Get your gravel on! – Bike Magazine Australia

Grinding it out

With over 300 riders taking part in 2017, the organiser of the G.O.G.G – Rapid Ascent – were rewarded for their support of a discipline that provides an opportunity to reach and encourage cyclists of all abilities.

In perfect weather and on two courses, 97km and 49km respectively, taking in a combination of fire trails and regular gravel roads throughout the stunning Otway ranges, the event attracted a diverse range of participants eager for gravel.

For first timers, short, sharp loose gravel climbs of the 49km course served up a taste of what gravel grinding is about. There was a challenging, but achievable 1000 metres of climbing to conquer as well. There was plenty of friendly chatter and plenty of acknowledgement of riders on the trail.

The longer course served up a further 1200m of climbing, including a long ascent back from the edge of the Great Ocean Road. A greater challenge, but a unique view that only few properly equipped vehicles or hardy walkers may have experienced before. The perspective that gravel grinding opens up is one of its lesser-known benefits.

Officially, the G.O.G.G is a race. This year it attracted high quality winners in the 97km race, with Peta Mullens and Tasman Nankervis claiming the respective women’s and men’s divisions. However, the event serves perhaps an even a greater purpose as an introduction to off-road riding.

While many of those elite riders had come for the mountain bike marathon at the Otway Odyssey a day prior, it’s easy to see things working the other way. First time G.O.G.G participants could easily become first time Odyssey riders in years to come.

Adding to the charm of the event was a coffee stand-equipped water stop at the 30km mark of the course. Located in an untimed section of the course, it gave riders a chance to take as long as they wanted refuelling or just chatting, prior to commencing the largely downhill run back into Forrest for the finish and a well-earned ice cold beer from the local brewery.

Curiously, it is the very social and back-to-basic aspect of gravel grinding that has helped fuel its popularity across every level of cycling, and among every level of cyclist. Whether or not this will translate to popularity as a competitive form of cycling remains to be seen. It will largely be up to G.O.G.G and events like it to offer riders a chance to decide.