Great Road Ocean Gravel Tour
journey handbook
Great Ocean Road Gravel Tour : 26 -
30 NOVEMBER 2024
Welcome to your Great Ocean Road Gravel Tour – there is something magical about riding through the Great Ocean Road region and we’re excited to share these experiences with you as part of this gravel riding journey.
Over the 5 days of the tour, we will experience many highlights – not the least of which will be each other’s company and friendship - but also many breathtaking natural landscapes and experiences. We will roll along hundreds of kilometres of quiet gravel roads, through towering Mountain Ash forests and prehistoric tree ferns, visiting landmarks like the Twelve Apostles, the Cape Otway Lighthouse, The Otway Fly, the world-famous wildflower heathland and much more. We’ll eat, relax and chat by night and ride our bikes by day – all in all we’re certain this will be an amazing riding holiday and we’re grateful you’re joining us.
We live in the Otways and know the area incredibly well, we’ve conducted races through these same areas for more than 18 years and have gained experience on what’s achievable and what’s comfortable. We’ve pulled together the best of the best riding, services and comforts but please share your thoughts along the way and let us know anything we’ve overlooked.
This rider’s handbook explains the journey and we encourage you to read it before you arrive so you can prepare your bike and body for the riding to come. A bit of preparation now will help make this a holiday to remember and of course, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.
See you soon – the Rapid Ascent Journeys Team: Sam, John, Jez, Marcel, Ange, Adele and Bridget
Where are we riding?
We have used all our local knowledge to design 5 magnificent days of riding through the Great Ocean Road region and Otway Ranges. Fitness will be your friend, but if you are struggling at any point there are numerous options to shorten your ride or take an alternative route. The A-route option (longer) and a shorter B-route options are summarised below – but there are many other options each day so we can confirm there will be a course that’s right for you and the group.
We will circulate final route info, GPX files and more in the week before the ride and we’ll conduct a nightly briefing to explain the following day’s ride in detail. (Note: “Difficulty level” – this is a rough guide for how this day compares to the others. Scored out of 5):
DAY 1 – Tuesday 26th November
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 accommodaiton 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.
DAY 2 – Wednesday 27th November
Day 2 is a loop ride that return us to the same accommodation that night.
A: Sugarloaf to Sugarloaf. 110km with ~2,440m 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 abillity level.
DAY 3 – Thursday 28th November
This is a point-to-point ride where we’ll take your bags to our next accommodation at Johanna.
A: Sugarloaf to Johanna. 100km with ~2,000m 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.
DAY 4 – Friday 29th November
This is a point-to-point ride with a vehicle transfer for the return leg so we stay at the same accommodation that night.
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 that suits you.
DAY 5 – Saturday 30th November
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!
Road surface types
Approx 80% of the tour is on gravel roads, ~20% is on asphalt roads. Overall, the gravel roads are very good 2WD roads with minimal loose gravel or roughness. There are a few corrugations, but basically the roads are in good condition and allow for smooth rolling. There are a couple of ‘adventure gravel’ sections on rougher farm tracks or 4WD trcaks but they are not long.
Difficulty
As the distances and elevations suggest – the A-route option will not be easy. In fact, it’ll be quite hard as the tiredness accumulates in your legs after multiple days in the saddle. We encourage you to do your best to train and prepare for the tour by doing back to back days in the saddle and getting comfortable on the bike beforehand.
The B-route option is just as good and there is NO SHAME whatsoever in shortcutting a ride, or missing a whole day if you want to. This is a holiday after all! There are other short course options we can discuss and guide you on if required.
OVERALL MAP
(provisional) - click the map to see online version
The course map shows the A-route option. NOTE: this course is provisional and may change. We will send you the final map version and GPX files 1 week beforehand.
Port Campbell
Johanna
Sugarloaf
Lorne
itinerary
Personal travel requirements
We are happy to discuss and help arrange any personal travel requirements including airport transfers, extra accommodation bookings and more – give us a call to confirm.
We’d love to meet everyone for a meal and a drink the night before we start riding (Monday 25th) as a friendly meet and greet at the Lorne Hotel (see details below). Otherwise we’d expect to meet you at the ‘Lorne Central’ cafe at 54 Great Ocean Road, ready to ride your bike at 8:30am on Tuesday 26th.
Daily schedule
DAY 0 – Monday 25th November
We recommend arriving in Lorne (or close by) today.
6:30pm Optional meet and greet dinner at the Lorne Hotel, 176 Mountjoy Parade (user pays)
DAY 1 – Tuesday 26th
8:00am Luggage collection - we will come past your accommodation and collect your luggage that’s coming with us. (Store any bike boxes and extra items at your accommodation)
8:30am All riders meet for a briefing and final discussions over coffee at the ‘Lorne Central’ cafe at 54 Great Ocean Road.
(Please arrive in your bike gear ready to ride, bike ready and good to go. If you need help assembling your bike, please let us know before you arrive so we cna make a plan)
9:30am Rider roll out – day 1 starts!
12:30pm Estimated lunch stop
2:00 – 4:00pm Estimated arrival at Sugarloaf accommodation
General schedule for the remainder of the week: Wednesday – Saturday
Here is an approximate run sheet for each day:
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
11:30 – 1:30pm Approx lunch stop
2:00 – 5:00pm Riders finish and arrive at accommodation. Apres-ride snacks and drinks available.
5:30pm Pre-dinner drinks and nibbles
6:30pm Dinner
8:00pm Briefing for the following day
DAY 5 – Saturday 30th
8:30am Rider roll out
4:00pm approx. arrival time at Lorne finish.
Final day plans:
• Riders can plan to depart Lorne from approx. 4:00pm OR stay in Lorne another night.
• We can drop riders at the Gull Bus station in Geelong for transfer to Tullamarine Airport from approx. 6:00pm (if you have a flight from Tullamarine before 8:30pm please let us know).
• There is no official dinner planned for Saturday night - if staying in Lorne you can make plans for a final celebration together, or head off and do your own thing.
Riding support
We will be with you for every pedal stroke to ensure you get through safely and have a great ride each day. Here’s a summary of our services.
Guides and support vehicles
We will have a minimum of 2 guides on bikes riding with you – generally one towards the front and another towards the rear. They will stop at major junctions and direct you along the day’s route and provide support.
We will have 2 support vehicles each day. One that takes our big luggage and puffs up the pillows at the accommodation (!) and another van that will be active around the course each day. The active van will set up water points, provide support, respond to mechanicals and other incidents as needed each day. Once the luggage car has got the accommodation ready, they’ll also drop back to help on course if needed. We’ve got your back!
Rest stops, cafes and lunches
We will have a planned stop approx. every 30km. Sometimes this will be at a café in a town whilst other times we’ll go to a bakery and bring the goodies to a remote water point we set up in the wilderness.
All rest points will have a range of hydration and nutrition set up for you including:
• Skratch Labs hydration + nutrition products including chews, bars, sports drinks and more. Skratch Labs are Rapid Ascent’s official hydration / nutrition partner and we highly recommend their products.
• A range of sweet and savory foods like bananas, bakery products, chips, lollies and more
• Water
• Your own personal ride bags – see below Rest stops will also have bike tools, pumps, chain lube and other support for your steed.
On some days we will stop at a café mid-ride for some caffeine and sustenance. (In the most part, café stops are at your own expense - refer to the inclusions below.)
Personal ride bags
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…
• Your own hydration / nutrition if you prefer your own products
• Walking shoes and ‘normal clothes’ so you can walk to a water fall or feel comfortable in a township
Navigating the route
The ride route will not be marked with arrows or tape and 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 if needed. Approximately 1 week before the ride we will circulate the final GPX files so you can import them into your device - we can help explain how to import them into your Garmin or Wahoo.
We will also share links to a free mapping app called Capra that will have each day’s ride route, water points and lunch spots all marked. This is free to download and we can help you set it up at the meet and greet dinner on Monday night. We’re a fan of the quad-lock phone cases that allow you to display your phone on your handle bars whilst riding
Riding pace and groups
We will have riders of varying pace and ability and we are comfortable for you to ride at your own pace rather than rigidly stick in groups. Any riders ahead of the first guide should wait for direction at any road junction. All riders should check the route direction at all road junctions and never assume you know the correct way.
Riders and guides will regroup at the designated rest stops with the vehicle and can continue at their own pace once they’ve refuelled and rested.
In Lorne
We encourage you to enquire at your accommodation about storing your bike boxes and excess luggage whilst we’re riding. If this is not possible (eg. if you’re staying in an AirBnB) then let us know and we’ll store them for you. No worries.
Communications
We will set up a WhatsApp chat group 1 week before the ride and use this to communicate to riders before and during the ride. We will add your phone number so ensure it is accepted and you check the messages frequently. 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
Personal equipment and preparation
Here’s a list of recommendations and ideas for what to bring to the journey.
Your bike - your best friend!
Bring a gravel bike or a cross-country mountain bike, a road bike is not appropriate. Here are a few set up recommendations:
• Tyres: we recommend tyres between 38mm and 45mm wide. Anything less will be bumpy and prone to punctures and anything bigger will be unnecessary. We like the Schwalbe G-One Allround or the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M. Setting your wheels up as tubeless with fresh sealant is definitely the way to ride and we roll at 30psi. 700cc or 650 wheel sizes are both fine (we will have spares for 700cc).
• Gearing: Standard crank and cassette set ups will be fine. Whilst there is a lot of climbing in cumulative numbers, nothing is outrageously steep that would need exceptional gearing. Some people will have 1x and some 2x cranks - both are fine. Sam rides with 2x 48/31 rings up front and a standard 34-11t cassette at the back and John rides a 40-11t rear cassette to make the hills a little easier – both are fine. Having a 1:1 ratio as your lowest gear is a good rule of thumb.
• Bottle cages: The ability to carry 2 water bottles will be good – riding up hills can be thirsty work!
• Spares: we definitely recommend carrying a range of bike spares with you – such as: tube, gas cannister, tyre levers, multi tool, pump, puncture repair kit. Whilst we are there to assist, it’s easier if you are somewhat self-sufficient rather than waiting for our vehicle.
• Flashy red light. Especially for when we’re riding on the asphalt.
E-bikes are welcome, although be aware of the distances to be ridden and have sufficient batteries to get you through each day. We can meet with spare batteries at the designated rest stop and batteries can be recharged each night (BYO power leads…).
We strongly encourage you to get your bike serviced shortly before coming on the tour so it is running sweetly when you arrive. Pay particular attention to brakes, chain and cassette wear and condition, bottom bracket, gear cables (if non electric), tyre condition (how old and worn are they?) and freehubs.
You will not need any bike packing bags or carrying capacity other than jersey pockets and a saddle bag with your spares.
Mechanical support
We will have a comprehensive tool kit with us and all riders are welcome to use our tools if needed. Sam is a handy amateur bike mechanic and happy to help if needed. We will have a range of simple spares like inner tubes, gas cannisters, chain lube, 12sp chain, cleaning cloths, gear cables as well as a couple of spare tyres but any repairs above that will be at your own cost.
We encourage you to bring your own consumables like brake pads, derailleur batteries, spokes, derailleur hangers and other items specific to your bike.
Clothing
We recommend riders have range of cycling clothing to cater for all weather conditions (this is Victoria after all!). Here’s a suggested list:
• Minimum 3 sets of cycle clothing. There will be the option to wash gear on night 3 & 4. We will have some laundry detergent.
• Arm warmers, gillet / vest, knee warmers, long fingered cycling gloves, neck buff…
• A quality waterproof jacket appropriate for riding in
• Helmet + riding glasses (consider clear and tinted glasses)
• Cycling shoes and socks
• Chamois cream
• Sunscreen (we will also have some in the van)
This is on top of your own personal items such as
• Non-riding clothing and foot wear
• Personal toiletries and medicines
• Swimming gear + small towel (we may go for the odd swim especially if it’s warm)
• Chargers, plugs and leads – for phone, bike computers, electric derailleurs, flashy red lights…
• A small zippered or draw string bag to put your ‘personal ride’ items in for each day (to go in the van)
• Additional hydration / nutrition if you need it
• Water bidons, we will give you 2x 650ml bottles but you may wish to bring additional
• Chain lube (we will also have some in the van)
• Sense of adventure and a willingness to have a go
There is no dress code when cycling – whatever you find comfortable, visible and that you have experience with. Avoid any new and untested items. There is no dress code for dinners or off-bike activities. Shorts, t-shirts, thongs and hoodies are all good with us!
All luggage should be packed into one medium sized suitcase or bag to be transferred to each accommodation site – please keep things reasonable rather than overpacking!
Recovery gear
We will bring a selection of recovery gear for you to use in the accommodation each night including compression boots, massage gun, foam rollers...
Weather
The weather in the Otways is variable. The average temperatures in November are maximum 21 degrees and minimum 14 degrees, with an average of nine rainy days in the month but then we’re also riding past the wettest area in the state! We can get lucky with blue skies and tail winds, or we may get rain and head winds every day – the best we can do is being prepared for all of it! (Having told you the worst, we’re very optimistic as it’s late November that the weathar will be very pleasant!)
Inclusions / exclusions
Remember, the following is included in your booking fee:
• 4 nights’ accommodation (twin share unless single supplement paid)
• 4 x breakfasts, 3 x lunches, 4 x dinners, 4 x apres / appetisers (plus a moderate amount of beer & wine)
• The only meals not included are lunches at Port Campbell on day 4 and Gelibrand on day 5
• Transfer on scheduled arrival / departure days between Geelong and Lorne if required
• 5 days guided riding with course route, guided support and on ride services
• All services outlined in this handbook (eg. ride hydration / nutrition, mechanical support, luggage transfers…)
• Entrance fees to Cape Otway Lighthouse
• Entrance fees to the Otway Fly - Treetop Walk
The following items are not included in your booking fee:
• Bike rental if required (please BYO bike unless otherwise arranged)
• Flights and charges for getting to and from the pickup & drop-off points (Geelong & Lorne).
• Single room (available at extra cost if required).
• Lunches at Port Campbell on day 4 and Gelibrand on day 5
• Coffee + snacks at additional café stops
• Add on activities at the Otway Fly other than tree top walk eg zipline.
• Travel insurance
Accommodation, catering and more Accommodation
We have sourced some terrific, and often charismatic places to stay during the Journey and all are perfectly matched to the gravel scene we’re chasing. Accommodation venues are nestled into the wild landscapes, well away from shops, restaurants and other people and will be as follows:
Monday 25th November
Book your own - in Lorne recommended
Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th
Seacroft Estate, 4990 Great Ocean Rd, Sugarloaf.
Thursday 28th and Friday 29th March
Johanna Seaside Cottages, 395 Red Johanna Rd, Johanna.
Saturday 16th March
Book your own - in Lorne recommended
All accommodation will include:
• Phone reception as a minimum, some wifi at selected properties
• Linen and towels
• Kitchen facilities
• Laundry facilities and swimming pool – night 3 and 4
Accommodation is based on twin share arrangement unless otherwise booked.
Catering
We hope that meals and time spent relaxing is just as memorable as the time on the bike as we get to know one another and celebrate our daily achievements. All meals will be enjoyed together in a friendly, social environment.
Catering will be provided as per the inclusions, with a few more details here:
Breakfasts will include:
• A range of breakfast cereals plus fruit, yoghurt and seeds / nuts
• Eggs, bacon and toast
• Tea and espresso coffee
Lunches provided by us will include:
• Fresh, locally sourced ingredients set out so we can make our own lunch rolls, wraps, burritos and salads in beautiful wilderness locations on the trail.
• A sweet bakery item or cake / muffin
• Fruit
• Soft drink and other options
Apres-ride - available when you arrive at the accommodation and between meals:
• Chips, nuts, biscuits, dips and cheese
• Bread for toast with a range of spreads
• Skratch recovery sports drink products
• Soft drink / soda water / beer / tea / coffee
Dinners will be enjoyed in shared, social spaces in the accommodation and will include:
• Wholesome, home style meals prepared to be shared so you can have as much or little as you like
• Vegetarian and meat options
• Dessert
• Soda water and soft drinks
• Beer and wine (we will provide an allowance for ~ 3 drinks per person per day sourced from local breweries and wineries. If you want to drink additional amounts or alternative drinks eg. champagne or spirits - then please BYO)
A range of mid ride food and hydration / nutrition will be provided on the rides (as explained above).
We will ensure that food provided is substantial in quantity, healthy, tasty and more than sufficient to fuel you for the following day’s riding!
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS: If you have made note of a dietary requirement or allergy on your booking form, we will ensure you’re catered for. If you haven’t let us know about a dietary requirement, please get in touch asap. If you require any additional / speciality foods please let us know asap or bring it along yourself (we will be away from shops so there is little ability to buy anything once underway).
Safety
The safety of riders and those around us is our number one priority. Please note the following:
• Riders should be aware that all roads remain open and we must follow all road rules at all times. Please ensure your red flashy light is on when riding on asphalt roads (or all roads)
• We encourage all riders to have own insurance which covers all aspects such as medical, flights, bike damage etc
• Please alert us of any medical conditions we need to be aware of during the journey
• Our guides are first aid trained and we will have a first aid kit with us – but you are ultimately responsible for your own health and well being
• The ride route and plans may change at late notice to increase the safety of all involved with the tour
Please alert the guides of any illness or injury no matter how small so we can be aware and monitor your situation.
What now?
We will contact you for a video call within the next week or two to meet you, further explain things and answer any questions.
Then we’ll issue the final plans and GPX files the week before the ride and then… …we’ll see you in Lorne - either for dinner at 6:30pm on the 25th or ready to ride at 8:30am on the 26th!
CONTACT US: journeys@rapidascent.com.au (03) 5261 5511
Thanks for being part of this incredible journey!
