Orange : Gravel Fondo

Welcome to the second edition of goodnessgravel Orange - which will be held on Saturday 15 March 2025.

Join us for this Gravel Fondo event.

We must continue to thank our riders for your support as without you, these events would not be possible.

We must also thank those who are volunteering over the weekend. There have been many fantastic individuals and local clubs who offered support and helpful hands. You may not see them all over the weekend but there are dozens out there who will be helping make this gravel event a huge success.  

The last thank you must go to those who are our sponsors, Shimano GRX and Orange Council are the Major Sponsors with Shimano Shoes, Heaps Normal, Bombtrack, Apidura Bags, Panaracer, Lazer, SMOOVE Lube, ASS Magic and Bowy Active being Silver. 

Let us make this event another fantastic success.

See Event Info for More Details

Why Orange? 

As mentioned in the About Us Section, COVID has a lot to answer for. 

Due to not being able to travel OS for our tours, we contacted various NSW Rural Councils to see about visiting their regions to consult on their cycle tourism opportunities. 

Just what is in our very own Australian backyard?

Orange has a lot to offer cyclists, think riding past wineries, rolling countryside, pine forests and of course the beast of Mount Canobolas. We cannot wait to share this area with you.

It is time to head West, over the Great Dividing Range and spend some time in the Orange and Cabonne Shires.

We cannot wait to share even more goodnessgravel with you and looking forward to seeing you in 2025 for the second edition.

Now for a little write up on the courses: 

Saturday Gravel Fondo : 125km with +2,350m of ascent : 7:30am

Lake Canobolas > Pine Forest > Cargo > Mount Canobolas > Lake Canobolas

This is a BIG Loop with plenty of climbing, not to forget the 'toughest climb' is near the very end to get to the top of the mighty Mount Canobolas.

Saturday morning, enjoy your morning coffee pre-depart from the lovely people at Lakeside Kiosk & Cafe, they will be there early to serve you.

7:30am : Depart from Lake Canobolas you go past the dam wall then via The Pumphouse onto private property before joining Woods Lane. There’s a nice short climb which will wake up the bunch.

Soon you will be riding past the Orange Race Track and then there is a turn onto your first gravel section.

Then at ~8km you go onto a shared walking/riding track, be nice to the locals as you pedal along this lovely little section.

Use caution as you ride ~2.6km along Cadia Rd and follow all NSW Road Rules.

Soon you will turn off and then you enter the Canobolas State Forest and begin your Pine Forest Pedalling.

~32km : Rest Stop with food, water, toilet and bag collect.

~39km you conclude your Pine Forest Pedalling and are now out of the State Forest. Enjoy this beautiful pedalling section through farmland.

~45 km turn left onto Cargo Road NOTE this is a 90 km/h section. Please USE CAUTION and ride in the bike lane which is quite narrow but big enough for one bike. It is roughly ~4km to Cargo, which includes the descent down into town.

Welcome to Cargo, population of 200 at an elevation of 600m.

There is NO offical Rest Stop here but in Cargo there is a Village Green, with drinking water and toilets and there is also Timber Tales Coffee and the Cargo General Store if you want a quick pick-me-up.

Leaving Cargo you will continue along Cargo Rd, again please USE CAUTION and ride in the bike lane. This is a 100km/h section.

~51km there is a RIGHT turn and now you are back on gravel.

Enjoy more glorious Australian farming land as you pedal along these dreamy champagne gravel roads offering rolling hills and lovely corners.

There are a few causeways which during heavy rains may carry some water.

~68km : Rest Stop with food, water, toilet.

Further along there is ~75km there is a sharp right onto Paling Yards Loop Road, don’t miss it -- you won't because you have downloaded the GPX file :)

Keep meandering along these gravel sections and ~2km before Bowen Park Road the road turns to tarmac.

There is some climbing to be done along Bowen Park Road, including sections of 10%. Use Caution and Keep Left as there is no shoulder.

After a short section along Cargo Road, again Keeping Left, you will turn right into Glenwood State Forest and back on to gravel.

Then it is time to climb! Mount Canobolas (MC) awaits you! You may not believe it but MC tops out at 1,397m and you are going to the top!

You will ride through both State Conservation and National Park areas so please treat it all with respect, thank you :)

After so many kilometres, the last sections of the gravel climb are definitely the toughest with sections of 14%. So make sure you pace yourself for the entire day.

When you reach the tarmac, you have another ~1.5km to get to the true top of Canobolas. Enjoy feeling like Rocky Balboa top of the summit. Congratulations, the beast has been conquered.

~113km : Rest Stop with water, donuts and toilet.

Then it is time to descend. You MUST use CAUTION on the descent all the way down Mount Canobolas Road.

It is :

Steep

Twisty

Very fast

Blind Corners

Rough road surface

Use Extreme Caution

Near the bottom Mount Canobolas Road you will go past the Visitors Centre and then you will then turn left Lake Canobolas Road. This will take you all the way back to Lake Canobolas where you started the ride earlier that morning.

Registered riders will be emailed the Strava and Ride With GPS link including GPX file the week of the event

Saturday Gravel Fondo : 60km with +1,500m of ascent : 8:30am

Lake Canobolas > Pine Forest > Mount Canobolas > Lake Canobolas 

This 'Shorter' Loop will offer plenty of Pine Forest Pedalling during the 60km course. Riders will experience tarmac, pine forest, the beast of a climb aka the mighty Mount Canobolas and then the descend back to Lake Canobolas.

Saturday morning, enjoy your morning coffee pre-depart from the lovely people at Lakeside Kiosk & Cafe, they will be there early to serve you.

8:30am : Depart from Lake Canobolas you go past the dam wall then via The Pumphouse onto private property before joining Woods Lane. There’s a nice short climb which will wake up the bunch.

Soon you will be riding past the Orange Race Track and then there is a turn onto your first gravel section.

Then at ~8km you go onto a shared walking/riding track, be nice to the locals as you pedal along this lovely little section.

Use caution as you ride ~2.6km along Cadia Rd and follow all NSW Road Rules.

Soon you will turn off and then you enter the Canobolas State Forest and begin your Pine Forest Pedalling.

~32km : Rest Stop with food, water, toilet and bag collect.

There are more twists and turns, rises and descents as you wind your to the base of Mount Towac which you must ascent before the final climb up the might Mount Canobolas (MC)!

NOTE : it is a ~14km to get to the top of MC which tops out at 1,397m!

During this climb you will ride through both State Conservation and National Park areas so please treat it all with respect, thank you :)

After so many kilometres, the first and last sections of the gravel climb are definitely the toughest! There are many sections of +10% - www aka Will We Walk!? So make sure you pace yourself for the day.

When you reach the tarmac, you have another ~1.5km to get to the true top of Canobolas. Enjoy feeling like Rocky Balboa top of the summit. Congratulations, the beast has been conquered.

~48km : Rest Stop with water, donuts and toilet.

Then it is time to descend. You MUST use CAUTION on the descent all the way down Mount Canobolas Road.

It is :

Steep

Twisty

Very fast

Blind Corners

Rough road surface

Use Extreme Caution

Near the bottom Mount Canobolas Road you will go past the Visitors Centre and then you will then turn left Lake Canobolas Road. This will take you all the way back to Lake Canobolas where you started the ride earlier that morning.

Registered riders will be emailed the Strava and Ride With GPS link including GPX file the week of the event

Post Ride 

Riders receive a complimentary sausage sling (vegan option available) and cold drink - cooked by the great people at Lakeside Kiosk & Cafe

Please remember to ride responsibly, this is a ride not a race. Always ride within your limits and respect the road rules. Say “hello” to other riders while out on course and let them know you are passing by saying “rider right” – it makes a huge difference. 

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we ride. We pay respect to Elders past, present and aspiring. You are riding on the Country of the Wiradjuri people, traditional keepers of this land in the Orange City and Cabonne Council area.