What is CyclingGravel about? Or put another way, why does CyclingGravel exist?

It started because of what I enjoyed on a bicycle: exiting the tarmac to get away from the traffic for a while. Or figuring out some quiet country roads for a quick city escape. Luckily, I live in a place where this pretty easy to do.

But the more I cycled, the more I had a particular challenge: I often found it hard to find information about gravel routes I was interested in. And I’m interested in a lot – everything from champagne gravel through to cross country mountain biking. Building bikepacking routes can also be a massive challenge: where is the traffic truly awful, or the cheeky back-route actually a dead end? Or, on the other hand, where is there an amazing back route that cuts out a highway-based cycle?

So I started this site because I found it hard to find cycling route information and I thought there would be plenty of other cyclists who would find the same. Hopefully, by using the site, you find some routes much easier as a result! I would love you to take my cycling routes, tailor them as you wish, and head off on your own adventure. I’ve used Komoot for the maps as it is brilliant for this – you can copy the ones I’ve put online and then shorten, lengthen or adapt to your heart’s content. There are also a lot more photos embedded in the Komoots than those included on this site. I’ve also made recommendations on cafes, wineries, hotels and other things I like – all based upon having visited myself. At the very least I hope the rides and other information on this site provide some inspiration!

You will notice that this site is Canberra-focused. It is my home town and it has some amazing cycling: iconic rides like Cotter Uriarra, Fitz’s Climb and the Centenary Trail.  But there is so much more – discovered by many but not necessarily easily found by those less familiar with what is around our great city.  Particularly if you are prepared to go beyond the tarmac, but not exclusively so. And if you are after a bikepacking route, what better place to start than Canberra given the gravel roads that are available! Having said that, if you go for a day trip or weekend into NSW from Canberra or Sydney there is just so much gravel to explore.

If there is something you think I could help with, please comment and get in touch. Otherwise I hope you get as much enjoyment from cycling some of these routes as I did. If you find them super enjoyable, and would like to give a little back to maintaining the site, you can always buy me a coffee. It would be most welcome!

Buy Me A Coffee
Apparently Molesworth station is the largest farm in NZ. I can believe it, although what it clearly should be known for is the epic views - across all parts of the Molesworth Muster trail Staying on the #WestCoastNZ, the Old Ghost Road was mind blowing. A bit of #hikeabike but so worth it. The Heaphy Track is an amazing cycle. I’m already plotting a return. Special highlight other than the trail was seeing a rare Takahe!! The weather was challenging but the scenery is unbelievable. Another Gears and Beers Dirty130 done. Epic as usual. Thanks to the Rotary folk for organising an amazing day out, and to the breweries that came. Particularly @tumutriverbrewingco for the Hitchhikers, @kr.brewing for Kolsch and Pilsner and @brightbrewery for the top of the class Japanese dark lager. Took some time to bikepack around Cootamundra, Jugiong, Tumut and Gundagai on way to Gears & Beers. Epic canola, particularly after storm! Swiss alpine climbs and descents. Blow your mind kind of stuff. Just completed the Route des Grandes Alpes from Lake Geneva to Nice - what has to be one of the most epic bike trips in the world. Blessed with clear weather and the company of a great mate. One of the most epic rides I’ve done - Swiss Route 9 from Zurich to Lausanne. The Grosse Scheidegg detour is out of this world. Lots of backroads, unsealed farm roads and even a bit of single track. Cycling up one of my favourite valleys - Eurobodalla Road. Single track and mountain views Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) is a fantastic place to fat bikepack. Epic beaches, great camp sites and only a short ferry ride from Brisbane. Bali bikepack complete. More details and routes to come on cyclinggravel.com in coming weeks. First week cycling up and down and around and through Bali is done. Epic. Time for the next CyclingGravel adventure. Warm up around Ubud. There’s dairy in them thar hills… Beach time…. Time for another bikepacking adventure. I think Bob would have been into fat biking. Gravel & wildlife. What a city. Epic climb to Mount Buffalo Horn. Tried the Brindabella National Park route to Wee Jasper. Some hike-a-bike required due to gradient, but awesome off-road ride. If you like your gravel with an incline, Mount Porepunkah fits the bill…. Christmas send it Sneaky gravel in the heart of the city: Mount Ainslie Nature Park. Bikepack your own way in NZ. First trip on my folding bike - a bit of an experiment. Plane, train and pedal-mobile. The beer festival was so good (thinking of you @kr.brewing Kolsch) that this post is late! The #Dirty130 gravel this year was epic at @wagga_gearsandbeers. Thanks to the folk who organised, opened their farms and provided on route supplies - including great sausages and @bridgeroadbrewers Free Time around 95km!! Spring time evenings = time for single track. Erie Canalway Trail is CyclingGravel’s current adventure. Buffalo to Geneva so far, with brief Canada diversion thrown in… Winter solstice no camping Attack of the Buns? Yes with some modifications given weather and trail, but still epic.