Our social ride leaders have served up something for everyone this month, with an e-bike ride, city loops, eastern shore track exploration and an overnight trip out of Ouse.
Also, the Knocklofty Kneetrembler ride this Saturday 31 July has had to be re-routed thanks to stormwater works closing a trail and the new map and description is up on RidewithGPS now:
Domain Quadruple Loop
The Domain Quadruple Loop gives you a taste of different riding conditions close to town on Saturday 7 August.
Riding up the gravel Soldiers Walk path, the group will check out the mountain bike tracks to the summit (you can ride on the road if your bike is not suitable) where it will do a loop of the road at the top and then head back down the tracks. It’s then onto Max’s Infinity Loop before heading to the Botanic Gardens or Cornelian Bay for a cuppa (if possible due to an event on at same time).
The ride ends with a large loop that takes in the Inter City Cycleway, quiet roads and back to the city along Campbell Street.
Meet at the Cenotaph car park at 9.15 am and please RSVP to ride leader Greg in case the ride needs to be cancelled.
Tracks from 7MB
The Tuesday challenge on 10 August is an easy 20 kilometre exploration of two looped routes available from Seven Mile Beach.
The first follows a coastal track to Roches Beach then heads inland on the Tangara Trail before taking quieter roads towards Acton and back to Seven Mile Beach. The second shorter loop takes quiet roads and tracks through the pine forests next to the airport.
Some of the tracks mean you’ll need a mountain bike or ebike and some experience riding on rough surfaces.
The ride will end with a coffee at the Seven Mile Beach shop, but remember to RSVP to ride leader Brian.
Ouse-Victoria Valley Loop via Tas Trail Lanes Tier
Ride leader Andreas is back with an overnight ride on the weekend 14–15 August out of Ouse to help people get into bicycle touring.
The Saturday leg will be on 26km of good quality gravel road to the Tas Trail Victoria Valley campsite, which has a water tank and drop toilet. This gets up to 660 metres elevation but there’s plenty of time to go slower if you are struggling with the hills.
The benefit of all that climbing means on Sunday the way out along the 24 km Tas Trail route is mostly downhill, with great views. The Tas Trail can have boggy and sandy sections that may require getting off and pushing for short sections, and sometimes bikes have to be lifted over gates.
Bicycles with low gearing and tyres of at least 42 mm width are recommended – this could include solid hybrid bikes, touring bikes, mountain bikes and also solid e-bikes with sufficient battery capacity.
Please send questions and RSVPs to Andreas at https://ridewithgps.com/events/156433-ouse-victoria-valley-loop-via-tas-trail-
E-bike Coffee Club: Westside Explorer
Ride leaders Matt and Frances will be taking the e-bikes out west on Thursday 19 August, for the popular 16 km loop Westside Explorer on quieter roads and paths although all types of bikes are welcome.
Starting at the Bicycle Network office at 210 Collins Street, the group will head up to Knocklofty Reserve and Mt Stuart for a squiz from the lookout, then on to Lenah Valley and looping around back through West Hobart.
There will be a coffee stop too, but please RSVP in case of cancellation.
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.
- Mounty Nelson High– Saturday 24 August
- Pawleena Penna Circuits– Saturday 28 August
- North west riders – Burnie ride TBC: Sunday 29 August
- Cygnet Hill Top Ramble– Saturday 11 September
- Mighty Eastern Shore Challenge– Saturday 25 September
- North west riders – Railton Sheffield Paradise: Sunday 26 September
- Seniors on E-bikes– Wednesday 13 October
- North west riders – Gunns Plains: Sunday 31 October
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.
- People are asked not to attend rides if they have fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, shortness of breath or runny nose.