Hear from Curve Ambassador, Claire Stevens, about her ride in the 2025 edition of Race to the Rock. A 3,776km unsupported gravel ultra race, this year starting at the Sydney Opera House and finishing in Uluru. Claire finished the grueling route in 23d 04h 18m and she’s riding probably the MOST travelled GMX+ in existence!
Part 1:
Here we go! I am going to try to sum up my longest adventure yet in a few short posts. The 676km entrée was a tough beginning. We took a very convoluted but scenic and traffic free route away from the big city and were into the bush within a few hours. I was soon lifting fully loaded Gerty up over tight metal gates, onto narrow bridges, through water, mud and up rock scrambles to move step by step and pedal stroke by pedal stroke onward towards Orange. For all sorts of reasons, these km took me longer than I had expected. Getting more adept at managing my mind when things get challenging, I preserved my enthusiasm and slept sustainably, moved efficiently, ate heaps and enjoyed all the scenes and sights before my eyes.
The Hawkesbury and its bushland was very familiar. I lived here over 20yr ago and at the time was a volunteer with the NSW Rural Fire Service. The Bilpin crossing was a highlight. The trail down to the river is fabulous and rough and beautiful. Later, new territory in the Gardens of Stone National Park had me wowed in the late afternoon light. The rain started as I packed up to leave Portland. Cloud cover kept the tree filled hills around Sofala a pleasant temperature. While aware that there was a detour in the case of heavy rain, I bivvied beside the Bridle Track as it poured. Before dawn, I stubbornly continued toward Hill End then down to the Macquarie River to prove that Dixon’s Long Point was uncrossable. I still don’t quite like thinking about what happened. I’m glad there were donkeys to back track to, and cups of tea after that. A mere detour after my fright was very palatable, and I rode an extra 140km to get to Orange.
There was so much detail in the entrée route that my words and photos could never do it justice. Aside from the river, I really had a marvelous time and saw some wonderful scenery, birds and trees. Every part seemed to be there for a reason, and it is a masterpiece in adventure design.
Part 2:
I left Orange pre-dawn to see the sunrise while climbing Mt Canobolas. The sun came out and here was the start of glorious fine sunshine that was continue all the way to the red centre. That didn’t mean the end of mud and wet trails, but I couldn’t really complain that the sun wasn’t trying to dry things out.
I was soon onto Orange’s MTB trails and my goodness me; these were AWESOME! The “Trail of Awesomeness” had me giddy and grinning with stoke. Tops indeed! Cargo should win a prize for its delicious veggie burger and potato delicacy (not scallop!). I arrived at Forbes covered in a mud bath coating, freezing and famished. After hot chocolate, espresso and pancakes, I fully re-stocked with take away apple pies and hash browns from Maccas and coke, sweets and biscuits from the servo. I also threw some coins into the local car wash to give Gerty and I a spruce up before continuing onward to Condobolin amongst green hills and a load of cows. Another good resupply, and just as well as the rail side track out of Eubalong was sticky with red mud. Mentally, slow progress is fine when there are spectacular silver linings such as my first ever sighting of a Splendid Fairy Wren, unbelievably more blue than even their Superb cousin.
I was eventually on my way to Ivanhoe on faster wide roads. The sky was bigger now, and there were even strange lights as I rode in the pre-dawn darkness. Ivanhoe resupply was via a well-stocked vending machine. 1000s of credit card taps later, I had enough sugar to get me through the next leg towards the much anticipated Mungo National Park. It was there that I saw Pink Parrots! I also stopped for a shorter day with no regrets. A few contingency plans were made for a mechanical issue with Gerty. More wonderful was a lift into the NP with the Mungo Lodge Chef to join a group with special access to walk the World Heritage Dunes at sunset. Three big meals there had me extra-ready for more adventure!
Part 3:
I left Mungo before dawn and enjoyed the sunrise through the scrub, spotting multiple parrot species as I rode toward Mildura. I was surprised at how unsettled I felt by the return to civilization and bustling traffic. This was soon quelled by a typically wonderful regional bakery feed of a huge salad roll, soft drink and apple slice. I stashed more bakery goods in my orange vest and headed off for more supplies from the servo. The route soon directed me off tarmac and along trails splitting Lake Ranfurly and then a delightful single track beside the Murray River. There was some thick clay mud through here. However, I was pleasantly surprised to roll onto the Old Mail Road to find it largely fast rolling. I was luckier than the guys the day before me and still made reasonable progress despite the muckiness of the second half.
I rolled into Renmark after a trailside sleep and grinned widely at a short section of surprise single track before a mega-refuel. There was a warm headwind on the roads out of Renmark to keep the flies at bay. I was later very grateful to turn off the wide corrugated gravel road into a sandy but very rideable track towards the Danggali Wilderness Protection Area. This was a fabulous surprise of semi-arid Mallee scrub. I was delighted to spot a large monitor and multiple spotted nightjars in the throw of my lights as I rode into the evening. There were strong headwinds nearly all the way to Yunta. I then slept under the back awning of the disappointingly closed 24hr petrol station while waiting for another to open. When it finally did, I ate big for the road ahead to Hawker. I had a fabulous day despite more wind. The views and trails were lovely and interesting. I missed an evening resupply but was lucky to get a room in town for a luxurious shower, cups of tea and a sleep in to wait for breakfast.
The route to the rock was familiar from here. I love Ikara / Flinders and was delighted to see the area unusually green. After a spot of bike maintenance and more food at Wilpena, I bivvied about 40k from Blinman for an early morning finish to the Mawson Trail section.
Part 4:
I suspect someone snuck a drop of race face into my suncream before I smothered it on at Parachilna. The night before, as I rolled out my bed, I decided that I wanted to get to Marree before I slept again.
Planning to fly through Blinman, I changed my mind and ate a humungous and delicious second breakfast. I then cruised over the humpy overall downhill towards Parachilna on a road that alternated between surprisingly smooth and bone jarringly rough. The town has a great set of roadside dunnies with shade and water and a shower. Loads of people stop there and today was no exception. Water topped up. Race Face on. I was off.
The Beltana detour was particularly hot, but so much more scenic than I had recalled. The benefit of a different mindset, I suspect. I soaked in the colonial history bits and the wedgetail pair that seemed to be with me for most of the road. Once back on bitumen, I knew that it extended to Marree. Glad not to stop in Leigh Creek and too late for a Copley broccoli pie, I continued on with the day’s mission. More birds of prey kept my eyes skyward. The sunset was magic. Darkness meant that it was time for the tunes! New Faithless and Big Thief albums both came out on the day before RTTR, so they were first on the playlist for an evening filled with headphone singing and dancing from the saddle. Oh yeah! 260k in the bag!
Marree was asleep when I arrived. Late, but not the middle of the night, it took me a bit to choose a spot to bivy. In the morning I awoke to daylight and honeyeaters in the trees and then an emu strolled past. What magnificence! I hadn’t set an alarm as the shop didn’t open until 7:30. Once it did, I had a big breakfast, resupplied and launched onto the Oodnadatta Track.
Corrugations need to be attacked to be conquered. I attacked and attacked. The road seemed rougher than last time I was here. Onward past Plane Henge (desert art!), the Kati-Thanda / Lake Eyre Lookout and then Coward Springs (best campsite on the track!) and then into William Creek. The pub full of rowdy nomads was overwhelming. I ate and slipped away to the campsite for a shower and a sleep that felt like a slow blink. I was still feeling really good.
Part 5:
It was a 205k stretch to Oodnadatta and I was excited. After a cold toastie and a NoDoze caffeine tablet, I was off past the “Good luck with the roads” sign and out into the pre-dawn desert air. I love this time. Dawn light has a special magic. I remember to do second breakfast and suncream before fly time begins at about 9. A few days later, they seemed to have won when I dangerously pulled out the emergency molten Cherry Ripe in the last 25km of Mulga Park Road. Or did they really win? I surely swallowed a few with that snack!
The day went quickly with only a few stops for pictures due to limited shade and the fly hordes. I found a barn owl feather right next to me as I had a restful sit amongst some river trees. I tried unsuccessfully to capture the colour in the hills near to Oodnadatta on film. Never mind, the beauty remains in my mind’s eye!
I arrived at the Pink Roadhouse just before sunset. A big feed, resupply and night in a secret roadhouse bivy spot followed.
I left at dawn, a bit late as I had trouble disentangling myself from my sleeping bag after a very comfy night. The morning was lovely until I suddenly had to vomit. This was quickly followed by an emergency loo stop, followed by another. Worse still, one of my two water bladders was leaking and had to be strung vertically like an old fashioned water bag to hold the remaining precious water. Stoically, even for me, I sucked on my sweet supplies for a few hours. Thankfully, my guts sorted themselves out and we were back to business as usual by the afternoon!
The Hamilton Creek Station rollers kept me entertained. Another brief rest stop in a shady river bed. I nearly napped while watching some honeyeaters. On, on!
The track was a 1-2% drag and the surface rough and rocky. I passed through Eringa waterhole in the dark, a great shame as last time I was here it was a treasure trove of bird sightings. I slept about 20km further on, under mulga in a dip created by cattle before me.
I have a special connection to mulga from two accidents during my first mountain bike rides in Alice Springs. They say that if you have been pierced by it, the country will hold you. It has me.
Part 6:
I crossed the border into the NT and was almost immediately navigating the sandy sections on the way to Aputula, the mainland’s furthest populated place from the sea. I had been dreaming of a cold softie and waited for the community shop to open. Turns out it wasn’t going to until Monday. My time wasn’t wasted though, I had company from people and camp dogs, enjoyed chats about wildlife, a short shady rest & cool water in my bottles.
I rode the last 10km into Kulgera with the fuel and water gauge empty. I greedily grabbed loads for the onward journey. Already, there was a hot headwind and nearly 300km of tough kms to the next water. I almost rode off into it, but at the last minute, got off the bike and went back inside to grab a room for a 5hr stay.
A wise decision, I later left Kulgera in cooler air and with a veggie burger and chips in my tummy. I hadn’t slept, but the quiet time refreshed me somewhat. I enjoyed riding into the night and until I was too tired to hold my eyes open. It didn’t register that this would be the last dirt sleep for the trip.
It was about lunchtime when I made the right turn towards north and into a raring headwind. The road got steadily rougher and the scenery more picturesque. Low on sugar, I sucked in a melted twin cherry ripe and cursed the flies. Mulga Park Road almost broke me for the second time! I was so pleased to peak the last crest to see the Lasseter Hwy ahead of me. I had already decided to stop for the night in Curtain Springs. I enjoyed 5 softie cans and 2 dinners while answering many questions from the other nomads young and old.
A pre-dawn start would see me arriving at the gates of Uluru at about 9:30, before fly o’clock and the heat of the day. On the way I had enjoyed a flock of zebra finches and one little crow at the roadside camp spot about 30k out of Uluru.
Uluru seems to rise from the dirt then disappear and rise again as the road gets closer. There are stretches where Kata Tjuta can be seen in the distance. Past Yulara, the road turns slightly and there it is; Uluru. It renders me awestruck as it comes into view. I felt strangely empowered by my journey and then a soft sadness. It was over. Part 2:
I left Orange pre-dawn to see the sunrise while climbing Mt Canobolas. The sun came out and here was the start of glorious fine sunshine that was continue all the way to the red centre. That didn’t mean the end of mud and wet trails, but I couldn’t really complain that the sun wasn’t trying to dry things out.
I was soon onto Orange’s MTB trails and my goodness me; these were AWESOME! The “Trail of Awesomeness” had me giddy and grinning with stoke. Tops indeed! Cargo should win a prize for its delicious veggie burger and potato delicacy (not scallop!). I arrived at Forbes covered in a mud bath coating, freezing and famished. After hot chocolate, espresso and pancakes, I fully re-stocked with take away apple pies and hash browns from Maccas and coke, sweets and biscuits from the servo. I also threw some coins into the local car wash to give Gerty and I a spruce up before continuing onward to Condobolin amongst green hills and a load of cows. Another good resupply, and just as well as the rail side track out of Eubalong was sticky with red mud. Mentally, slow progress is fine when there are spectacular silver linings such as my first ever sighting of a Splendid Fairy Wren, unbelievably more blue than even their Superb cousin.
I was eventually on my way to Ivanhoe on faster wide roads. The sky was bigger now, and there were even strange lights as I rode in the pre-dawn darkness. Ivanhoe resupply was via a well-stocked vending machine. 1000s of credit card taps later, I had enough sugar to get me through the next leg towards the much anticipated Mungo National Park. It was there that I saw Pink Parrots! I also stopped for a shorter day with no regrets. A few contingency plans were made for a mechanical issue with Gerty. More wonderful was a lift into the NP with the Mungo Lodge Chef to join a group with special access to walk the World Heritage Dunes at sunset. Three big meals there had me extra-ready for more adventure!
Claire's GMX+ "Gerty"
Here's a bit of a roundup of the setup Claire was riding. This is probably the most well traveled GMX+ EVER!
Race to the Rock is now a fabulous memory of the best of adventures. I hear that people like to know about gear. Sorry if you find gear boring.
My much loved now 5yr old Curve GMX+, Gerty, is a size small. The picture here is just as I was leaving Oodnadattta fully stocked up with water and food. Gerty has Curve’s 29” Wider Carbon Dirt Hoops and an SP Dynamo, SRAM Red shifters and brakes, a 32 tooth chainring with a SRAM X01 derailleur and 10-52 rear cassette. 2 spare AXS batteries and zero issues. I did not regret the extra push required to spin 2.6” Mezcals. No punctures. My 50cm Walmer bars hold a computer, lights, feed bag and phone. Nothing else because I like to have room to wave my hands about. Stew from @riderfitcc is the magician that sorted all the measurements.
Probably more relevant than a pre-adventure kit grid is what I finished with and where I put things. I have learnt to pack items where they can be put back in the same place every time. A lesson from my work life, a set sequence or position is both efficient and fool proof when things get juicy. I have also found that with my food in allocated spots on the bike or body, I am better at recognising what I need at resupply.
The feed bag is used for sweets, feathers and flowers.
I use a k-lite Ultra Adventure System front light with the Micro Charger in my TT bag. Indispensable!
I have recently enjoyed the stability and speedy pack time of a drybag on a titanium Tumbleweed rack. I use the straps they gave us at the 2024 SRMR as a reminder of successful past missions.
See the pictures for all the other stuff.
In case you are wondering, the flappy voile straps on my fork bags did drive me bonkers… I have now bought some keepers!!
I managed myself better than I ever have on this adventure – gear, food, fluids, logistics … have I finally cracked the code? Probably not, but here is what worked for a good time!