Hobart volunteers are offering two rides for Seniors Week this year, the popular e-bike ride as well as a slower, shorter option for the lower-tech set. Seniors Week runs 16–22 October and Bicycle Network is also offering Back on your Bike sessions because we all know riding a bike keeps you young at heart while keeping your actual heart in good health.
Pawleena Penna Circuits – Friday 13 October
The Pawleena Penna Circuits on Friday 13 October gives you the choice of a loop mostly on paths and a loop on quiet roads, or both.
Meet ride leader Brian at 9.45am the Sorell Woolworths car park near McDonalds to head out on the 17km loop on Pawleena and Nugent roads. The group will return to Sorell to do the 13km loop around Orielton Lagoon on offroad trails.
Coffee afterwards back in Sorell, please RSVP in case of cancellation via https://ridewithgps.com/events/227062-pawleena-penna-circuits
Mount Nelson High Sunday Lunch – Sunday 15 October
The 20km Mount Nelson bends will help you work up an appetite for the Sunday Lunch ride on Sunday 15 October.
Meet ride leader David at 9.45am the car park in McVilly Drive to ride through Battery Point and up winding Mt Nelson Road for a coffee at the Signal Station. The group will then return via gravel tracks to Sandy Bay and then back into town for lunch at Salamanca.
RSVP in case of cancellation via https://ridewithgps.com/events/230841-mount-nelson-high-sunday-lunch
Excellent Elders on E-bikes – Thursday 19 October
The first of our Seniors Week rides is the 13km Excellent Elders on E-bikes on Thursday 19 October.
Meet ride leader Di at 9.45am at the Cornelian Bay upper car park to ride out on quiet streets and paths through Lutana and Derwent Park to Glenorchy. The group will cruise down the Intercity Cycleway to Moonah for coffee and snacks at Baked before returning.
This is an opportunity to talk to other e-bike riders and hire an ebike and try it out with support from other riders. Please RSVP in case of cancellation via https://ridewithgps.com/events/226069-excellent-elders-on-e-bikes
Howrah Mens Shed Amble – Thursday 19 October
Our other Seniors Week ride is the Howrah Mens Shed Amble on Thursday 19 October.
A slow pace, short 7km ride, meet Brian at the shed at 9.45am at 11 Howrah Road to head along the Foreshore Trail to the Hurricanes Café for coffee and a chat.
Open to all riders of all ages, you don’t need to be a Mens Shed participant. Please RSVP in case of cancellation via https://ridewithgps.com/events/226844-howrah-men-s-shed-amble
The Mighty Eastern Shore Challenge – Saturday 21 October
One of our longer rides at 42km, the Mighty Eastern Shore Challenge on Saturday 21 October also takes you off road on sealed and unsealed tracks.
Meet ride leader Brian at 9.45am at the Geilston Bay Boat club car park with a bike suitable for bush riding that can be lifted over the 6 gates along the route.
BYO picnic lunch and snacks and there will be a coffee stop about 30km in. RSVP in case of cancellation: https://ridewithgps.com/events/217163-the-mighty-eastern-shore-challenge
Riana Loops – Sunday 29 October
Hills will be the decider for which of the three loops you take out of Riana on Sunday 29 October.
Meet at Pioneer Park, Pine Road, Riana ready for ride start of 11am for each of the roughly 25km loops.
The Creamery Road and Fewer Lumps routes have ascents of 297 metres and 208 metres respectively, while the Camena Loop offers 433 metres of climbing.
RSVP via https://ridewithgps.com/events/234298-nw-riders-riana
TBUG rides
- 18 October: Longford to TPG, meet at 9.15am at Lyttleton Street. 50km
- 19 October: Thursday Twilight Ride, meet at 5.45pm at the Park Street entrance of Royal Park. 10-15km.
- 25 October: Longford to Carrick, meet at 9.15am at Lyttleton Street. 50km.
- 26 October: Thursday Twilight Ride, meet at 5.45pm at the Park Street entrance of Royal Park. 10-15km.
Upcoming rides & events
- E-bike Coffee Cruise: The Queens View – Friday 3 November
- Kangaroo Bay to Mt Rumney– Saturday 4 November
- Bothwell Apsley Country Loop – Sunday 12 November
- E-bike Coffee Club: Getting around Glenorchy – Thursday 16 November
- Alice in Wonderland – Saturday 18 November
- Shearwater–Moriarty–Sassafras circuit – Sunday 26 November
- Hobart to New Norfolk Fruit Loop – Saturday 2 December
- Christmas lunch in Fern Tree – Saturday 9 December
- Orford Thumbs Lookout Loop– Sunday 10 December
- Kangaroo Bay to Tranmere return – Friday 15 December
- Flight of the Folders– Saturday 23 December
- Burnie Fernglade – Sunday 31 December
- Oatlands Parattah and Stonor Circuit– Friday 26 January
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. You don't have to be super fit or into competitive riding, our rides are a mixed bag depending on the interests of our ride leaders. They offer everything from short 1-2 hour rides with stops along the way to day-long excursions.
COVID-19 guidelines
Our social rides leaders follow 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 metre 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.