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There’s a burgeoning gravel riding scene in Brisbane, like many parts of Australia. But to-date, gravel events have tended to take place in areas surrounding Australia’s third biggest city. A new event is set to change that, and the organiser hopes to show the variety of trails on offer, without having to venture too far from the city.
Hot off the back of organising the second incarnation of the Brisbane Roubaix, Cam Taylor has his sights on a more gravel-focused event.
The Brisbane Roubaix doubled in size in 2025, its second year, and Cam says he had really good feedback about the route and the vibe. Like many Roubaix-style events, it blends road with smaller sections of gravel. The gravel is always the spiciest bit and generates the most interest and stories post-event (it’s not like we’re biased at Flow HQ, but it’s true!).
“People were asking, ‘Can you do that, but make it an actual proper gravel ride?’ So that was the inspiration,” Taylor says.
Enter the inaugural Brown Snake Gravel, which takes its name from the nickname for the murky Brisbane River, set to run on August 31.
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Cam’s been riding in Brisvegas since 2002, and knows the city like the back of his hand.
For the Brown Snake Gravel, he’s keen to share some of that local knowledge and create a fun community event which doesn’t take itself too seriously. Cam reckons some of the shortcuts and sections will surprise locals.
“People will say, ‘Holy shit, I didn’t know this trail existed, or that this bit connected up with this bit,’” he says.
Two Epic Routes to Choose: Long or Short
The final routes will be announced at the end of July, a month out from the 31 August event. There are two course options on offer: 60 and 120km.
The routes are designed to be inclusive for all abilities, but still challenging.
“There’s lots of options to get creative and make an entertaining event for everyone. But it’s more about the elevation – Brisbane is a very hilly city, especially if you start adding gravel in,” Taylor explains.
The 60km route will have at least 1,000 metres of vert, and the 120km over 2000m. That’s a fair bit with >50% gravel in the mix. En route, riders will go through a blend of eucalypts and rainforest, with plenty of flora and fauna to see.
Any snakes? They aren’t promised, but it is South East Queensland…
Being in a city of three million, there will be a bit of pavement pounding to get out to and back from the more secluded gravel bits.
“We’ll also throw in a couple of sneaky sections of smooth singletrack, so the mountain bikers among the riders can use that to their advantage,” Taylor says.
Record-breaking rainfall in March-April and a cyclone in the lead-up to the Roubaix forced a last-minute change to the route this year. But Taylor is banking on some better weather for the August event, which he says is the best time of the year for riding locally.
It’ll be warming up after the depths of Queensland winter (yes, they actually get one!), and generally it’s drier. But some mud is always fun.
The chosen date also slots in well with school holidays and it’s a couple of weeks before The Flight Centre Epic, which has been a mainstay of SEQ’s mountain biking and trail running calendar since the early 2000s.
Compared to that event, this will be a lot smaller and a fair bit less serious.
Brown Snake Gravel: Ride or Race?
“A party off-road” is how Taylor describes the Brown Snake Gravel. The team is hoping for a similar sized event to the Brisbane Roubaix, which attracted 200 riders this year. That amount makes it more community-focused, fun, and manageable.
“It means we are more focused on the experience. It’s all about people, having an epic day out and riding with mates, and sending it in segments if you want to test yourself,” Taylor says.
Starting and finishing in Brizzy has upsides for accessibility and means there’s some trendy venues at either end. But it does necessitate some riding on roads to get to the good stuff. For this reason, the overall event won’t be timed.
But there will be enduro-style timed segments for those looking to put the hammer down. No race then, but plenty of space to go fast.
Cam says there will be around five segments over each of the courses, with rankings derived from total time across all segments.
As for prizes? There will be men’s and women’s podium prizes, and bragging rights.
What else is there?
When thinking about the event, Taylor drew inspiration from the numerous off-road and gravel events he has ridden over the years. Events like the Rapha Prestige, which featured road and some gravel.
“The best events I’ve done have been about the experience. It’s not just the ride itself, but the start, the finish and what’s out on course,” he says.
One of his favourites was the Hells 500, which was run by Andy van Bergen in Victoria. That event had some nifty inclusions like valet parking, a bar mid-ride and shots of sambucca on offer.
“We’ll have some surprises out on the course,” Taylor says.
Riders will head out from a coffee shop, being finalised as these words are being written.
The finishing venue is Range Brewing, one of Queensland’s best craft brewers, which boasts a substantial tap list.
“We’ve got a whole event space set up there, where people can chill out, get some food, have a beer and swap stories,” Taylor says.
An afterparty for the party off-road.
The Brown Snake Gravel fills a nice space in the calendar of events for gravel riders in SEQ. Whether you’re a big-time gravel rider or just entering the scene, it will let you explore some awesome gravel trails within reach of Brisbane CBD, and give you a chance to send it (or chill) with old and new friends. Sign us up!
How to enter
You can enter the Brown Snake Gravel here.
Sign up before 17 August to access Standard Pricing. Last Minute Pricing will be available after this date.
Photos: Element Photo and Video / Brown Snake Gravel
The post Brown Snake Gravel | A new gravel event with bite in Brisbane appeared first on Flow Mountain Bike.
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[[{“value”:”There’s a burgeoning gravel riding scene in Brisbane, like many parts of Australia. But to-date, gravel events have tended to take place in areas surrounding Australia’s third biggest city. A new event is set to change that, and the organiser hopes to show the variety of trails on offer, without having to venture too far
The post Brown Snake Gravel | A new gravel event with bite in Brisbane appeared first on Flow Mountain Bike.”}]] Read More Flow Mountain Bike
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