goodnessgravel Mogo

Spend the weekend on your bike with the goodnessgravel Mogo

The goodnessgravel Mogo is a great day out on the gravel with 2 different events to suit cyclists of all abilities.

This event is based at Mogo, a small heritage town in NSW between Sydney and Canberra. This area is renowned for it’s mountain biking trails through the Mogo State Forest.

There are two courses:

• 130km with 2,700m
• 75km with 1,595m

Gravel Fondo : 130km with 2,700m of ascent 

There is no hiding from that second number, 2,700m of ascent. This is not a ride where you will be averaging 30kph. This is a BIG Day!

Do not assume that it will be over in 4 hours and 30 minutes. We feel that this course offers a little of everything. The amazing countryside is first and foremost, there is something about Australian bush, you will see the scars of the recent fires, ride beside magical rivers, some you will go OVER while on others, your feet will get wet going through the weirs. The dairy farming county and the seven State Forests will all provide each rider with a beautiful snapshot and some good(ness) ‘hurt’ as you ride through this beautiful region.

The course is set up like a strange figure 8. Riders will leave Mogo on Saturday 17 June 2023 and head out into the Mogo State Forest. That first segment, more info below, is a good leg burner and will take riders up to the highest point on the ride at 221m above sea-level, it is not until after 11.5km that riders will enjoy their first proper descent. 

Once at that crest, riders are heading in a general downward direction as you head to the beautiful Runnyford Bridge (@ ~26km). This part of the world is glorious and wooden bridge over the Buckenbowra River will be a highlight of everyones day. 

There is some climbing to be done before you get to the first Rest Stop in Nelligen (@ 38.5km). Here you will find live music, a place to fill your water bottles and grab your drop bag. There will also be first aid, bananas and mechanic to assist if necessary. Please say hello to the volunteers and treat the area with respect when it comes to litter and general behaviour, we thank you. 

After Nelligen riders will pedal along the Kings Highway for a short distance. Riders MUST follow all NSW Road Rules along this section and please do not ride in large bunches. Then riders will be heading back on to more superb gravel. A nice segment is waiting for you, more info below, and then by 53km riders will reach 218m above sea-level, the second highest point on the course for the day. Continue along and continue through the Boyne State Forest. Soon riders will be on the Old Princess Highway, which is gravel, and by 75.5km you will be at Shallow Crossing, a weir and expect to get wet when crossing the Clyde River. 
River road is a piece of paradise, the views are sublime and terrain is ‘rolling’ as you pedal alongside the Clyde River. Note, it is not flat but the views will help take your mind away from the burning sensation in your legs.

Riders will come back onto the Kings Highway at 95km and head back into Nelligen to the same Rest Stop (@ 96.5km) which you first rode all those kilometres before. Leaving Nelligen riders should settle in for the Runnyford Climb, more info below, before crossing the Runnyford Bridge for the second time. 

It is not all over then, soon after the bridge, riders will turn right to complete the bottom half of the figure 8. This section includes Egans Road. It a beautiful to start, going past some ponds and rolling hills then you enter “EGANS ROUGH STUFF”. The entire section of Egans Road is 5.5km and the Rough Stuff is about 2km in length. What will be your plan of attack, slow and steady or no holding back. 

Then comes the final true, true climb up Quart Port Road. This has some steep sections, WWW (Will We Walk) on the +10% sections or did you save enough in your tank to pedal to the top? This climb is +4km in length and tops out at 120m above sea-level. It is not all down hill to Mogo but once you are at ~120km you have done most of the hard work. Before you know it 130km will be done and you will be right back to where you started from way back around 7:30am that morning. 

NOTE : Our strong recommendation is that you keep on pedalling throughout the day. Work on ensuring you return to Mogo in the shortest possible time. Therefore stopping at the Rest Stop(s) should be limited and your training program, particularly for the 130km riders, is set no less than 18kph. 

Gravel Fondo : 75km with 1,595m of ascent

Even though this is the ‘shorter’ course, there is STILL no hiding from that second number, 1,595m of ascent. Take your time and settle in to enjoy this course. It is similar to the full course but does not have the top circle of the figure eight. 

Riders will still enjoy the amazing countryside and also witness the scars of the recent fires plus experience some good(ness) ‘hurt’ as you ride through this beautiful region.

After all the 130km riders have departed, it is now time for the 75km riders to leave Mogo on Saturday 17 June 2023. As soon as you leave the oval you will be on the gravel and going through the Mogo State Forest. That first segment, more info below, is a good leg burner and will take riders up to the highest point on the ride at 221m above sea-level, it is not until after 11.5km that riders will enjoy their first proper descent.

Once at that crest, riders are heading in a general downward direction as you head to the beautiful Runnyford Bridge (@ ~26km). This part of the world is glorious and wooden bridge over the Buckenbowra River will be a highlight of everyones day. 

There is some climbing to be done before you get to the first Rest Stop in Nelligen (@ 38.5km). Here you will find live music, a place to fill your water bottles and grab your drop bag. There will also be first aid, bananas and mechanic to assist if necessary. Please say hello to the volunteers and treat the area with respect when it comes to litter and general behaviour, we thank you. 

After Nelligen, this is where the course differs to the 130km. The 75km riders with turn around after the Rest Stop in Nelligen and instantly settle in for the Runnyford Climb, more info below, before crossing the Runnyford Bridge for the second time. 

Soon after the bridge, riders will turn right on to Egans Road. It a beautiful to start, going past some ponds and rolling hills then you enter “EGANS ROUGH STUFF”. The entire section of Egans Road is 5.5km and the Rough Stuff is about 2km in length. What will be your plan of attack, slow and steady or no holding back. 

Then comes the final true, true climb up Quart Port Road. This has some steep sections, WWW (Will We Walk) on the +10% sections or did you save enough in your tank to pedal to the top? This climb is +4km in length and tops out at 120m above sea-level. It is not all down hill to Mogo but once you are at ~62km you have done most of the hard work. Before you know it you will be right back to where you started from way back around 7:45am that morning. 

You’ll find other great rides, like the goodnessgravel Mogo, in our online Cycling Event Calendar.

Enjoy!