We’ve been hearing a bit about gravel riding lately and wanted to find out more about it.
The good news?
The Highlands is primed for it!
We’ve got some awesome gravel rides right in our backyard.
Here’s what you need to know about gravel riding in the Southern Highlands.
1 // What is gravel riding?
It’s like a form of adventure riding, where most of your riding is done on fire trails, gravel obviously and dirt tracks.
It’s less technical than mountain biking and less about speed than road cycling, so it’s actually quite a leisurely form of riding that suits a lot of people of different ages and skill levels.
2 // What’s so good about gravel riding?
It’s a more relaxed way to ride and you get to see some pretty amazing scenery and areas of the Highlands that really are only accessible by bike [or dirt bikes].
You can be out riding for hours and only see a few cars.
Gravel riding is also ideal for doing longer rides or even overnight and multi-day trips.
So if you like to combine active exploring on a bike with some camping, then gravel riding is the way to do it.
3 // So how does a gravel bike set-up differ from a road bike or mountain bike?
The wider tyres [35mm – 50mm] improve comfort and grip.
A gravel bike also uses disc brakes which provide better control and performance, which is what you need when you’re riding on a variety of surfaces, especially loose surfaces like gravel.
They’re basically set up to give you a relaxed, riding position which means you can ride for longer.
There is also the provision on a gravel bike to load up with multiple bags if you’re going to head out for a long day of riding or overnight or longer.
4 // Do you need any extra gear for gravel riding?
You’ll need your regular safety gear such as helmets, of course.
Use mountain bike shoes and pedals, not road shoes.
You can use a few different bags depending on how long you’re heading out for.
There’s a Handlebar Bag and a medium sized Seatpost Bag for shorter rides and a bigger Seatpost Bag if you’re heading out on a camping trip.
Seatpost Bags tuck in under your seat and can fit a fair bit of stuff.
If you’re unsure about what you need, come into The Fixed Wheel and we can talk you through the different gear.
We’d also recommend a GPS cycling computer like a Garmin to not only record your stats but also help with navigation. Especially important if you’re going off-road and hitting lesser known trails.
5 // So, where can we go gravel riding in the Southern Highlands?
We’re lucky we’ve got a lot of National Parks and State Forests around us. They’re usually a good place to start. My picks would be:
- Meryla Fire Trail which is accessible via Meryla Road.
- Penrose State Forest [currently closed to traffic]
- Mount Jellore in the Nattai National Park
- Out the back of Canyonleigh towards Marulan
- Red Hills Fire Trail accessible from Nowra Road, Fitzroy Falls
There’s also plenty of fire trails off Wombeyan Caves Road, and Wingello State Forest is also good.
Wingello State Forest has reopened [it was closed for a couple of years due to bushfire damage] so you can access the fire trails for some gravel riding now which is great news.
Come in to the store and have a chat with us and we’ll let you know what sort of trails and tracks would suit you depending on your skill level and experience. And tell you how to access them.
We love sharing our awesome outdoor adventures with The Fold readers and want to make sure everyone stays safe and healthy when giving our walks and rides a crack for themselves. So, always check the weather forecast before you venture out. If you’re heading into a National Park, be sure to consult the National Parks website for up-to-date information about current alerts. Prepare yourself with the right equipment, clothing, safety items, with plenty to eat and drink if you’re going on longer hikes, and always let someone else know where you’re going and what time you are expected to be back. Have fun and stay safe!