South Lakes Bike Fest 3 Valley Challenge XL Winners First Place in the Pairs Category
On 13th June 2026, my riding partner and I lined up at Eddie’s Field in Staveley for the South Lakes Bike Fest wheelbase 3 Valley Challenge XL route.
The course covered approximately 26 miles with over 4,000ft of climbing across the Lake District.
Going into the event, the goal was simply to complete the route, enjoy a big day out on the bike and see where we ended up.
What we didn’t expect was to cross the finish line as 1st Place Winners in the XL Pairs Category.
For someone who has never entered a mountain bike event before, it was a pretty special result for me
For anyone wanting to ride the route themselves, you can find it here:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49239827%C2%A0
About The 3 Valleys Challenge
The WHEELBASE Staveley 3 Valleys Challenge has become one of the most popular mountain bike endurance events in the Lake District, attracting riders from across the UK to take on a timed challenge across some of Cumbria's most iconic trails.
Starting and finishing at the South Lakes Bike Fest field near Staveley, the event uses natural Lake District bridleways, rocky tracks and classic singletrack to create a route that is both physically demanding and incredibly rewarding.
The challenge takes riders through three of the Lake District's most beautiful valleys:
- Longsleddale Valley
- Kentmere Valley
- Troutbeck Valley
Riders tackling the Long and Extra Long routes also take on the infamous Garburn Pass, one of the most recognisable mountain bike climbs in the Lake District.
The event was originally organised in memory of local mountain biker Sam Houghton and over the years has raised more than £200,000 for Cancer Research UK, making it much more than just another mountain bike event.
Participants can choose from multiple route options, including Short, Long and Extra Long courses, as well as riding solo, in pairs or as part of a team. E-bike categories are also available, making the event accessible to riders of all abilities and fitness levels.
For 2026 we chose the Extra Long route, which is officially listed at approximately 45km and takes riders deep into the heart of the Lake District fells, combining big climbs, technical descents and some truly spectacular scenery.
The Start – Faster Than Planned
We rolled out from Eddie’s Field at what felt like a comfortable pace.
Looking back, it probably wasn’t.
After the first hour we were averaging around 8mph, which is considerably faster than I would normally ride over this sort of terrain.
I’ve never raced before and although this wasn’t technically a race, it’s amazing how quickly you get caught up in the atmosphere when everyone around you is pushing on.
My riding partner had other ideas about taking it easy and before I knew it we were making good progress through the opening miles.
The route started surprisingly boggy in places. The ground conditions were far softer than I expected and it immediately started draining energy from the legs.
Normally that’s not a huge issue over a shorter ride, but on a longer endurance event every bit of energy you waste early on comes back to haunt you later.
Garburn Pass – The Big Test
Up until Garburn Pass everything felt manageable.
Then came the climb.
Anyone who has ridden Garburn knows exactly what I’m talking about. You would rather ride down it then climb up it for sure
Long.
Steep.
Relentless.
The climb seemed to go on forever and by the time we reached the higher sections I was already beginning to feel the effort from the fast start and energy-sapping conditions earlier in the ride.
Once over the top we picked up speed and started making good progress down the other side. The views were spectacular and for a while everything felt back under control.
At that point I was having a great day.
Then, around 20 miles in, it happened.
I had nothing left in me
Looking back, it wasn’t a fitness issue.
It was a fuelling issue.
One thing I’ve realised is that although I regularly ride long distances, I almost always stop somewhere. Whether it’s a café, a shop or simply a quick break, those stops naturally force me to eat and drink properly.
During the 3 Valley Challenge we barely stopped at all.
We kept pushing forward and before I realised what was happening, I was running on empty.
The result was a drop in energy levels that stayed with me for the remainder of the ride.
The frustrating part wasn’t the physical suffering.
It was feeling like I was letting my riding partner down.
He was still riding strongly while I was hanging on and trying to manage my energy levels for the remaining miles.
That was probably the biggest lesson of the day.
Endurance riding isn’t just about fitness.
It’s about pacing.
It’s about hydration.
It’s about nutrition.
Ignore any one of those and you’ll pay for it later.
A Mental Challenge as Much as a Physical One
What surprised me most was how much of the event became a mental battle.
The legs hurt.
The climbs got steeper.
The miles seemed to take longer.
But the challenge became staying positive and continuing to move forward.
Every rider reaches a point where things stop feeling comfortable.
The difference is what happens next.
For me, this event highlighted just how important experience is when it comes to longer endurance riding.
I made mistakes.
I started too quickly.
I didn’t fuel properly.
And I suffered because of it.
But that’s exactly how you improve.
Enduro Pro Resin V2 My New Favourite Compound?
One thing that never missed a beat all day was the braking performance.
I was running the new Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro Resin V2 brake pads throughout the event and honestly couldn’t have asked for more.
The route threw everything at them:
- Long descents
- Rocky Lake District terrain
- Mixed trail conditions
- Continuous braking over extended periods
Despite the punishment, the pads remained predictable and powerful throughout the entire ride.
What impressed me most was the control.
As I’ve ridden them more, I’m beginning to think this may actually be my favourite compound in the Gorilla Brakes range.
They offer excellent modulation, strong braking power and a very confidence-inspiring feel that works perfectly for long days in the mountains.
If you’re looking for replacement brake pads for your bike, you can browse the full Gorilla Brakes range here:
Or use our Brake Pad Finder to find the correct pads for your brakes:
https://gorillabrakes.com/collections/gorilla-brakes-all-brake-pads
Final Thoughts
26 miles.
Over 4,000ft of climbing.
Some tough terrain
And somehow, despite a major energy crash around the 20-mile mark, we managed to keep pushing and crossed the line as 1st Place Winners in the XL Pairs Category.
What makes the result even more satisfying is knowing it wasn’t a perfect ride.
I started too fast.
I didn’t fuel properly.
I suffered more than I needed to.
Yet we still dug deep and got the job done.
Massive credit to the organisers, volunteers and everyone involved in making the event happen.
Would I do it again?
Absolutely.
Next time I’ll pace myself better, fuel earlier and hopefully avoid the energy crash that turned the final miles into a survival exercise.
For now though, I’ll happily take 1st place.
Route Information
Event: South Lakes Bike Fest 3 Valley Challenge XL
Date: 13 June 2026
Result: 🏆 1st Place XL Pairs Category
Location: Eddie’s Field, Staveley, Cumbria
Distance: 26 Miles
Elevation: 4,000ft+
Official Route:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49239827
Event Website:
https://www.southlakesbikefest.com/
Brake Pad Finder:
https://gorillabrakes.com/collections/gorilla-brakes-all-brake-pads
Shop Gorilla Brakes:
https://gorillabrakes.com/
Follow our rides and testing on Instagram:
@cal_gorillabrakes
Use discount code CAL25 for 25% off brake pads with a minimum spend of £20.
We’ll be adding more GPX routes, ride reports and mountain bike adventures to the Gorilla Brakes blog throughout 2026, so keep checking back for more Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and UK MTB routes.
