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Social rides offer new longer, faster options

Our social rides are a mixed bunch: short trips for a coffee, hills and gravel for some adventure, overnight touring, recumbent rolls and social groups like Women on Wheels.

Now our ride leader Logan is willing to offer longer, faster options for people wanting to push their riding stamina.

The first Alt-Fondo ride is detailed in this edition, with future routes scheduled in July, August and September, so if you’ve been wanting to step up in a supportive group, here’s your chance!  

Wandering Waterworks Workout – Saturday 18 June

The Wandering Waterworks Workout is a mix of road riding with bushland trails on Saturday 18 June.

Meet ride leader David A at the Cenotaph car park at 9.15 am for the 21 km loop up the Rivulet Path to Strickland Avenue then down the Pipeline to Waterworks Reserve and back through South Hobart to the rivulet and the city.

There will be a coffee stop along the way, please RSVP via https://ridewithgps.com/events/180777-wandering-waterworks-workout

TBUG Winter Solstice Ride – Wednesday 22 June

If dunking yourself in freezing cold water to mark the solstice is not your thing, how about an early morning winter solstice ride on 22 June?

Join ride leader Rafael at Royal Park in Launceston at 6.50 am for the short 6.4 km out to Tailrace Park along the West Tamar Trail and back into town, where you can warm up with a coffee or brekkie.

RSVP in case of cancellation via https://ridewithgps.com/events/179035-tbug-winter-solstice-ride-2022

Mounty Nelson High – Saturday 25 June

Go round the bends with ride leader David A. on his Mounty Nelson High ride on Saturday 25 June.

The 20 km route heads off from the Cenotaph car park at 9.30 am through Battery Point, then up the Mt Nelson Rd bends to the signal station for a coffee.

The return leg will be via a gravel fire trail to the back streets of Sandy Bay, then back along the water, through Battery Point and back to the car park.

RSVP: https://ridewithgps.com/events/179624-mounty-nelson-high

Northern Recumbents Roll: Blackwood Creek – Saturday 25 June

The easy-paced 50 km Northern Recumbents Roll on Saturday 25 June will loop from Bishopsbourne to Blackwood Creek and back via Cressy.

Meet at 9.15 am at the Bishopsbourne Recreational Ground to head uphill to Blackwood Creek, then a stop at Cressy for coffee and cake from the café or bring your own, and back to the starting point.

Upright bike riders are also welcome to attend but the pace will only be 13–14 km/h. RSVP to ride leader Tony via https://ridewithgps.com/events/173699-northern-recumbents-roll-blackwood-creek

BNT Alt-Fondo Round 1: Commando Loop + Tinderbox Bonus – Saturday 25 June

The 71 km Commando Loop and Tinderbox Bonus on Saturday 25 June is the first of ride leader Logan’s Alt-Fondo routes which are longer distances and paced at 23–28 km/h.

Meet at the Cascade Brewery car park at 8.15 am for the climb up Strickland Avenue to Fern Tree, then the descent into Margate and a detour via Tinderbox to take in the Bruny Island views (note there is 2.5 km of gravel road). The return along the river to Battery Point where the group will stop for a coffee before people make their own way back to cars or homes. 

RSVP via https://ridewithgps.com/events/182397-bnt-alt-fondo-round-1-commando-loop-tind

Women on Wheels: Tunnels and Bridges – Sunday 3 July

The July Women on Wheels ride is heading out along the Intercity Cycleway on Sunday 3 July, with lots of side trips and loops to export shortcuts and lesser-known paths.

Meet ride leader Mary Anne at 9.45 am at the Cenotaph car park for the 25 km ride up the cycleway with loops off through New Town and Montrose and back along the cycleway and a coffee stop along the way.

Please RSVP in case of cancellation via https://ridewithgps.com/events/182670-women-on-wheels-tunnels-and-bridges

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. 
  • Please have a mask handy if you intend to finish with coffee or snack with other riders.

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