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Explore more of the state by bike

Our social ride leaders have put together rides for the coming fortnight that help you explore areas and routes you may not be familiar with including Hobart’s hills, a weekend out of Ouse, eastern shore circuits and Ridgely’s rural roads.

Ouse-Victoria Valley Loop via Tas Trail Lanes Tier

Ride leader Andreas is back with an overnight ride on the weekend 14–15 August out of Ouse to help people get into bicycle touring.

The Saturday leg will be on 26km of good quality gravel road to the Tas Trail Victoria Valley campsite, which has a water tank and drop toilet. This gets up to 660 metres elevation but there’s plenty of time to go slower if you are struggling with the hills.

The benefit of all that climbing means on Sunday the way out along the 24 km Tas Trail route is mostly downhill, with great views. The Tas Trail can have boggy and sandy sections that may require getting off and pushing for short sections, and sometimes bikes have to be lifted over gates.

Bicycles with low gearing and tyres of at least 42 mm width are recommended – this could include solid hybrid bikes, touring bikes, mountain bikes and also solid eBikes with sufficient battery capacity.

Please send questions and RSVPs to Andreas at https://ridewithgps.com/events/156433-ouse-victoria-valley-loop-via-tas-trail-

E-bike Coffee Club: Westside Explorer

Ride leaders Matt and Frances will be taking the e-bikes out west on Thursday 19 August, for the popular 16 km loop Westside Explorer on quieter roads and paths although all types of bikes are welcome.

Starting at the Bicycle Network office at 210 Collins Street, the group will head up to Knocklofty Reserve and Mt Stuart for a squiz from the lookout, then on to Lenah Valley and looping around back through West Hobart.

There will be a coffee stop too, but please RSVP in case of cancellation.

Mounty Nelson High

One of our leg-testers, the 24 km Mounty Nelson High ride on Saturday 21 August takes on the Mt Nelson bends, mountain bike tracks behind Hobart College and then down to the Rivulet Path.

There will be a coffee stop along the way and because we’ll be riding some gravel paths, make sure your bike can handle those conditions.

Meet ride leader David at the Cenotaph car park at 9.15 am but please RSVP in case of cancellation.

Pawleena Penna Circuits

Ride leader Brian has another eastern shore route to share no Saturday 28 August , with one loop taking in the water views around Orielton Lagoon, and the other exploring the rolling rural hills of Pawleena.

Meet at 9.45 am at the Sorrel Woolworths car park for the two 30 km circuits, with a coffee break between the two, getting back into Sorrel at about 12.30 pm.  If you want to just do the first loop then head off then just let Brian know when you  RSVP.

Please RSVP in case of cancellation.

Ridgley Loops

This month’s north-west ride on Sunday 29 August consists of two circuits out of Ridgley, with the first 15 km loop involving a bit of climbing and the second 9 km a more gentle up and down.

The route follows sealed rural roads the whole way, which are generally quiet on a Sunday.

Meet in the main street of Ridgley and please RSVP to ride leader Keith in case of any changes. The plan is to have lunch at Guide Falls Reserve afterwards so please BYO your food and if you want to extend your riding you can ride to lunch then back into Ridgley.

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. 
  • People are asked not to attend rides if they have fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, shortness of breath or runny nose.