Newsroom

Organised or self-guided, just ride

This is our last In the Loop until February 2023, so please keep up to date with social rides on offer by visiting the events listing on our RidewithGPS page. Ride leaders will be adding rides throughout the rest of December and January as the mood takes them so keep checking in. And don’t forget the self-guided Ambassador routes, grab a friend and try one out near you if there are no organised rides on.

Forth ride and planning session – Sunday 18 December

The last north-west ride for the year will be out of Forth on Sunday 18 December.

Ride Leader Keith will meet you at 10.45 am at the Forth Recreation Ground for one of two ride options, the longer ride via Paloona and incorporating Braddons Lookout or an easier, shorter route along the river.

Following the ride there will be a 2023 planning session and the group is looking for a new rides coordinator for 2023 to post the rides on our RidewithGPS events listing among other tasks.

Wandering Waterworks Workout – Monday 26 December

Work off your Christmas lunch with a morning Boxing Day ride with leader David, leaving from the Cenotaph car park.

Meet at 9.15 am for the 21 km loop along the Rivulet Track, up Strickland Ave and few short bends of Huon Road to get around to Ridgeway Road and back through the Waterworks Reserve.

The route has some steep gravel sections so you’ll need good brakes, low gearing and wide tyres. RSVP via https://ridewithgps.com/events/199538-wandering-waterworks-workout

E-bike Coffee Cruise: Orielton Lagoon – Thursday 5 January

The short, flat Orielton Lagoon route is a perfect ride to ease your way into the new year on Thursday 5 January.

Meet ride leader Di at St Georges Church in Sorell at 9.45 am for the loop around the lagoon on paths and quiet roads.

There will be coffee afterward at Velvet Espresso, please RSVP in case of cancellation: https://ridewithgps.com/events/197950-e-bike-coffee-cruise-orielton-lagoon

E-bike Coffee Club: Ranelagh River ride – Thursday 19 January

Feel like a relaxing spin in the country? You can't beat this pleasant ride along quiet country roads, with very little traffic, alongside a pretty river and finishing at the Summer Kitchen Bakery for great coffee, pastries and snacks.

Meet ride leader Di at 9.45 am at the Summer Kitchen Bakery (21 Marguerite St, Ranelagh) for the 27 km loop alongside the Huon River. Apart from a section of unsealed road at the beginning of the ride, the route is all on quality sealed roads.

Please RSVP in case of cancellation https://ridewithgps.com/events/199643-e-bike-coffee-club-ranelagh-river-ride

Oatlands, Parattah and Stonor Circuit – Thursday 26 January

Celebrate Australia Day with a slice of rural Tasmania on the 52 km Oatlands, Parattah and Stonor Circuit ride on Thursday 26 January.

Meet ride leader David at 10.15 am at the Oatlands Esplanade Reserve for the route around quiet roads and paths, with a few hills thrown in.

If there’s somewhere open on Australia Day we’ll stop for a coffee afterwards. Please RSVP in case of cancellation via https://ridewithgps.com/events/199541-oatlands-parattah-and-stonor-circuit

TBUG Wednesday and Thursday rides

The Tamar Bicycle Users Group regular Wednesday morning and Thursday twilight rides will continue through the holiday period and through January.

TBUG’s social rides are now affiliated with Bicycle Network so feel free to join in, even if you’re not a TBUG member. You can see their calendar of rides on their website: https://tamarbug.org.au/events/category/rides/month/

The Wednesday morning rides are usually about 30-40 km and take in the scenic riding country of the West Tamar, Meander Valley and Northern Midlands.

The Thursday night twilight rides are held during daylight savings and start at the Park Street entrance of Royal Park at 5. pm and head out around Launceston’s paths and trails for about an hour. These are great rides for people wanting to get into riding, to explore the path network or just go for a quick, social ride.

Ambassador Routes

If you haven’t already come across our self-guided Ambassador Routes, take a look as there are rides for every interest across the state and you can do them whenever it suits you.

These rides are already thought out for you by our volunteer social ride leaders – just download the map and follow their suggestions.

And if you are a Bicycle Network member you can also get audio prompts for the rides, which reduces the planning hassle even further!

https://ridewihgps.com/ambassadors/414-bicycle-network-tasmania

Upcoming rides & events

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 safer:

  • 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 or are in mandated isolation.