Bike Week is here with its interesting mix of free social rides in Hobart and Launceston – drag out your classic bike, bling your bike with lights, enjoy a lunch on the mountain, unfold your Brompton, or get a dose of history and celebrate International Womens Day!
Pipeline Track from Fern tree or Hamlet – Sunday 5 March
The Pipeline Track is a favourite of ours as it gives people a taste of rougher riding in beautiful areas, you can join ride leader Dorothy on Sunday 5 March to give it a go.
Meet at the Fern Tree Tavern car park at 9.45 am to ride the 25 km along the unsealed track that has a few bumpy bits so bring a bike with wide tyres, followed by a coffee afterwards.
If you want a more challenging ride then meet Dorothy outside Hamlet at 9 am to ride up the Rivulet path and Strickland Avenue.
RSVP via https://ridewithgps.com/events/203030-pipeline-track-from-fern-tree-or-hamlet-
Classic & Retro Bike Show at Longford – Sunday 5 March
This is not a formal ride but people are encouraged to head to the Longford Village Green on Latour Street on Sunday 5 March with a classic bike and head over the road to take it for a turn around the velodrome.
BYO picnic lunch, setting up between 10 am and 2 pm and special mention for riders who dress in the same period as their classic bicycle with a $100 gift voucher from Roll Cycles for best bike.
https://ridewithgps.com/events/204257-classic-retro-cycle-show-bike-week
International Womens Day Hobart ride – Wednesday 8 March
This isn’t a formal social ride, but ride leader Di is intending to go for a ride to mark International Womens Day and you are welcome to join her or go on your own ride on Wednesday 8 March.
A US rider has set up a Facebook group where she encourages women to post pictures of their rides on the day, and it’s well worth it to see the variety of riders and conditions women encounter around the world.
Di is riding from Brooke Street Pier to Truganini Reserve in Taroona at 9.30 am, if you’d like to join her let her know via: https://ridewithgps.com/events/203008-iwd-together-we-ride-bike-week
International Womens Day Launceston ride – Wednesday 8 March
Get your purple and green attire out for the Tamar Bicycle Users Group (TBUG) International Womens Day ride on Wednesday 8 March, heading from the silos at 5.45 pm to Tailrace and back.
The ride will be on off-road paths and will finish with some fruit punch and talk from the Womens Legal Service.
Reserve your spot online via Event Brite.
Ranelagh River Ride – Thursday 9 March
Enjoy the picturesque Huon River on Thursday 9 March on the 27 km ride along both sides, followed by coffee/lunch at the magnificent Summer Kitchen Bakery.
Join ride leader Jack at 9.45 am a the Village Green in Wilmot Road to head out on mostly sealed roads, with one section of gravel road, passing through Judbury, Glen Huon and Huonville.
RSVP in case of cancellation via https://ridewithgps.com/events/202856-ranelagh-river-ride-bike-week
River to Mountain: Friday Bike Week pub lunch – Friday 10 March
The first half of this 31 km ride up to Fern Tree will get you working for your lunch on Friday 10 March with a climb up 446 metres.
Meet ride leader Maryanne at the Cornelian Bay upper car park at 10.15 am to head through the city and up the Rivulet Path and Strickland Avenue to the Fern Tree Tavern for lunch (you can also BYO your own lunch as there is a park over the road).
Return via the same route, please RSVP in case of cancellation: https://ridewithgps.com/events/167179-river-to-mountain-friday-pub-lunch-bike-
Launceston History Ride – Friday 10 March
The History Ride on Friday 10 March is only a short 13 km but it’s all about getting to the Ravenswood bike museum and enjoying the intriguing collection.
Meet ride leader Marion at 9.45 am at the Silo Hotel car park to head out on quiet roads and paths to the museum and a more direct route back along paths most of the way.
The group will have lunch back at the Silo Hotel, RSVP in case of cancellation via https://ridewithgps.com/events/202931-history-ride-bike-week
Bromptons Rally: Bike Week – Saturday 11 March
Have you got one of the iconic Brompton folding bikes? If so, here’s your chance to show it off to other owners on the Bromptons Rally on Saturday 11 March.
Meet ride leader Di at 9.45 am the McVilly Drive start of the Intercity Cycleway for the 23 km return trip to MONA for coffee and a snack.
Please RSVP in case of cancellation via
https://ridewithgps.com/events/203026-bromptons-rally-bike-week
Other Launceston region rides:
TBUG’s Bike Week activities are being sponsored by a City of Launceston grant and support from Roll Cycles.
- TBUG Wednesday ride 8 March – Hazelbrae to Bracknell, 42 km, 9.15 am – 1 pm. Meet ride leader Mick at Hazelbrae Hagley Station Lane.
- TBUG Thursday night ride 9 March – meet rider leader Di at Park Street entrance at Royal Park, 5.45–7 pm, for a 10–15 km ride around Launceston’s trails.
- TBUG Bike Week night ride Saturday 11 March – meet 7 pm at the QVMAG Inveresk car park with your blinged up bike for an hour’s ride around town, $100 gift voucher from Roll Cycles for the most wildly lit bicycle.
- TBUG Bike Week Community Ride Sunday 12 March – 11 am, Park Street entrance of Royal Park, for 10-15 km rides on trails and levees, followed by snacks and bike-powered smoothies in the park.
Colebrook Lake Tiberias Circuit – Sunday 19 March
Enjoy a half day out in the country with a 45 km loop out of Colebrook taking in Tunnack and Stoner on Sunday 19 March with a stop along the way at Lake Tiberias.
Meet ride leader David at 10:15 am outside the Colebrook Community Hall for the ride on gravel and sealed roads.
BYO lunch as there are no shops en route, the group will have a coffee break in Richmond after the ride on the way back to Hobart.
RSVP https://ridewithgps.com/events/203341-colebrook-lake-tiberias-circuit
Upcoming rides & events
- Cambridge Park Loop – Saturday 25 March
- Orford Thumbs Lookout Loop – Sunday 2 April
- E-bike Coffee Cruise: The Queens View – Thursday 6 April
- Agrarian Kitchen to Lachlan – Sunday 16 April
- Apsley Bothwell Country Loop – Saturday 22 April
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.