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Womens Health good reason to go for a ride

With rain washing out a couple of our recent social rides we’re crossing our fingers that the next few weekends dry up as we’ve got some great rides coming up, including our monthly Women on Wheels ride on Sunday 6 September celebrating Womens Health Week 7–11 September.

For anyone taking the Bicycle Network challenge to ride 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes to get 3 months free Bicycle Network membership, this will be a good starter!

Meet at 10.15 am at the Regatta Grounds car park at the end of McVilly Drive for the easy 29 km ride out to Cadburys and back along the Intercity Cycleway, aimed at helping riders build their stamina and confidence.

There is no pressure on this ride, it’s for experienced riders as well a riders wanting more practice on longer rides.

Depending on what the group wants to do on the day we can stop for a coffee along the way or afterwards. Please RSVP online to ride leader Dorothy McCarthy.

Kangaroo Bay to Risdon Dam

Meet at 9.45 am on Sunday 30 August for this 24 km ride leaving from the playground car park for the 2.5 hour ride to the Risdon Dam and its loop around the lake.

This ride will be suitable for all levels of experience, however, there is a section riding on a busy road so you must feel comfortable in that situation.

There will be coffee afterwards in Bellerive if you feel like it, please RSVP to ride leader Brian Chapman online or bchapmantas@gmail.com or 0429125638 in case the ride is cancelled.

Gunns Plains Loop

The monthly north-west ride will tackle the Gunns Plains Loop with its challenging hills or the easier option along the banks of the River Leven and back.

Meet at 10.45 am on Sunday 30 August at Wings Wildlife Café in Winduss Road for the main ride or the easier option. We have a special area set aside for parking and briefing so you’ll need to RSVP to get directions.

The main ride is 30 km in length and has a total ascent of 544 metres taking South Riana Rd to Gunns Plains Rd, Raymond Rd to Preston Rd, (we have the option of a short walk to Preston Falls) then back on to Gunns Plains Rd and return.

The easier ride is 16 km with 235 metres of ascent and will start with the South Riana Rd to Gunns Plains Rd section but will then follow the river to Bannons Park and return.

We’ll have lunch at the café after the ride, check out the menus onlinePlease RSVP online and there’s a 10% discount for riders who want to visit the park after the ride, or contact Roger on nwtasrecriders@gmail.com or 0418 508 435 in case the ride is cancelled due to bad weather.

Nearly New Knocklofty Knee Trembler

This ride ran a couple of months ago but this time has the added twist of a diversion along the New Town Rivulet (note the original date for this ride has changed).

Meet at 9.15 am at the car park at the end of the Intercity Cycleway near the Cenotaph on Saturday 5 September for the 26 km ride which will take about 2.5 hours.

This is a challenging ride so will suit more experienced cyclists with a mix of dirt tracks, roads and some steep climbs. Bikes with low gearing, electric assist and wide tyres for gravel paths will be the best choice.

There will be a coffee break along the way but please RSVP online or contact ride leader Greg Dutkowski on greg.dutkowski@gmail.com or 0408238495 with your contact details so you can be notified if one of the rides is cancelled.

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.

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 or via phone 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.