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Cycleway & bridge rides rule March into April

The Intercity Cycleway is getting a workout from our social ride leaders over the coming weeks with all of the southern rides utilising this critical piece of infrastructure, while our north-west riders make the most of their quieter roads to see Latrobe and Sassafras.

Tunnels and Bridges

One of our more popular rides off the Intercity Cycleway is on Saturday 27 March: the 25 km Tunnels and Bridges tour of northern paths, underpasses and bridges.

Meet at 9.15 am at the Cenotaph car park for the easy ride along the Intercity Cycleway and returning via the Montrose foreshore and exploring quiet back streets to return to the Cenotaph.

We’ll stop for coffee along the way before returning about 12.15 pm. RSVP to Ride Leader Jack if this sounds like a ride for you.

Commuter Practice Ride

One of the easiest ways to start riding to work is to try your route on a weekend to get used to it, which is the purpose of the Commuter Practice Run ride on Sunday 28 March.

You can do the full ride from Claremont into the city or join along the way at set points:

2 pm: Start of the Intercity Cycleway, next to Claremont RSL, 9 Bilton Street, Claremont - 15.4 km

2.25 pm: Intercity Cycleway shelter adjacent to Transport Museum. Across the road from Northgate carpark. King George V Ave, Glenorchy - 10 km

2.40 pm: Station Street Reserve, adjacent 14 Station Street Moonah (cnr Albert Road & Station Street) - 6.9 km

2.50 pm: Cornelian Bay boatsheds car park, cnr Bellvue Parade and Queens Walk, New Town - 4.8 km

3.10 pm - Bright Eyes Café, Brooke Street Pier, Franklin Wharf, Hobart.

RSVP to Ride Leader Pippa in case the ride has to be cancelled. 

Latrobe–Sassafras Loop

The Latrobe–Sassafras Loop on Sunday 28 March is a decent 37 km route, with a few hills climbs to test the legs.

As usual the group will work out a less demanding route if there are enough riders, and for those who want an extra difficult return and have mountain bikes there’s the possibility of taking the Wild Mersey Railton Express track back into Latrobe.

Note that there is 4 km of unsealed road between Old Deloraine and Native Plains roads, so you will need to have tyres wide enough to handle that terrain.

Meet at the car park at Bells Parade, Latrobe (just north of the Axeman’s Hall of Fame before 11 am. The group will aim to return by 2 pm

Please RSVP to ride leader Patrick in case of cancellation.

Two Bridges Easter Challenge

Earn your easter eggs by riding the 26.7 km route looping around the Tasman and Bowen bridges in Hobart on Saturday 3 April with ride leader David.

Meet at 9.15 am at the Cenotaph car park, with a bike with wide enough tyres to deal with some tracks and gravel roads. We’ll ride slowly over the Tasman Bridge then up from Shag Bay into the Government Hills along steep, rocky tracks to see the rare Eucalyptus risdonii (you can choose that easier road option for this section).

Then it’s across the Bowen Bridge and down the easier Intercity Cycleway connection back to Hobart with a stop along the way for a coffee, returning about 1.15 pm.   

Please RSVP in case of cancellation.

Women on Wheels

Our monthly Women on Wheels ride will be heading out along the Intercity Cycleway to Cadbury and back on Sunday 4 April.

The 29 km run is a great way to build strength and stamina without having to worry about hills or too much traffic interaction.

Meet at the Cenotaph car park at 10.15 am for a 10.30 am departure. We’ll stop for a coffee along the way or afterwards and will ride a pace that suits the ability of the group.

Please RSVP in case of cancellation.

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 email our Rides Coordinator with your contact details and what sort of riding you are interested in 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 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.