Today I completed the Big Fish 100 event organised by Audax Queensland. There was also a 50 km option. The event attracted 31 riders in total: 9 in the 50 km and 22 in the 100 km. The 100 km course featured just over 60% gravel and unpaved surfaces, with around 1,000 m of elevation gain. The route was based on Pedal Brisbane’s Woodford gravel course, with some additions.

The ride started and finished at Big Fish Junction in Caboolture. Parking was straightforward, and the location offered plenty of post-ride options, including fast food, Coles, and a tavern for a meal or beer.

This was a true mixed-terrain ride. The sealed road sections were mostly quiet, with only a couple of busier road crossings. The unsealed sections varied from smooth “champagne gravel” to rougher stretches with exposed stones and small rocks, and some softer sandy patches. All of it was rideable on a gravel bike, though I was definitely grateful for the wide 45 mm tyres I was running, and the lower pressures they allowed. A fun singletrack section appeared just before Beerburrum, adding a few kilometres of light technical riding—enough to be engaging without ever feeling risky. There was also a short hike-a-bike section: steep, rocky, and rough, but over quickly. I heard that some riders manage to conquer it even on gravel bikes, and I can certainly believe it.

Overall, I found the course relatively flat compared to other gravel rides in southeast Queensland, which was a welcome change. The only significant climb came at the 26 km mark: about 1.5 km long with an average gradient of 8.2% and sections topping 12%. Thankfully, it was fully sealed, which made it more manageable.

Great stopping points were available at Woodford, Glass House Mountains Lookout, and Beerburrum—at 40 km, 62 km, and 72 km respectively. The lookout provided not just excellent views for photos, but also toilets and water. Both Woodford and Beerburrum were lively on the day, full of motorcyclists and day-trippers, and both towns offered shops and café options.

Many thanks to Joel for organising the ride and for pre-riding both the 100 km and 50 km courses in the lead-up to ensure everything was in order for participants on the day. Thanks to fellow rider Hans for getting the photo of me riding—I wish I had his bike-handling skills to return the favour!