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As Bike Week tails off, new rides on the way

We’ve still got several Bike Week social rides to go before heading back to our regular social rides agenda, but a Saturday trip to Maria Island is on the cards for anyone who wants to shake up their usual riding.

Brave the Bridge – Friday 11 March

Bike Week’s Brave the Bridge on Friday 11 March will be lots of fun mixed with a bit of fear for those who don’t like crossing the bridge, but riding with a supportive group helps to overcome it!

The group will take the 8.40 am ferry to Bellerive so either meet at Cornelian Bay car park before 8 am or at the front of Brooke Street Pier at 8.20 am. From the ferry there will be a ride along the Foreshore Trail to Lindisfarne and back and over the Tasman Bridge and back up the cycleway.

Coffee outside at the Currency Café in Lindisfarne. RSVP to ride leader Maryanne: https://ridewithgps.com/events/167182-bike-week-ride-brave-the-bridge

TBUG History Ride – Friday 11 March

Learn a bit more about Launceston while celebrating Bike Week with the History Ride on Friday 11 March.

Meet ride leader Marion at Punchbowl Reserve car park in Norwood at 9.45 am for the route which will take in Carr Villa and to the old Smallpox Cemetery in Techno Park Drive before heading back to Norwood.

The ride should take about 2 hours, RSVP via https://ridewithgps.com/events/167193-bike-week-ride-tbug-history-ride-launces

KBUG Kettering Loop – Friday 11 March

This is an easy loop at 9 km but if you want some road riding experience and beautiful views, the Friday 11 March ride is perfect.

Join ride leader Angela at 9.15 am at Sea Wall Café in Kettering to head up the Channel Highway to the unsealed Manuka Road for the scenic loop around and back down to Kettering.

Please RSVP in case of cancellation https://ridewithgps.com/events/169004-bike-week-ride-kbug-kettering-loop

Pawleena Penna Circuits – Saturday 12 March

You can do one or both of the Pawleena Penna Circuits on Saturday 12 March during Bike Week, with the total length 30 km.

Meet ride leader David A. at Sorell for the circuit out to Pawleena on quiet country roads before coming back into Sorell and heading out on the bike paths around Orielton Lagoon then back.

Coffee at the end in Sorell, please RSVP in case of cancellation: https://ridewithgps.com/events/168558-bike-week-ride-pawleena-penna-circuits

Light up Launnie – Saturday 12 March

This is one of TBUG’s signature Bike Week rides with riders blinging themselves and their bikes to light up Launceston’s streets.

Meet ride leader Di at 7.15 pm at the QVMAG car park in Inveresk. The 10 km route will be an easy loop around on trails and quiet streets and will last for about 1.5 hours.

https://ridewithgps.com/events/169835-bike-week-tbug-light-up-launnie-night-ri

North West – New this, New that, New the other – Sunday 13 March

The north west Bike Week ride is exploring the first leg of the new coastal pathway from Latrobe to Don on Sunday 13 March, getting ready for the new path to Leith which should be finished this year.

Join ride leader Keith at 10.45 am at the car park at the northern end of Bells Parade to head up the new path to Devonport, around the existing foreshore path to Don and over the new Don River Bridge and around back to the foreshore trail and Latrobe.

There will be a coffee stop along the way, please RSVP for the 32.8 km route to ride leader Keith via https://ridewithgps.com/events/169139-bike-week-ride-north-west-new-this-new-t

E-bike Coffee Cruise: Ridgeway–South Hobart Meander – Thursday 17 March

E-bikes make it easier to get up hills and the Rideway–South Hobart meander is the perfect opportunity to try them out! The 17.5 km route is short but steep heading from the city at 10 am through South Hobart, up to Ridgeway and around then back down to the Rivulet Path and coffee at Hamlet Café.

RSVP to ride leader Di, all bikes and riders welcomed, the route will be a mix of off-road and on-road riding: https://ridewithgps.com/events/165141-e-bike-coffee-club-ridgeway-south-hobart.

Maria Island Jaunt – Saturday 19 March

Ride leader David A. is offering a day out on Maria Island on Saturday 19 March, covering the western coast from Darlington Probation Station down to Encampment Cove and back.

The easy 28 km route is on dirt roads so you’ll need a mountain bike or touring/e-bike with wide tyres and there will time to stop and see the sights along the way.

Booking and paying for ferry tickets is your responsibility: Return ticket is $49 and bicycle is $10: https://encountermaria.com.au/timetable-pricing-luggage-check/.

For more information or to RSVP send a message to David: https://ridewithgps.com/events/163540-maria-island-jaunt

Tunnels and Bridges – Saturday 26 March

Tunnels and Bridges on Saturday 26 March is an easy 25 km exploration of the paths and shortcuts off the Intercity Cycleway between the city and Rosetta.

 Join ride leader Greg at 9.15 am at the Cenotaph car park to head down the Intercity Cycleway before returning via paths and quiet roads through Montrose, Derwent Park and New Town.

Coffee stop along the way, please RSVP in case of cancellation: https://ridewithgps.com/events/170245-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 or quarantine.