Gravel riding has never been about fanfare. It’s about the solitude of a mountain pass at sunrise, the silence of a forest road, and the challenge of pushing yourself further than comfort allows. That’s what Gravalist stands for—gravel at its purest. No frills, no banners, no timing chips. The less you expect, the more you experience.
This year, the Sedgefield 500 took that philosophy to the extreme. We told the handful of riders willing to take it on: there is no event. The route exists—go ride it. The story is yours. And they did. Some rolled out at 4am, climbing the Outeniqua Pass as dawn cracked. Others started later, determined to reel them in. Forest tracks, quiet gravel roads, Seven Passes just barely open—it was a ride written in grit and silence.
But here’s the twist: this was never meant to end here. One of the riders who took it on this year has already stepped up to grow the Sedgefield 500 into something bigger. The seed has been planted. What started as an experiment in gravel purity is now set to evolve—something with traction, something that could become one of South Africa’s defining gravel endurance rides. Next year, the Sedgefield 500 won’t just be a hidden gem whispered about by purists. It’s going to be something special—still raw, still true to gravel, but with more people sharing the adventure, more stories being written, and a chance for this ride to stand on its own as a landmark in the gravel community.
The roads are already there. The spirit is already alive. Now it’s time to see how far this idea can go.
As part of exploring what gravel could become, we’re experimenting with a community-based leaderboard for gravel riding. Not a race, not rankings that cheapen the experience—but a way to share stories, routes, and rides in a collective space. If that excites you, we’d love you to be among the first to explore it. Check out our beta platform at 👉 hub.gravalist.com and join us as we rethink what gravel riding can be together.