The REALITY of riding gravel in metro Sydney

I bought my gravel bike during covid over a year ago and have struggled with the lack of consistent trails and designated routes. In this video I go through a few of my tips and tricks to plan routes, as well as showcase one of my locals.
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[@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!

[@greghart6310]

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

[@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.

[@dimitrypavlov8388]

killing it mate

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@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 :(

[@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.

[@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

[@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! 😁

[@anthrology123]

#gravel lifestyle nice one joshy!

[@joshkwan]

C u at the next one

[@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?

[@fucktheworld1207]

That hill will be yours one day 😉

[@joshkwan]

I think I need to pick a better line. I always go left side of the trail, but the right side looks better in hindsight.