THE SPIRIT OF GRAVEL: FOUR DAYS IN THE TASSIE WILDERNESS
Who could resist a ride called 'The Spirit of Gravel?' The idea had me hooked from the moment I was invited to join a small group of riders to scout out a new four day backcountry gravel loop in the North East of Tasmania. Spirit is a word with multiple meanings, each of which had its place on this ride. It could be the non-physical aspect of a being, entity or bike ride, its essence, emotions, character or soul. It could be the prevailing mood or attitude of a group or moment; five riders strung out along a climb, hammering along in a frosty morning paceline or bantering away the last kilometre before morning tea. A spirit is also the product of extraction, distillation and concentration, in this case a ride which made something truly amazing out of the raw beauty of this region and its culture.
With the many senses of 'spirit' in mind I embarked for the winding gravel roads and wilderness of this beautiful corner of the island. This ride, curated by Gareth and Peter from Blue Metal Cycling, is their premier offering. Starting and finishing in the historic Georgian town of Evandale, near Launceston Airport, the ride offers four glorious days, 400
