Competitor Services & Logistics

The Shimano Gravel Muster is an all-inclusive, fully supported event where the vast majority of services are included as part of your entry fee.

All you need to do is enter, book a little accommodation and then arrive with your bike – we’ll do the rest as outlined below!

Because the event passes through some very remote terrain, we see it as our responsibility to ensure you have what you require; riders do NOT need their own support crew or handler and riders do NOT need to carry their gear on their bike.

We’ll arrange your airport transfers (so you don’t NEED A CAR) and coordinate all logistics so it’s super easy to be part of.

What’s Included

The Shimano Gravel Muster offers easy logistics with the majority of services included in the entry fee (aka ‘all-inclusive’). You can then ‘upgrade’ your accommodation with 2 levels – cabins and camping – outlined below:

Included in your Entry Fee

  • Entry to all 4 stages over 4 days
  • Event branded cycling CAP
  • 2 nights accommodation * – at Hale River Homestead on Day 2, and Ross River Homestead on Day 3
  • Transport of your gear for Days 2, 3 and 4 whilst you’re riding
  • 2 x Breakfast (Day 3 and 4)
  • 3 x Lunch (Day 2, 3 and 4)
  • 4 x Dinners (Day 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  • On-Course Hydration / nutrition, food and full support at the water points
  • Beers and snacks at the pop up bar on Day 1
  • Professional photographs of you in action on the stages
  • All other ‘standard’ event services you’d expect such as professional medical support, professional electronic timing/results, on course support staff and traffic management…

*See below for accommodation upgrade options

NOT Included in the Entry Fee

The following items are NOT included as part of your entry fee and need to be booked/actioned yourself:

Accommodation

Accommodation is easy to organise as follows:

ALICE SPRINGS – self book:

All riders must self-book their own accommodation in Alice Springs before the event (for the nights of 21 and 22 August) and when we return on Day 4 (25 August).

We recommend riders stay at the Mercure Alice Springs Results who are offering a special discounted accommodation + breakfast rate. More HERE >>

IN THE OUTBACK – included in your entry fee:

Accommodation and hospitality at Hale River Homestead and Ross River Homestead is included in your entry fee. However there are 3 levels, including 2 upgrade options which you select when you enter the event online:

  • BASE OPTION: BYO camp gear
  • UPGRADE OPTION 1: Use supplied Rapid Ascent camp gear (our recommended option!)
  • UPGRADE OPTION 2: Stay in permanent cabins at each homestead

BYO Camp Gear

Your entry includes space in the campground and you bring your own tent, mattress and sleeping bag. We will transport it to the campsites for you each day 🙂

Upgrade Option 1: Rapid Ascent supplied camp gear – max 75 people

For those who book the ‘Rapid Ascent camping gear’, each rider will get a 2-man tent, a comfortable 10cm thick mattress and a pillow for you to set up / pack up at each camp together with other riders. We can help you set up / pack up these items if you are unsure what to do. This is our recommended option, providing camaraderie and getting back to nature!.

(You just need to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow slip and towel which we will transfer for you each day.)

Upgrade Option 2: Cabin accommodation

Hale River and Ross River Homesteads have a range of commercially available buildings, varying from cottages to cabins and bunkhouses. If you book the cabin accommodation option we will allocate a comfortable bed within their facilities based on group size and space available.

FURTHER ACCOMMODATION DETAILS HERE >>

Luggage / Gear Transported FOR YOU!

We will take your luggage from Alice Springs to the Outback Stations for you. You do not need to carry these items on your bike (this is not a bike packing event)! Collection arrangements will be confirmed nearer the event. Please limit to 1 x soft bag per rider

Meals

Most meals and on-bike sustenance is included in your entry fee (with allowances for those with dietary requirements).

Summary table of meal inclusions:

BREAKFASTLUNCHDINNERON-COURSE
SNACKS
DAY 1 Thurs 22 Aug––YESYES
DAY 2 Fri 23 Aug–YESYESYES
DAY 3 Sat 24 AugYESYESYESYES
DAY 4 Sun 25 AugYESYESYESYES

Breakfasts: breakfasts are provided when you are staying at the outback homesteads on day 3 and day 4. These will be cooked breakfasts with sufficient food to get you down the road.

Lunches: we will have a packed lunch for you at the main water points on day 2, day 3 and day 4. This will include things like healthy rolls, bakery products and fruit.

Dinners: ALL dinners during the event are provided on day 1, 2, 3 and 4. These will be large buffet style functions with a range of protein and carb based meals. Yum.

Riding snacks: A range of Skratch hydration and nutrition products will be available to keep you sustained whilst on the bike including high carb / electrolyte drinks, bars and chews as well as cake, lollies, fruit and more at the checkpoints. You are welcome to bring your own if you have brands and products you prefer.

On-Course Support and Water Points

One of the distinct benefits of riding these roads in an event environment is that we have your back – we are there to support you and (if necessary) pick up the pieces if things fall apart. These include:

  • Sweep vehicles to collect people who have major mechanicals of the bike or body.
  • Vehicles supervising the course and providing mechanical, medical and mental support.
  • Well stocked water points with a range of sports hydration and nutrition (outlined below), water, sunscreen, bike tools like pumps, tubes and the know how to assist with any bike or body issues.
  • Dedicated medical team who will be at checkpoints, the finish and stay with us overnight when in the outback to ensure everyone is OK.

Photography and Video – FREE

Our professional photographers and videographers will be capturing you on the stage each day.  Photos will be uploaded to a shared dropbox each night for you to access, download and share with your friends and family – FREE!

  • Photos will be of a professional quality and be a proud memento of your race.
  • Video content will be created following the race that shows the highlights of the ride and what we all experienced out back.

Social Scene

Sharing meals together creates an engaging social scene and is a key part of the Shimano Gravel Muster. In fact, your time on the bike is equally split between social riding and racing and we’re sure an incredible sense of camaraderie will be established between all riders.

Key points of the social scene will include:

Dinners (included in your rider entry fee)

  • Day 1 Dinner – a welcome buffet for all riders together at the Mercure Alice Springs Resort straight after Stage 1.
    • Additional tickets available for non-riders in the merchandise store for $60pp.
  • Day 2 Dinner – we’ll celebrate the end of a huge day with a great outdoor BBQ and time around the campfire at Hale River Homestead on Day 2.
    • Additional tickets available for $50pp.
  • Day 3 Dinner – Ross River Homestead is in a beautiful setting with the cliffs of the Gorge all around us and we’ll host another memorable (and filling) buffet dinner under the stars.
    • Additional tickets available for $50pp.
  • Day 4 Dinner – the end of the event and Final Presentations will be a night to remember as we celebrate the winners and our return to civilisation at The Mercure Alice Springs Resort.
    • Additional tickets available for $60pp.

Cans and Campfires

Having a beer with mates at the end of the day is part of what this is all about. There is a welcoming bar set up at each finish line – including a pop-up bar on a hill top at dusk on day 1 – and we encourage everyone to race hard and then chillax and enjoy yourselves.

Krush Bike Wash

Our good friends at Krush will set up a bike wash station at the accommodation each night so you can maintain your trusty steed and get it ready for the following day’s riding.