MMI Events is stoked to bring the The Rockleigh 105 / Gravelfest back in 2026 on Sunday, 13th September. It’s the 13th (!!!) running of the Rockleigh 105 Gravel Grind, making it South Australia’s longest running gravel event.
The Southern Mount Lofty (Rockleigh) Ranges in the lush springtime is a spectacular place to ride some of the best strade bianchi and sections of Lavender Federation Trail. There’s only a couple of hundred metres of tarmac in the entire event, making for a heavenly day of gravel.
Schedule
Rockleigh 105
Registration: 7 am - 7:45 am
Briefing: 7:50 am
Mass start time: 8 am
Rockleigh Route 66, 66km of remastered Gravel goodness
Registration: 8 am - 8:45 am
Briefing: 8:50 am
Start time: 9 am
Rockleigh 45RPM, 45km of DeVineL Gravel and Trails
Registration time: 8 am - 8:45 am
Briefing time: 8:50 am
Mass start : 9 am
Course Maps
2025 routes linked below as examples, the final 2026 routes will be ready soon
Location
Ride HQ is the Monarto Sports Complex, Schenscher Rd, Monarto. Access is via the Monarto exit of the South-Eastern Freeway, cross the Old Princes Hwy and turn right into the complex. The event village has halls, toilets, a children’s playground and bbq facilities.
Ride HQ is where riders register, start, finish and gather for lunch after finishing their Rockleigh challenge. Riders hand in their ticket for their included meal.
Ride HQ is a ride-neutral zone. We ask that you not put the pedal to the metal until you reach Hartmanns Rd. Make sure you take you enter the Monarto Sports Complex carefully because Schensher Rd has traffic running all day.
Merchandise
TBC - working on some sweet 13th anniversary gear for you all!
FINISH
Riders finish the course at the Monarto Sports Complex. Finishing rider names are recorded and given a time for future gravel historians (remember not a race…). Please cut off and return your timing chip at the end of the ride to get your lunch and avoid a penalty fee for lost timing chips.
Notify Ride HQ Director on 0431 638 721 if you abandon the event, so we do not look for you on the course. As part of your entry, a meal will be served upon finishing along with a beverage of choice to re-hydrate. Coffee and additional food will be available to purchase on the day also. Sunday (11am to 4pm). Pre-ride Coffee from 07:00am
CAR PARKING, ROAD CLOSURES AND TRAFFIC
There will be ample car parking at the Event H.Q. located within the grounds of the Monarto Sports Complex. We ask all entrants to enter the complex via the (1st entry) southern entry where you will be then directed by marshals to the parking areas.
As this is a challenge ride, and not a race. All roads travelled on this ride are public roads and you’ll encounter traffic. There are no road closures in place. Please follow all local road rules and be careful at intersections, blind corners and hill crests. Some warning signs will be in place and marshals located at major intersections but you must still be careful and courteous to all road users. Locals will be advised of the event, and many will be volunteering their time to help run the event. Offer a friendly smile and a hello. There should be minimal traffic during the event but there may be the occasional driver unaware of the event in progress.
We strongly advise and ask all riders to use flashing lights front and rear. Early starters may encounter fog, and slow riders may return close to dusk.
Hydration and nutrition stations
105km riders:
Hydration/snack stations are provided on the day.
Feed Station 1: 38km, Rockleigh CFS Station (Mandatory Sign In) Only one pass this year, however feel free to make a detour back here if needed post Mt Beevor climb (@approx 51km)
Feed Station 2: 61km, revisit at 75km on way back (Mandatory rider sign in on way in and back) at Wirilda Way Aid Station
Emergency Water Drop at 90km Cnr Critchley and Panican Hill Rd Intersection.
Route 66km Riders:
Fruit, chips, biscuits, lollies and hydration will be available at the following point:
Feed Station 1: 33km
(Mandatory rider sign in) Rockleigh CFS Station near corner of Black Heath and Pyms Rd
Emergency Water Drop at 51km Cnr Critchley and Panican Hill Rd Intersection
RPM 45km
You should be carrying enough of your own hydration and snacks to get you through your ride. Call ride HQ if you get desperate on 0431 638 721
Emergency Water Drop at 30km Cnr Critchley and Panican Hill Rd Intersection
On course support:
The Treadly Bike Shop mobile sag wagon will follow the full course. You need to be able to fix your own mechanical problems whilst on course. Treadly Mobile support will try and help you out. Please offer your assistance to anyone else in need.
There will be first aid/sag wagon following the riders. Please call Ride H.Q. on 0431 638 721 with any issues relating to support/injuries.
First Aid Points
First Aid will be roaming the course and contactable via marshall points or via race director on 0431 638 721. For emergencies please dial 000 first then immediately notify the race director of your situation and location.. Take note road signs as you go otherwise send another rider to locate the nearest marker/marshall so first aid/medics can be advised on your where abouts. GPS/cycle meters are highly advisable.
RIDE RULES
The following ride rules apply to all competitors:
Riders must ride the complete course as marked and directed, passing through all checkpoints. It is the rider’s responsibility to ensure that the correct course is followed
Compulsory checkpoints are at hydration/nutrition stations and other key locations (For 105km riders only)
38km Rockleigh CFS Station (1 pass only this year but welcome to detour 2nd time post Mt Beevor
61km & 75km (Wirrilda Way Aid Station)
66km riders need only check in at the 33km feed station at the Rockleigh CFS Station
There will be an emergency water drop at the corner of Critchley and Panican Hill Rd at approx 15km to the finish for all riders to utilise.
All riders must wear a certified bike helmet at all times.
All riders must carry the listed compulsory equipment for the entire race.
Riders who withdraw at any time after the start must advise a marshal of their withdrawal immediately.
Riders may accept any mechanical assistance on the course.
For the 105km ride, cut-off times will be strictly enforced as listed below:
Australian Road Rules apply at all times on all roads, tracks and trails.
Only registered riders, marshals or officials may ride on the course.
CUT-OFF TIMES
For the Rockleigh 105km ride, cut-off times will be strictly enforced as follows:
Riders will be short coursed at Wirrina Station at 1pm. (12.5kph) You will just miss the 14km ACUSA Park loop.
EQUIPMENT LIST
Pre ride equipment checks
Don’t forget to double-check your bike for any mechanical issues before the race. Take your bike to your nearest bike shop for a tune up before the race to make sure it’s running sweetly.
Things to carry with you
Compulsory equipment to carry
Aust Standard Helmet
Lights
A First Aid kit comprising: 1 x crepe bandages of suitable length for snake bites, 2 x non-adhesive wound dressings,
At least two 600ml bottles of water and/or sports drink at the start of the event – even more if it is a hot day and you drink a lot!
Recommended things to carry with you:
Sunscreen and sunglasses.
Food and nutrition to last you until you reach the hydration/nutrition points.
Bike pump, tyre levers, at least one spare inner tube and a puncture repair kit.
Chain breaker, allen key set, small bottle of bike lube, and a spare derailleur hanger in case you break it or bend it.
Rain jacket and/or thermal top and bottom. We all have nightmares about the 2021 storms…
Mobile phone. There is mobile phone reception at most points around the course. Please upload gpx file from Strava onto your device in case you get lost. Many have before and ended up way off course. This is your fault, not ours!
Emergency space blanket
Event withdrawal for non-emergency reasons
Please tell a ride official if you wish to withdraw from the event due to fatigue, mechanical failure, an injury, or any other reason. We need to keep track of what riders are out on the course.
If you started the ride and are out on the course and want to withdraw, please tell the next marshal. Make your way to the nearest checkpoint as indicated on the maps above. For non-emergency withdrawals, we can only arrange for a ‘grim sweeper’ to come and pick you up from the course.
Getting lost
If you think you are lost or have gone the wrong way we suggest you follow these procedures.
Don’t get lost! Pre-download a mapping app with offline access to the course. You can download the gpx file from Strava, gpx files will be emailed out the week preceeding the event. Don’t risk it, it makes for a shitty day if you end up 25km off course!
STOP! Sit down, have a drink of water and assess the situation with a clear mind. Consider where you are.
Think about where you last saw a road sign – how far back do you think it was (200m, 700m or 2km?) go to it. Call the event director, tell me where you are. (drop a pin on google maps or similar and i’ll tell you howto get back. Don’t risk it, get a map app on your phone and download the map/gpx file from strava and have the ability to use it offline if you are not in reception.
When you are certain you have gone wrong, backtrack along the exact route you came. Be aware of how far back you have gone and try to limit yourself to what you decided. Use your bike computer or look at your watch for time.
Mechanical repairs
The Rockleigh 105 isn’t a race, so you are entitled to accept the assistance of other riders or anyone else.
Please notify race officials if you’ve returned to race HQ for repairs and are planning to head back to the course. That’ll stop you being marked as finished and we can keep track if you.
Refund policy
Up to 8 weeks out: Rollover to next year or full refund less $12 admin fee.
4-8 weeks out: Rollover to next year or 50% refund
Less than 4 weeks out: Rollover to next year only (plus $25 admin fee)