The REALITY of riding gravel in metro Sydney

[@greghart6310]

Nice one Josh, always super fun to mix it up and go plonk around in the dirt every now and then!

[@gregsullivan7408]

Re "no gears" that's why I'm looking for a mullet gravel bike, and even then, I'll be fitting the smallest chainring i can. The Marin Headlands 2 looks good, with it's Apex/Eagle setup - waiting for it to come back in stock. Wolftooth say I'll be able to fit their 34t ring, but with the possibility of dropping the chain when back pedalling in the smaller cogs, due to the offset being out of spec.

[@benjaminbourke]

Engadine lakes trail, lady carrington drive, burgh track, cawleys road all in and around RNP down south are great on a gravel bike and have recently been resurfaced too

[@joshkwan]

Great route!

[@allenincabra]

Nice, I know it's a gravel ride but love that section where ya'll are keeping up with the cars down the hill

[@joshkwan]

It's not always the bikes holding up traffic!

[@allenincabra]

@@joshkwan hahha

[@Albin111]

Manly dam brings back memories of my trail running days!! I had a huge stack and had to limp home for 8km! Seeing you ride it makes me wonder though… hmm

[@joshkwan]

Manly Dam is a lot of fun, some sections are a bit crazy for a gravel bike though.

[@Aussiemystic]

Plenty of gravel along and off the Pipeline Trail in Heathcote NP (from Heathcote Stn to Woronora Dam); and also on various trails in the Royal NP; of course that's a bit further afield for you but should be doable in a day.

[@joshkwan]

I’ve done Pipeline trail once which I enjoyed a lot. I need to link it up with some of the other less mountain bike tracks in that area. Thanks!

[@wesmorgan5709]

You need to come and do the Oaks Trail with me Josh. Up and down is 50km 1000m/vert. You’d love it.

[@joshkwan]

Ive heard of Oaks Fire Trail, sounds more fun to go down than up! Hahaha

[@zizhiqu]

"cobble together". I saw what you did there. Also, curious to know if you ride on the main road down AND up from the Spit Bridge. I always use Parriwi Rd to climb out heading south and Battle Boulevarde heading north. You guys like mixing it up with traffic far more than I do.

[@joshkwan]

If there’s descending we take the main road since we can match the speed of the cars. If there’s climbing we take the back streets (like battle boulevards and Parriwi) Thanks for watching!

[@christophershi5605]

This has motivated me to get a gravel bike!

[@joshkwan]

Better be ready for the next gravel ride in 2-3 weeks then

[@christophershi5605]

@@joshkwan parts shortage :(

[@dimitrypavlov8388]

killing it mate

[@Rafftown]

Out of curiosity Josh, what size tyres do you run? Looking for the best middle ground between gravel and road riding. Love the channel 🫡

[@joshkwan]

Hey mate, I run 43mm Gravelkings by Panracer. Note that my wheels are 650b so you may need to run a bit wider to get similar effect on 700c

[@Rafftown]

@@joshkwan thank you mate. I am running 700x45 at the moment but doing a lot more road and commuting so I’m thinking a little narrower could get me some better efficiency on the road.

[@joshkwan]

Panracer make one which is slick in the middle and grip on the side. That could be handy?

[@dimitrypavlov8388]

Champion, mate. Would be nice to meet up and ride with you boys when I get better. I recently bought gravel, was on a fence between mtb and that. But because mainly got the road, went for that

[@JeffFerrer-si9lz]

Mate, what tires are you running for roads like that? Your ride looks so awesome! Visiting Sydney soon might try to go for a ride or two there

[@joshkwan]

As someone below has commented, a better more ridable trail is the Pipeline Trail near Royal National Park. You might have a better time there! My cannondale slate is running 650b wheels and I have 43mm panracer gravelkings on.

[@daveirvine]

“Nothing crazy”…….. that rocky climb i put to you as “pretty crazy” on a gravel bike 😬. Also nice music!

[@joshkwan]

Haha it ain't a gravel ride if you don't have a bit of hike-a-bike

[@veryboringname.]

3:51 I wouldn't have the confidence to ride through that! That was a nice change of scenery. I did get a bit motion sick though haha. I see you colour-coordinated your jersey with the trail... nice! What happened to Michael's gears? Also if dropper posts can be used on road bikes (Matej at Milano-Sanremo), it's definitely fine on a gravel bike!

[@joshkwan]

I’ve found that riding gravel has helped my handling skills a lot on my road bike, no flashy moves yet like wheelies 🤣 Michael always forgets to charge his Di2 but in this occasion the cable slipped out and we thought it was just a flat battery.

[@FollowThomas]

What a nice ride. I need to get out now and ride. 😅👍

[@joshkwan]

Get out, ride, and have fun!

[@FollowThomas]

@@joshkwan haha, definitely! 😁

[@seanreynolds8661]

Have you got any recommendations for gravel riding in the Blue Mountains area?

[@joshkwan]

Sorry Sean, never done gravel out that way. I have been eyeing it though. I’ve heard the Oaks Fire Trail is quite good.

[@gabrielyue3923]

Do you have the route / link for this ride?

[@anthrology123]

#gravel lifestyle nice one joshy!

[@joshkwan]

C u at the next one