikepacking.com for guidance on how to start bikepacking using inexpensive gear.

Where can I sleep before/during/after the event?

This is a self-supported event meaning that it is up to you to plan your journey to and from the start/finish, as well as how many stops to take and where to sleep.

Unless you're local to the Peak, we would recommend travelling the day before the event to get to the start fresh and with plenty of time.

We are working with a local farmer to arrange a campsite for the night before the start. This will be a basic campsite with car park, open to Tor Divide participants only. Look out for future communication about this. You are obviously free to book any other accommodation.

Please take your time studying the route in the weeks ahead of the event and identify potential locations where to stop at night. The Peak District offers plenty of opportunities to sleep using inns, hotels and campsites during the event (remember that you shouldn’t book accommodation before the start).

There is no provision under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act for camping (i.e. wild-camping) on open access land. If you wish to wild camp in the Peak District National Park you must first obtain permission from the landowner before camping otherwise you will be committing a trespass.

Please note that the risk of moorland fires is very high in the Peak Districts. Fires have caused huge damage in the area in recent years, and it is absolutely vital that you do not have an open fire at any time.

What if I finish in less than 24hrs/more than 36hours?

Everyone is welcome whether you intend to go for a fast time or take your time and enjoy the views and coffee stops.

We will be on site to welcome everyone finishing under 36hrs but please bear in mind should you finish at night/early morning we might not be around and some facilities might be closed/unavailable. Please get in touch with us ahead of the event if you're aiming for a fast time.

Should you finish just over 36hours chances are we will still be around packing. Depending on the time, some facilities might be closed/unavailable unfortunately.

Can I get a refund if I sign on and don’t ride?

Please read our event Terms and Conditions. We understand that circumstances might change however we have several fixed costs that we will pay/have paid during the year. We are unable to offer refunds however, we do provide the option to transfer entry from one person to another. This must be requested by the 16th March 2024 and it is the participant’s responsibility to find a replacement. We will facilitate this where we can.
If you wish to proceed with an entry transfer please contact us via email.

Can I take part with an e-bike?

Yes you can! We want people with different levels of fitness to try and enjoy bikepacking and if you need an e-bike to help you completing the route you are still welcome to take part.

Please make sure you plan your stops taking into account the capacity of your batteries and bring spares if you can. Please be respectful of the trails and other users.

However, please note that only riders participating with regular bikes will be included in the Finishers list.

You offer Live Tracking during the event. Is that mandatory?

Absolutely not! We carried out a survey amongst participants where nearly 50% of entrants voted.

53% of the voters were in favour of having Live Tracking, hence we decided to offer it as an option to those interested in it. Whether is to keep family and friends at home up to date on the ride or check out how far ahead (or behind) everyone else is, dot-watching is now a big part of bikepacking events and is really entertaining.

Live Tracking is offered in partnership with Zolla wheels and costs £27.5 per person, which includes hiring of a GPS tracker. For more information please visit Tor Divide Tracking Registration.

Live Tracking does not and should not affect your experience and how you ride the event, whether you have or not have a tracker!

Is it okay to leave tent/gear/bags at the event campsite, ride part of the route on Saturday, stay overnight at the campsite, and then finish the rest of the route on Sunday?

Short answer: you are welcome to ride with an unloaded bike (while still carrying mandatory equipment) and drop off or pick up gear in Edale. There is no judgement, no penalty nor public shaming for doing so. We simply ask that you inform us at the end of the ride using the online sign-out form so that we know who has ridden the route self-supported. The campsite at the farm is open to all participants and can serve as a checkpoint for rest and sleep for those that need it.

Long answer: the Tor Divide is a welcoming unsupported bikepacking event designed to give people a taste of this amazing sport in a safe environment. We offer two routes with reasonable cut-off times tailored to different levels of experience and fitness. Some traditional unsupported event rules, like no drafting and no participants’ assistance with supplies or mechanics, don't apply here.

You are welcome to ride with an unloaded bike (while still carrying mandatory equipment) and drop off or pick up gear in Edale. There is no judgement, no penalty nor public shaming for doing so. We simply ask that you inform us at the end of the ride using the online sign-out form so that we know who has ridden the route self-supported.

We aim to keep the event true to its concept as an unsupported bikepacking challenge. While it's not a competitive race, it's about testing yourself against the route, and we want to ensure a level playing field with a common set of rules.

The basic event campsite is open to all participants and can serve as a checkpoint for rest and sleep for those that need it.

This is a good article about the principles of self-supported bikepacking: https://bikepacking.com/plog/self-supported-principles/