The October Gears and Beers event promises spectacular views of canola in full bloom. Photo: Supplied.
It’s all right there in the name – ‘Gears and Beers’ is the biggest casual cycling event on the Wagga calendar and promises plenty of cycling and plenty of craft beers.
After a two-year hiatus, the popular event returns to its October long weekend slot after organisers squeezed in the first post-COVID-19 event in March.
Based on the success of the autumn event, organisers are hoping for even bigger crowds this time round.
Staged over Saturday and Sunday, riders come from as far away as Tasmania and Queensland with some choosing to extend their ‘pilgrimage’ by riding from Sydney and Melbourne just to enjoy what our region has to offer.
The rides vary from 10 km for the family-friendly ‘Strawberry Ride’ to 130 km for those who like a challenge – and it’s the variety of options that prove the biggest drawcard.
The mixture of tar and gravel riding really makes things interesting and there’s something about the scenery, the air, and the community culture that is unique to the festival.
The ‘Dirty 130’ and ‘Filthy 50’ promise to live up to their names. Photo: Supplied.
The routes vary depending on the distances you choose, but the main events include a 100 km road-only ride, a ‘Filthy 50’ and the iconic ‘Dirty 130’, winding through the Riverina back roads north of Wagga.
This year, organisers have introduced the ‘Mystery Ride’ to showcase the amazing bike paths and cycling facilities around Wagga.
The 40 km ride along the Wiradjuri Trail kicks things off on Saturday morning with a mixture of surfaces from gravel to hot mix bike paths, and is a great chance to get those legs warmed up for the main event on Sunday.
This ride caters more to mountain bikers but is definitely achievable on a gravel bike.
With a few steep climbs thrown in the mix it really shows off the views, and October is an incredible time of year to enjoy the canola in full bloom.
The ‘Dirty Eve’ is a real hit, with the riders spending time at the Thirsty Crow Brewery tasting the local craft beers and Curve from Melbourne usually joins the crowd showcasing what they have to offer for high-end gravel bikes.
The night before also involves challenges hosted by Wagga’s Bike Canteen with events like a tyre changing challenge – something that can be trickier than it sounds after a few ales!
Other local businesses have also jumped on board with Pastorale by Meccanico offering a special dinner menu for the weekend and Wagga bike shops, Kidsons Cycle and Wagga Cycle Centre open on Saturday for any issues in the lead up to the final day.
The gravel lanes around Wagga offer a unique ride for city visitors. Photo: Supplied.
Sunday offers five rides depending on ability, but the best way to take in the countryside and enjoy the gravel lanes is by riding the Dirty 130.
The route winds its way north to Coolamon around dozens of spectacular canola paddocks, offering absolutely stunning landscapes that you get to see from every angle.
The last Dirty 130 was capped at 3000 riders but this limit has now been expanded with numbers expected to more than double.
October is promising to be the biggest ride Wagga has seen in a long time!
At the end of your ride, you’ll end up back at the Victory Memorial Gardens where you get to enjoy live entertainment and plenty of refreshments from various breweries from around the region.
The full lineup can be found here.
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