Great Ocean Road Gravel Journey - RIDE GUIDE

Page 1


THE RIDE GUIDE

Great Ocean Road Gravel Tour : 26 - 30 NOVEMBER 2024

It’s here! Your Great Ocean Road Gravel Tour is (nearly) upon us and we’re excited to be sharing the journey with you.

This ride guide provides a day by day summary of where we’re riding and what we’ll see along the way and is designed to be your companion during the week. The Handbook we circulated earlier (HERE) was more about how to prepare for the week whilst this document explains what’s going to happen during the ride.

Use this ride guide to understand where we’ll stop during each day’s ride, what we’ll see along the way and any final reminders to take into consideration. We’ll have a briefing each night and explain more and answer questions, but this is the foundation for the fun we’re going to have.

So load the maps onto your phone, ready your bike and “put film” in your camera because this is about to happen!

See you soon: Sam, John, Jez and Marcel - your Rapid Ascent ride guides.

Itinerary

Here is a quick recap of our itinerary, especially for the day before we start riding and after we finish.

Daily schedule

DAY 0 – Monday 25th November

Time tbc. We will meet with riders who are renting bikes and help you set them up.

6:30pm Team dinner at the Lorne Hotel. 176 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne. User pays and optional attendance (but I think nearly everyone is coming!).

We will have an informal briefing on Monday night if everyone is here so we can hit the road with minimal downtime on Tuesday morning.

DAY 1 – Tuesday 26th November

8:00am Luggage collection - we will come past your accommodation and collect your luggage that’s coming with us. We can also collect any bike boxes that need storing while we’re away (if your accomm can’t store them for you)

8:30am All riders meet for coffee and final discussions at the ‘Lorne Central’ cafe at 54 Great Ocean Road.

You can give us your daily ride bag and/or warm jumper at the café but otherwise arrive in your riding clothing, with your bike ready to ride. If you need help assembling your bike, please let us know prior to your arrival.

9:30am The journey begins! We want to start riding no later than 9:30am

General schedule for the remainder of the week: Wednesday – Saturday

Here’s a rough daily schedule when on the journey:

7:00am Breakfast available

8:00am Bags packed and given to guides – final prep (fill water bottles, pack on bike nutrition…)

8:15am Rider roll out (slower paced riders are welcome to start earlier – at approx. 8:00am)

2:00 – 5:00pm Riders finish and arrive at accommodation. Après-ride snacks and drinks available.

6:30pm Dinner

8:00pm Briefing for the following day

DAY 5 – Saturday 30th November

Final day plans:

• Riders can plan to depart Lorne from approx. 4:30pm OR stay in Lorne another night.

• We will confirm seperate plans with those riders who need to get to Lorne earlier.

Daily ride descriptions

Here is a detailed description of each day’s ride with the different rest points, lunch stops and scenic features all highlighted. Also included are links to a map of each ride on the Capra App where you can save the route to your phone or download the GPX files for your bike computer (if you need a hand doing this, please let us know)…

DAY 1 – Tuesday 26th November

Day 1 is a suitable introduction to riding in the Otways with an asphalt climb early on, some undulations and then a long descent to finish.

A: Lorne to Sugarloaf. 67km with ~1,350m ascent. Difficulty level: 3 We commence our journey by riding up the famous Benwerrin (asphalt) climb to the top of the range before turning onto Mt Sabine Road for your first taste of the Otways’ pristine gravel roads. There are a few kilometers of undulating gravel road through the rainforest before a superb decent down to the Great Ocean Road and our accommodation at Sugarloaf.

B: Lorne to Sugarloaf. 55km with ~850m ascent. Options exist to shorten the ride including skipping the Benwerrin climb and riding the ridgeline and then the descent down to our accommodation. We can discuss on Monday night at the pub.

REST POINTS:

The km points below are for the A course:

• 34km: Kangalang Rd Junction. Morning tea with bakery products, Skratch and more. No toilet available.

• 54km: Lunch stop at Wye River village. Lunch prepared by the beach. Toilet available.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Benwerrin Road, although its asphalt it’s a beautiful climb through the forest

• Lunch at Wye River by the beach - feel free to go for a body surf!

• Riding along the Great Ocean Road (bitumen) past landmarks including: Cape Patton and many remote beaches and bays

FUN FACT: Make sure you look for koalas at Kennett River 60km pt (look behind the caravan park)

RIDE MAP: CLICK HERE or scan the QR code to see the Day 1 map on Capra Map App and download to your phone. (Follow the prompts to create an account and you’ll find the maps in the app’s ‘Library’)

DAY 2 – Wednesday 27th November

Day 2 is a spectacular day of riding, and possibly the hardest of the trip with some big climbs and descents as we cross the Otways and back.

A: Sugarloaf to Sugarloaf. 110km with 2,800m ascent. Difficulty level: 5

This is the biggest day of the journey along a world class route. After a 7km warm up on the Great Ocean Road we do a long climb that basically see us cross the Otway Ranges and descend to the village of Forrest for lunch at the 46km pt. The return route to Sugarloaf is a little tougher as we re-cross the Otways via a different route, passing through some more remote country before another spectacular descent to our accommodation at Sugarloaf.

B: Sugarloaf to Forrest. ~46km-80km with ~850m-1,500m ascent

The shorter option is basically a one way ride to Forrest where you’ll complete a solid climb and a cruising descent to the lunch stop. If you’d like a bit more then we can easily drive you to the top of the next climb and you ride back to Sugarloaf. Either way we’ll match a ride to your ability level.

REST POINTS:

Both routes will have lunch at Forrest with a few stops either side. The km points below are for the A course:

• 24km: Otway summit #1 at the top of Grey River Road. Morning tea with bakery products, Skratch and more. No toilet available

• 45km: Forrest. Lunch prepared at the trailhead. Toilet available

• 69km: Otway summit #2 at the top of Lardner Track. Afternoon tea with bakery products, Skratch and more. No toilet available

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Riding into the cycle friendly township of Forrest – host of the Otway Odyssey

• The long climb up Lardners Track is tough but spectacular and feels very remote

• Riding Turtons Track and the towering tree ferns

• Ocean views and awesome gravel as we descend back to the Great Ocean Road on Wild Dog Rd (this is our favourite section of road)

FUN FACT: Forrest was established in 1890 and the football club in 1891 making it one of the oldest clubs in the state (the club has since folded in 2015!).

RIDE MAP: CLICK HERE or scan the QR code to see the Day 2 map on Capra Map App and download to your phone.

DAY 3 – Thursday 28th November

Day 3 provides a great sense of journey as we ride down the length of the Otways and its seemingly endless tall timber forests before popping back out at the ocean at Cape Otway.

NOTE: We will stop at the Cape Otway Lightstation to check out the grounds and epic Southern Ocean views. We recommend putting some shoes / thongs in your personal ride bag today so you can walk comfortably.

A: Sugarloaf to Johanna. 100km with 2,400m ascent. Difficulty level: 4

The day starts with another long climb to the top of the Otways then remains on the ridge line as we ride through many more kilometres of rainforest. After a weaving descent we emerge at the Cape Otway Lighthouse at the 70km pt where we stop to inspect the venue and take in the views. Then it’s through some private farming land and river flats to our coastal retreat at Johanna.

B: Sugarloaf to Johanna. ~60 – 80km with 1,000 – ~2,000m ascent

Numerous options exist to shorten the ride without compromising the quality – such as skipping the big climb at the start or not going to the Lighthouse. We’ll work out a plan with you.

REST POINTS:

The km points below are for the A course:

• 20km: Mt Sabine summit. Morning tea with bakery products, Skratch and more. No toilet available.

• 50km: Binns Rd junction. Lunch prepared on the trailside in the forest. No toilet available.

• 70km: Cape Otway Lightstation. Afternoon tea from us or there’s a small cafe shop available plus Skratch and more. Toilet available.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Being on the top of the Otways at Mt Sabine – its all down from here!

• Riding through the farmland near Aire River that most riders don’t get to experience.

• Visiting the popular tourist attraction at the Cape Otway Lightstation. We will look after your bikes and give you your walking shoes whilst you explore the light house and surrounds.

• Champagne gravel in the closing stages

FUN FACT: The Cape Otway Lightstation is Victoria’s oldest operating lighthouse and was first lit in 1848 and was built as a result of major shipwrecks in the area.

RIDE MAP: CLICK HERE or scan the QR code to see the Day 3 map on Capra Map App and download to your phone.

DAY 4 – Friday 29th November

Day 4 is a point-to-point ride past some of Victoria’s most popular landmarks leading to Port Campbell and a vehicle transfer back to our accommodation at Johanna.

NOTE: We will stop at some of the lookouts and do some short walks to take in the views at the 12 Apostles. We will either do this on the way to Port Campbell OR or from the vehicle on the return (depending on timing and how we’re traveling). Either way we recommend putting some shoes / thongs and maybe some casual clothes in your personal bag today so you can walk comfortably. Also pack your swimmers in your bag as we’ll probably go for a swim at Port Campbell.

A: Johanna to Port Campbell. 54km with ~730m ascent. Difficulty level: 2.5 We start with a steep climb to Moonlight Head and the spectacular Gables lookout with epic views to the south. After a fun section through open farmland, we hit the asphalt and ride past the famous Twelve Apostles, Gibson Steps and other landmarks where we’ll stop and do some exploring on foot then it’s on to Port Campbell for lunch and a vehicle transfer back to Johanna.

B: Johanna to Port Campbell. Jump in the vehicle to avoid the early climb or swap other sections out and explore the coastline.

REST POINTS:

The km points below are for the A course:

• 22km: Gables lookout. Simple stop with snacks and hydration. No toilet available

• 42km: 12 Apostles car park. Morning tea with bakery products, Skratch and more. Toilet available

• 54km: Lunch in Port Campbell. This is a buy your own lunch stop from the selection of cafes. Toilet available

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Gables Lookout at Moonlight head – spectacular

• Riding cross country through the farming land

• Visiting the 12 Apostles and other iconic landmarks

FUN FACT: Question for you - how many Apostles actually are remaining?!

RIDE MAP: CLICK HERE or scan the QR code to see the Day 4 map on Capra Map App

DAY 5 – Saturday 30th November

We’re well and truly into the swing of things now – and today provides another great journey through the Otway wilderness as we leave the coast and head up, over and inland.

NOTE: We will stop and do the elevated tree top walk at the Otway Fly so we recommend putting some shoes / thongs and maybe some casual clothes in your personal bag today so you can walk comfortably.

A: Johanna to Lorne. 103km with ~2,030m ascent. Difficulty level: 4 Today we leave the coast and cross over the range to the farming land on the inland side, stopping at the popular Otway Fly treetop walk for morning tea and at the Gelibrand General Store for a well earned lunch stop at the 50km pt. It’s worth saving some energy for the final 20km as we cross the Otways one final time leading to a sublime descent back to the beach at beautiful Lorne. Journey complete!

B: Johanna to Gelibrand +. 50km-75km with ~1,000m-1,500m ascent. Ride the first 50km to Gelibrand and then jump in the car. We can tip you out at the top of the next hill or anywhere in between. Choose your own adventure!

REST POINTS:

The km points below are for the A course:

• 25km Otway Fly. We’ll change shoes and spend approx. 1hr walking the elevated treetop walk platforms. There is a café here where you can buy a coffee or other foods if needed. Toilet available

• 33km: Beech Forest rail trail car park. Morning tea with bakery products, Skratch and more. Toilet available

• 50km: Gelibrand General Store. This is a buy your own lunch stop. Toilet available

• 74km: Barwon Downs - Delaney Rd Junction. Afternoon tea with bakery products, Skratch and more. Toilet available

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The elevated treetop walk is a very popular stop and well worth the walk.

• The endless, easy-rolling descent to Gelibrand

• Smelling the salt air again as we descend back down to Lorne at the end of the day

FUN FACT: Our descent to Lorne leads us past the site of the legendary Falls Festival live music festival and campsite. This site has hosted bands like The Strokes, Tame Impala and Arcade Fire.

RIDE MAP: CLICK HERE or scan the QR code to see the Day 5 map on Capra Map App and download to your phone.

Reminder... Navigating the route

The ride route will not be marked. We strongly encourage all riders to have each day’s ride saved onto a device such as your bike computer or a phone so you can self navigate.

We recommend you have the Capra mapping app on your phone of GPS bike computer by simply scanning the QR code for each day’s map as included above OR scan this QR code to download the full collection of maps for all days together.

Once you’ve got the Capra map loaded you can export/import the GPX file to you bike computer if preferred. We can show you how to do this on Monday night’s dinner if unsure.

Personal ride bags – don’t forget

We will collect a ‘ride bag’ from each rider containing your personal items at the start of each day. This will be available for you at the rest stops and can include things like:

• Spare riding clothes eg. arm warmers, gilet, rain jacket and swimmers / bathers for day 4…

• Your own hydration / nutrition if you prefer your own products.

• Walking shoes and ‘normal clothes’ so you can walk to a waterfall or feel comfortable in a township.

Photos

We will be taking a few photos of you in action and of the various sites we see throughout the week and will upload them to a shared Google Photos album. You are welcome to download these and use them for any purpose – especially showing your friends what they’re missing out on!

We’re very happy for you to also upload and share any photos you take so we can all enjoy them.

We will set up the Google Album and share it via Whatsapp the day before the ride starts.

Communications

We will set up a WhatsApp chat group for all riders and use this to communicate before and during the ride. Make sure you have WhatsApp on your phone and keep an eye out for the creation of this group on Monday 25th November. Other than that, our direct mobile phone numbers are:

Sam Maffett: 0400 001 786

John Jacoby: 0408 035 261

Jeremy Baker: 0423 630 378

Marcel Shields: 0412 523 420

OTHER DETAILS

Other details like a packing list, typical weather details, inclusions / exclusions, riding pace and groups, bike set up, accommodation details and catering... were all included in the HANDBOOK we circulated in late October. CLICK HERE to see the Handbook again and check anything you’ve forgotten.

Sponsor details

We are very grateful for the support of the following organisations and brands who believe in our Rapid Ascent Journeys idea and share our love for gravel cycling, off road adventures and fresh air fun with friends. Please give preference to these brands when buying your next supplies.

Skratch

Skratch Lab’s Hydration Sport Drink Mix was created for a simple purpose - to replace the electrolytes lost in sweat and to provide a little bit of energy when working out, without offending your palate or gut.

You need something to hydrate, something to quench your thirst, and something to help you perform better. Skratch reimagined sports drinks, stripping down what used to be a neon-coloured carnival to its bare essentials.

The result is a sports drink with minimal sugar (4g per 100 ml) and a ratio of sugar (glucose + fructose) that is optimized for faster absorption, an electrolyte profile that actually matches what is lost in sweat (800 mg sodium, 80 mg potassium, 100 mg calcium, and 80 mg of magnesium per litre), and only real fruit for flavor for a light and refreshing taste that you can drink all day.

Blackmans Brewery / Coast Seltzer

Blackmans are a nationally respected and awarded brewery based in Torquay with additional bars in Ocean Grove and Geelong. Not only do they make great beers and refreshing seltzers they are also gravel riders, trail runners and outdoor purists who share our love for the trails. Drop by for a chat / meal / beer anytime or enjoy the range of products they have provided for our Journey.

Australian Sports Beer

A big shout out to our official non-alcohol beer partner, ZERO+ Sports Beer. Electrolyte enhanced and with natural polyphenols, it can help you with your recover post ride / run / exercise. We’re big fans of this beer and like not just the way it taste but also the lack of alcohol and recovery aspects. Enjoy a ZERO+ Sports Beer any day of the week guilt free. Their new Adventure Series of beers take this to next level with new Pacific Ale, Lager and XPA. We’ll have plenty to try during the journey.

Premax

Be good to your butt! Make sure you're using Premax Chamois Cream to keep you comfortable throughout your ride! Premax Chamois Cream is an ultra-endurance formula with natural anti-bacterial properties and skin nourishing herbal extracts that will ensure your skin stays in optimal condition while you're out on the bike.

Super B

Modern bicycles are sophisticated pieces of equipment and tool manufacturers Super B are constantly developing new tools to make bike maintenance easy and accurate. Whether you’re a professional team or shop mechanic, or maintaining your bike at home, do the job right the first time with the right tools from Super B.

see you soon!

If you have any questions ahead of our journey then contact us at any time - if not then we look forward to seeing you in Lorne very soon!

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.