Grand Day Out is back for a 4th year and the most ambitious event yet. Not only do we have the traditional 200km Grand Day Out ride, but for the first time we also have the 100km Gorilla’s Summer Excursion. If that wasn’t enough, both rides will culminate in the Club Summer BBQ at the Old Yardleians Rugby club. The BBQ is open to all club members, partners and families, so even if you can’t ride that day you can still come down and enjoy some summer vibes and good food. Invite your significant other along to meet you after you ride and cheer you across the line… or just to prove there really are other people who also like riding bikes!
There are however limited tickets for the BBQ, with riders initially being prioritised, see below for details.
Anyone with any sort of dietary requirements please get in touch with Neil or Eugene and make those known. Best efforts will be made but I can’t guarantee they can always be accommodated.
Ride information
As ever both rides will use an Audax/brevet format.
You will be given a "brevet card" listing various checkpoints called "controls". Verification of each control can happen in various ways. This year all controls will take the form of a question based on a landmark, at the distance shown on the card. These locations are also all marked on the published route.
You must present a completed card at the end of the ride to receive your finishers woven patch.
The provided route is what I believe to be the best route between controls. Where possible I have always tried to route on quiet roads and lanes, however, there will be some slightly busier sections and the occasional pot hole so take care out there.
I will be trying to do an ad-hoc staggered start this year, so we don’t have a big peloton leaving Kings Heath together.
Gorilla’s Grand Day Out
When - July 18th, 2026 - Coffee and pastries from 7:30am, ride starts 8am.
YOU WILL NEED TO BE AT THE START BY 7:30AM TO COLLECT YOUR BREVET CARD AND HEAR THE RIDER BREIFING.
Where - Hare and Hounds, York Road start, Whitlocks End finish.
What - 200km with rolling terrain.
Cost - £10 - Book here.
Price includes - a pre-ride coffee/pastry, your brevet card, finishing BBQ (food from 4pm), and an embroidered patch for those who complete the route. If you want to ride and have special dietary requirements please get in touch with Neil or Eugene and we’ll take it from there.
Gorilla’s Summer Excursion
When - July 18th, 2026 - Ride starts 11:30am.
YOU WILL NEED TO BE AT THE START BY 11:25AM TO COLLECT YOUR BREVET CARD AND HEAR THE RIDER BREIFING.
It’s a late start so that riders from both routes finish at roughly the same time for the afternoon BBQ.
Where - Hare and Hounds, York Road start, Whitlocks End finish.
What - 100km with rolling terrain.
Cost - £10 - Book here.
Price includes - your brevet card, finishing BBQ (food from 4pm), and an embroidered patch for those who complete the route. If you want to ride and have special dietary requirements please get in touch with Neil or Eugene and we’ll take it from there.
Gorilla’s Summer barbecue
Tickets for both rides include the BBQ.
Due to venue restrictions there are limited numbers for the BBQ. All club members, partners and families of members are welcome to come to the BBQ, however, every one intending to eat will need a ticket.
BBQ only tickets will go on sale 7-10 days before the event. This is to make sure that all riders have time to get a ticket.
When - July 18th, 2026 - Venue open from 2pm, food from 4pm . Venue closes 9pm.
Where - Old Yardleians Rugby Club, Whitlocks End.
What - BBQ food included in ticket price. Licensed bar not included.
Cost - £5 - When the tickets go on sale the link will appear here.
Note that we are not professional caterers, the food team are all volunteers. Please tune your expectations accordingly, however, last year’s finishing food was amazing. Catherine and Eugene did a brilliant job and with a bigger team this year I’m sure the spread will be just as great, if not even better!