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Hobart & Forth rides in next few weeks

Many of our volunteer ride leaders take a break during the winter months, but this year we’re benefiting from them being stuck at home with heaps of social rides on offer.

In the next few weeks we’ve got western shore and eastern shore rides in Hobart, a ride out of the beautiful village of Forth and the start of monthly Women on Wheels rides.

And a reminder that our rides are led by trained volunteers, so if you’d like to see more rides in your area put your hand up and we’ll train you as a ride leader. When several people volunteer they can share the load and offer a regular program of rides, like our North-West riders group.

Women on Wheels goes monthly

We’ve been running an annual Women on Wheels ride for the past 20 years but the feedback we’ve got is that women wanted more regular riding opportunities to build their confidence.

Thanks to a group of volunteer ride leaders, we are now endeavouring to offer a Women on Wheels ride on the first Sunday of every month.

The first ride is being held on Sunday 2 August at 10.30 am, leaving from the Cenotaph car park and heading out to Cadburys on the Intercity Cycleway then returning.

At 29 km, it’s a great ride for building confidence and stamina while also having some fun, and a coffee break to get to know other riders.

Please RSVP to the ride leader with your contact details, or through the RidewithGPS website.

Ride out of Forth

This month’s north-west ride will be a 32 km loop out of picturesque village of Forth on Sunday 26 July starting at 11 am.

Meet at the Forth Recreation Ground to head out along the scenic Wilmot Road alongside the Forth River to Paloona and Melrose, where the scenery will change from forest to farmland. The group will head down to Leith and then return to Forth alongside the river mouth.

Easier options include riding to Paloona and returning with a trip down to Leith and back, or without.

Bring your lunch with you or stop at the Forth shop for takeways for after the ride. Please RSVP to the ride leader with your contact details or through the RidewithGPS website.

Kangaroo bay hop-offs

Kangaroo Bay is a perfect launching place for a ride along the Clarence Foreshore Trail to enjoy its gorgeous river views, and in coming weeks there are two rides planned leaving from the car park.

On Sunday 19 July Brian Chapman will lead a 20 km ride along the Foreshore Trail to Geilston Bay, leaving at 10 am and returning the same way for a noon arrival.

The Sunday 26 July ride will also take the Foreshore Trail, but this time heading south and turning off the trail for the sealed path along Rokeby Road and quiet Droughty Point Road, returning the same way. The 25 km ride begins at 10 am and will take a couple of hours – note that there is some gravel riding along the route.

Both rides are perfect for experienced and inexperienced riders, with a mostly flat path and predominantly off-road conditions, and there will be time for a coffee and chat afterwards at Bellerive Village.  

Please RSVP to the ride leader with your contact details, or through the RidewithGPS website.

Tunnels and Bridges

It’s been through a few iterations, but now ride leader Greg Dutkowski has struck upon the perfect route to the north utilising the Intercity Cycleway and quiet roads.

The Tunnels and Bridges ride starts at the Cenotaph car park, heads north along the Intercity Cycleway and then diverges at Montrose to explore the foreshore, “secret” tunnels and bridges and interesting scenery around Dowsing Point before heading back along quiet roads to the Cycleway.

The 25 km ride is suitable for experienced and inexperienced riders, and will give some the confidence to ride on quieter roads. There will be a coffee stop along the way so you can have a chat with your fellow riders.

It will be run on Saturday 18 July and Saturday 25 July, gathering at 9.15 am for a 9.30 am start.

Please RSVP to the ride leader with your contact details or through the RidewithGPS website.

COVID-19 guidelines

Our social rides leaders are following a new set of protocols to help make our rides compliant with government directions:

  • Meeting places for rides will have plenty of space for people to maintain 1.5 to 2 metre distancing while unloading bikes, listening to the briefing, and getting ready to ride.
  • Riders are asked to register online so there is no paper being handed around on the day. 
  • Ride leaders will have sanitiser on hand in case of needing to touch bikes or riders.
  • People are asked not to attend rides if they have fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, shortness of breath or runny nose.
Upcoming rides & events

Social rides are featured in each edition of In the Loop, but if you want more notice visit our social rides calendar, which is regularly updated.

Bicycle Network Tasmania accredits Social Ride Leaders, and requires anyone interested in leading rides to be accredited. If you would like to be one of our Ride Leaders, please volunteer here and we'll let you know when the next Ride Leader Skills Development Workshop is scheduled.