MC Velo Glenbrook feature gravel ride
Our MC Velo riders had an absolute blast out there on our feature gravel ride on Sunday.
It had been a while since we had visited Glenbrook, so we decided to revisit and mix some gravel into our schedule. We started with our usual pre-ride coffee in the Glenbrook station carpark, enjoying the fast-warming morning and anticipating the morning's adventure. Our plan was to use our familiar route but ready for any gravel arteries that took our fancy.
Jeff was new to gravel, getting a taste of the good life. Steve and Ben joined us who had recently visited the store and were keen on some time out of the city. Of course Dave was on his trusty eMTB and carried a backpack of spares should we need them.
The ride began with a familiar descent to the weir and climb up the Oaks. Reaching the turnoff to Red Hands Cave, we took a short detour to explore what Sean advised would be rocky. We found delightfully graded gravel and no rocks - Sean was left eating his words. We didn’t make it by foot to see the rock art, but a short swig of water and we were off again.
Back on the main track, a significant portion of the Oaks Fire Trail had been paved. While we understand the need to keep maintenance costs down, we were initially a bit disappointed by the reduction in gravel sections. However, we soon discovered that the arterials had been recently graded, providing some fast and enjoyable gravel runs - a pleasant surprise.
The gravel towards Nepean Lookout continued, and the panoramic views from the top were as stunning as ever. The vast expanse of the Nepean River and the surrounding bushland was a perfect backdrop for a quick break and photo.
The descent back down was a mix of fun and focus, with some loose gravel and descents. You always need to pay the piper, and that’s what we did on the 20% climb out of Euroka Creek. Steve and Jeff attacked while down the back there were all kinds of extra swerving metres done to take the sting out of the short sharp climb.
We made our traditional stop at the 2773 cafe in Glenbrook for a well-deserved bite to eat. It was the perfect way to refuel and reflect on a morning in the lower Blue Mountains, and plan the next outing.
Are you gravel curious? Make sure you are signed up for the next one.
