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Seniors, mental health week rides the focus

We’ve organised a few social rides to mark Seniors Week and Mental Health Week, as well as our other usual array of fantastic routes including a Tinderbox loop and the Charles Darwin Trail.

Moonah Mountain Moaner – Saturday 9 October

Test your legs on the 18.6 km Moonah Mountain Moaner on Saturday 9 October, meeting at 9.15 am at the Cenotaph car park.

This ride is suitable for riders experienced in hill climbing and Kalang Rd is narrow and can get a lot of traffic. There will be some dirt tracks and grassy connections so wider tyres are better, as are good brakes and low gearing.

RSVP to ride leader Greg in case of cancellation.

Get Outdoors Weekend – Saturday 9 October

Get Outdoors Weekend is taking place this weekend as part of Mental Health Week, highlighting the wellbeing benefits of getting your blood pumping in the open air.

Ride Leader Brian is putting on an easy introduction to cycling route on Saturday 9 October from Cornelian Bay to Cadburys and back: 10 am – noon.

The 22.5 km course will be solely on the Intercity Cycleway, with the group meeting at 9.45 am at the Cornelian Bay car park and finishing about noon with a coffee. If interested please RSVP.

Seniors on E-bikes – Wednesday 13 October

We’re celebrating Seniors Week in Hobart on Wednesday 13 October with a relaxed 27 km ride out to MONA for coffee, and back.

We’ll take quiet roads and paths on the way out to show riders a new way of heading north and return along the Intercity Cycleway. This means if you want to linger at MONA you can and come back on your own.

Meeting at the Cornelian Bay upper car park at 9.45 am and returning at about 1 pm, please RSVP to ride leaders Di, Jack and Phillip.

Devonport Easy Seniors Week ride – Saturday 16 October

Devonport is one of the best places in the state for relaxed rides with oodles of scenery which is why our north-west riders are putting on a Seniors Week ride there on Saturday 16 October.

The easy 7 or 9 km ride will leave from the Aquatic Centre at 10.30 am and head to the Devonport Bluff or Spirit of the Sea (2 km longer).

There will be people on hand to check your bike is in working order if it’s been a while. If interested please RSVP before the day.

Blackmans Bay to Tinderbox Loop – Saturday 16 October

One or more spectacular scenery rides, the Blackmans Bay to Tinderbox Loop is happening on Saturday 16 October.

Meet at 9.45 am in the car park at The Beach restaurant for the 19 km loop on quiet roads with a small section of gravel road.

There will be a short stop at Tinderbox Beach and lunch/coffee back at Blackmans Bay, which should be about 12.30 pm. Please RSVP to ride leader Jack.

Charles Darwin Trail – Saturday 23 October

This 12.7 km ride provides information about Charles Darwin’s Tasmanian exploration in 1836 so you can exercise your mind as well as your legs.

Meet at 9.45 am at the Kangaroo Bay car park before heading along the Foreshore Trail then cutting up through residential streets to the Waverley Flora Park and back around to the starting point at about 12.30 pm.  

Because of the gravel paths you’ll be better off on a mountain bike or e-bike with wide tyres. RSVP to ride leader Brian if interested.

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.