Behind ON OFF Grid 2026

LEAVING ROUTINE BEHIND

Some journeys stay with you long after the ride is over.

To launch ON_OFF GRID, we travelled into Victoria’s Strathbogie Ranges. Partly to revisit the landscapes that shaped the collection, but equally to slow down, disconnect from routine and spend a few days riding together.

The film to the right captures the journey. Beneath it, Zivai reflects on her first overnight gravel adventure—an honest account of challenge, discovery and the quiet confidence that comes from stepping beyond the familiar.

STEPPING BEYOND THE FAMILIAR

Zivai Matipano

Euroa is a beautiful part of the world, especially when you’re in town with the Pedla crew.

It was May so the weather was sunny but cool, warm from the sun with a slight breeze while riding. The streets opened up to me with trees and their leaves making their way from the lush green of spring into the bright orange shades of autumn.

I rarely get out of the city, usually stuck in the rhythm of corporate life. Heading out to Victoria’s high country to explore a new town felt genuinely exciting.

I was amongst good company for exploring. As we continued to ride down one of the main roads, the street bent and opened up to a view of rocky hills, cows, and the general calm of farm life. The climbs were a challenge. I even walked up a hill when I couldn’t pedal anymore! The farm roads gave me space to go at my own speed and the crew around me knew their way around.

One thing I hadn’t done before was riding over rocky terrain. I’m used to road cycling with its sealed paths and occasional traffic lights. In the bush, the ground is covered with sticks, leaves, mud, and all sorts of things that I had to learn to navigate. I was scared, truthfully, and it must have shown on my face as one of the other riders yelled out “Follow me. Go where I go!”

It felt like I could fall at any time but as soon as I finished it, my first thought was: That was really cool that I did that.

The next time I had to do it, I wasn’t as scared and could focus on learning how to balance more.

The sunsets and evenings were just as magical. Cooking dinner over the fire and eating under the stars. It was simple, beautiful, and different from city life. The stars alone are reason enough to go out to regional areas more.

The best thing about riding is all the places you get to go. You experience nature and the world on such a different level from when you are driving past in a car. This shoot with Pedla pushed me somewhere new, both on and off the bike. I came home tired but refreshed and ready to take on the next gravel road.