One of the best things about the Goodness Gravel events is that they don’t demand a perfect race setup.

You don’t need a hyper-aggressive gravel race bike.
You don’t need carbon everything.
And honestly, you probably don’t need to overthink it as much as Instagram makes you feel like you should.

But…
Your setup still matters.

Events like Orange, Bulahdelah, and Parkes all ride differently, and choosing the right tyres and gear can genuinely change how enjoyable your day becomes.

At Laneway Cyclery, this is the stuff we talk riders through constantly leading into gravel season.

Because the fastest setup on paper isn’t always the best setup once you’re six hours deep into rough gravel and headwinds.

 

 

First Things First: Comfort Wins

This is probably the biggest mistake we see.

A lot of riders build their gravel setup around speed instead of comfort.

But for events like these:

• Fatigue matters

• Hand comfort matters

• Grip matters

• Tyre volume matters

• Reliability matters

A setup that feels slightly slower in the carpark often becomes way faster after 100km of rough roads.

Especially in Australia.

 

 

Tyres For Goodness Gravel Orange

Orange is usually the faster event of the three.

The gravel is generally smoother and more flowing, with long rolling roads and less chunky terrain compared to Bulahdelah.

This means you can get away with slightly faster tyres.

Ideal setup:

• 40mm–45mm gravel tyres

• Fast rolling centre tread

• Tubeless setup

• Mid-volume comfort-focused pressure

Tyres we’d happily run:

• Vittoria Terreno Dry T50

• Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H

• MAXXIS Rambler

• Continental Terra Speed

The key with Orange is balancing speed with comfort. You still want enough volume to stay fresh over long kilometres, especially once the washboard roads start adding up.

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Tyres For Goodness Gravel Bulahdelah

Bulahdelah is where things start getting rougher.

Loose gravel, corrugations, forestry roads, and chunkier descents suddenly make tyre choice way more important.

This is where we usually start steering riders toward bigger volume tyres.

Ideal setup:

• 45mm–2.2”

• More aggressive tread

• Stronger casing

• Lower pressures for grip and comfort

Tyres we rate:

• Vittoria Mezcal

• MAXXIS Rambler

• Continental Race King

• Schwalbe Thunder Burt

Bulahdelah is the type of event where underbiking can become pretty exhausting. Bigger tyres don’t just add grip — they massively reduce rider fatigue over the course of the day.

And honestly, that matters more than saving a few watts.

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Tyres For Goodness Gravel Parkes

Parkes is less technical, but it brings a different challenge:
Long distances and exposed riding.

This event becomes more about efficiency and endurance.

You want tyres that roll quickly but still give enough comfort once the roads get rough and the body starts fading late in the ride.

Ideal setup:

• 40mm–50mm

• Fast rolling tread

• Durable casing

• Reliable puncture protection

Good options:

• Pathfinder Pro

• Vittoria Terreno T30

• Continental Terra Hardpack

• Pirelli Gravel H

Wind and rolling resistance become a much bigger factor here, but comfort still matters more than people think.

 

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Tubeless Is Basically Mandatory

Could you ride these events with tubes?
Sure.

Would we recommend it?
Not really.

Australian gravel is rough, sharp, and unpredictable. Tubeless setups let you:

• Run lower pressures

• Improve grip

• Reduce fatigue

• Avoid pinch flats

• Survive sharp rocks and debris

Most riders running these events are already tubeless for good reason.

 

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What Gear Actually Matters?

This is where riders often overspend.

You don’t need:

• Aero gravel socks

• Ceramic bearings

• A $600 handlebar bag

The biggest gains usually come from:

• Good tyres

• Correct tyre pressure

• Comfortable bibs

• Reliable hydration setup

• Proper gearing

Simple stuff.

 

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Gearing Matters More Than Ego

This is a big one.

A lot of riders show up overgeared because they’re worried about looking “slow.”

Then the climbs hit.

For events like these, especially Bulahdelah:

• Easier gearing = fresher legs

• Fresher legs = more speed later in the ride

Compact gearing and wide-range cassettes are becoming way more common in gravel for a reason.

Nobody cares if you spun up the climb.
They care if you finished smiling.

 

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What Bike Should You Ride?

Honestly?
Most modern gravel bikes work perfectly.

Goodness Gravel events suit:

• Gravel bikes

• Adventure bikes

• Rigid MTBs

• Flat-bar gravel setups

The bigger question is usually tyre clearance.

If your bike clears:

• 45mm comfortably → you’re in a great spot

• 50mm+ → even better for rougher events

Wider tyres are quickly becoming the norm in Australian gravel riding because they simply make rough roads more manageable.

 

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Our General Gravel Event Setup

If someone walked into the shop tomorrow preparing for a Goodness Gravel event, we’d probably recommend:

• 45mm tubeless tyres

• Comfortable endurance-focused fit

• Lower gearing than they think they need

• Lightweight hydration setup

• Simple repair kit

• Reliable contact points

Nothing flashy.
Just proven gear that works for long days on rough roads.

 

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The Best Setup Is The One You Forget About

That’s honestly the goal.

Good tyres and gear shouldn’t constantly demand attention during an event. You want to stop thinking about your bike completely and just focus on riding.

Because once the scenery opens up, the group settles in, and the gravel starts rolling underneath you, that’s when these events really make sense.

And that’s why so many riders keep coming back.

 

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Need Help Getting Event Ready?

At Laneway Cyclery, we help riders prep bikes for gravel events, bikepacking trips, and endurance riding across Australia and the world. 

From tyre setup and tubeless conversions to wheel builds, gearing changes, and full custom gravel builds, we’re always happy to help riders build setups that actually work in real-world Australian conditions.