We’ve got a couple of new riding routes coming up south of Hobart in our social rides program, and a stickybeak at the new Latrobe to Ambleside coastal pathway project, as well as popular Hobart rides.
Cygnet Coast Road
The 31 km Cygnet Coast Road ride on Saturday 26 September, starting and finishing in Cygnet, is new for our social rides but has long been a popular local riding loop.
This medium-to-hard ride will take on the hill challenge of Silver Hill, rising from 20 m to 251 m, and will be mostly on sealed road but there is about 10 km on gravel road, so anyone on skinny tyres will need to be confident riders.
The ride will enjoy the views of the Huon River with stops along the way for snacks, drinks and scenery.
Meet at the Port Cygnet Cannery on Lymington Road for a 10 am start, pre-ride briefing at 9.45 am, with a finish estimated of about 2 pm.
Please RSVP to ride leaders Urszula Stanny and Caroline van Riet online or via phone so they can let you know if any of the plans change.
Blackmans Bay–Tinderbox Loop
This is a new one and exciting for our all riders in the south to have an easy to access ride through some gorgeous scenery on Sunday 20 September.
The 19 km ride will leave from the Blackmans Bay Beach car park at 10 am, near the Beach Restaurant, with a pre-ride briefing at 9.45 am.
It will be mostly sealed, quiet roads with a short section of red gravel road so will suit all bike types and experience levels.
The group will stop at Tinderbox Beach before heading through Howden and its spectacular views then returning to Blackmans Bay for a coffee afterwards.
Please RSVP to ride leader Brian Chapman online or via his email and phone as the ride will be cancelled if it’s too windy or rainy:
Don to Latrobe for a coffee
Our north-west riders are going to have a stickybeak at progress on the new Latrobe to Ambleside shared path on Sunday 27 September, which will ultimately connect with other Coastal Pathway sections heading through and out of Devonport.
The path runs alongside the Mersey River and connects the town of Latrobe with the Devonport suburb of Ambleside but the Sunday ride will be leaving from Don, heading through Devonport before getting to the new path and on to Latrobe.
You can stop there for a coffee and snack before heading back, or go on to Warrawee Reserve before turning around and heading back via Latrobe to pick up the rest of the group.
BYO your lunch and RSVP online to join the ride - while the full distance is 45 km it’s on mostly flat terrain and you can stop and return at any time.
Hobart rides
As well as the new ride routes we’ve got some Hobart-based rides over the next few weekends using off-road paths like the Intercity Cycleway, Queens Domain paths and Clarence Foreshore Trail and quieter roads.
Domain Triple Loop with a Twist
This mix of sealed and gravel paths and on-road riding is back on Saturday 12 September at 9.15 am but please RSVP if you are interested as the weather forecast is not looking great and it will be cancelled closer to Saturday if it doesn’t change.
Kangaroo Bay to Rokeby Hills
Our ride leader Brian continues to explore every possible bicycle route on the eastern shore and this Sunday 13 September it's Kangaroo Bay to Rokeby Hills.
Leaving from the Kangaroo Bay playground car park at 10am, the ride will follow the coastal track to Howrah and Rokeby before going over the short bush section of Rokeby Hills to enjoy the stunning views, then down to Tranmere and back to Bellerive via the coastal track, including an interesting diversion through Minerva Park. RSVP online in case of cancellation.
Tunnels and Bridges
Coming back on Saturday 19 September, this easy 25 km ride up the Intercity Cycleway and along quiet roads and paths joining the cycleway is suitable for riders of all experience and bike types. There is also the added excitement of discovering small bridges and tunnel connections that you might have been unaware of.
The ride leaves from the Cenotaph car park, be there at 9.15 am, but please RSVP as the ride will be cancelled if the spring weather starts playing up. There will also be a chance to stop for a coffee to meet your fellow riders.
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.
- Sunday 4 October – Women on Wheels– Fern Tree Pipeline Track
- Sunday 11 October – Seven Mile Beach to Cremorne – Surf Rd, Seven Mile Beach
- Monday 12 October – E-bikes are for everyone– Online Q&A session
- Wednesday 14 October – E-bike Coffee Club goes to Moonah– Seniors Week ride along ICC and quiet roads
- Saturday 17 October – Splash to the Bluff– Seniors Week ride Devonport
- Saturday 14 November – Open House Hobart– Ride to various venues
- Sunday 29 November – Kangaroo Bay & Local Bush Tracks
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 volunteer here 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 new 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.
- Ride leaders will have sanitiser on hand in case of needing to touch bikes or riders.
- People are asked not to attend rides if they have fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, shortness of breath or runny nose.