If you’re looking for an adventure that supports a good cause then consider the Marsh (our Outside Sports insurers are the major sponsors) Glenorchy Gravel Grind on the 11th October next year.
Marsh Glenorchy Gravel Grind Adventure
This years race on the 14th October 2024 offered 3 separate courses of 160 km, 86 km and 37 km. Now I was keen to do the 86 km event as my mate Tim Raw who initially told me about the race was doing this one, but these days I'm riding a Scott Solace e-gravel bike (light enough to ride with no power) and you could only use an e-bike in the 37km event. This was very much a first world problem which I eventually solved by borrowing a hire gravel Scott Speedster from our Wanaka bike store.
Map of the Race Track
The race is a fund raiser by the Glenorchy Trails Trust to raise monies (they need $17 million!!) for a bike trail from Queenstown to Glenorchy. There would’ve been 400 odd competitors across all the events. Outside Sports were also a last minute sponsor and we will definitely be helping them out again next year.
The course I did was from Glenorchy past Paradise to Chinamans Bluff then back to the Rees Valley turn off and up there to the. Road end and back to Glenorchy. All up it was an epic day, riding into a fairly strong NWester for starters which turned into an barnstorming tailwind on the return before riding back into the same wind up the Rees Valley (but with a lot more bush cover) and then being blown back to Glenorchy. An hour later odd the rain started and boy was it strong! We were all really lucky to miss what was a good old West Coast North Wester downpour.
Throughout the ride, I was wearing a POC cycle helmet, which provided great comfort and protection, and POC glacier glasses, which were awesome for visibility despite the weather. When it came to fueling up, I had Gu energy chews, which were an easy-to-eat product when it was cold or on technical terrain. I kept hydrated using Outside Sports water bottles, which are always reliable on long rides.
All up this was a really well organised race with lots of creek crossings, riding through native bush, very little vehicle traffic and a beer and a venison sandwich at the finish. It was kind of like races used to be, low key but fun with lots of happy smiling people all talking about what an adventure they had had!
This is a race that I personally will be doing again next year and one that I can't recommend enough if you're looking for an adventure in a beautiful peaceful part of our Gods own country!
Please note that the photos are from Paul Hansen, Tim Shoultz, Jacob Houser and Lewys Edwards.