Park it for the Planet preparatory rides, Kangaroo Bay hop-off rides and Gunns Plains all feature in our upcoming social rides with August hitting a possible record of 15 rides offered throughout the month and it’s not over yet!
Park it for the Planet prep rides
One of the easiest routes to take into the centre of Hobart is along the Intercity Cycleway, and these social rides aim to help prepare people who want to ride for transport and explain just how much carbon dioxide you avoid by swapping car trips for bike trips.
There are two options for dates and times with both leaving from Austins Ferry but stopping along the way to pick up other participants, and then the ride on Park it for the Planet Day:
Sunday 16 August leaving at 2 pm
Wednesday 19 August leaving at 7.30 am
Wednesday 26 August leaving at 7.30 am.
There will be four stops and meeting points at which we’ll note how much carbon dioxide is saved by riding into town instead of driving.
The meeting point is on the Intercity Cycleway outside St Virgil’s College in Austins Ferry at the 4 kg mark or about 16.7 km from the city. We’ll then stop at the following points:
2.15 pm – 3 kg – Path from Teering Road to ICC, Berriedale (12.5 km)
2.30 pm – 2 kg – Path from the entrance to the Show Grounds, Glenorchy (8. 3km)
2.45 pm – 1 kg – Queens Walk Crossing of ICC, Cornelian Bay (4.2 km)
RSVP online or contact ride leader Greg Dutkowski on greg.dutkowski@gmail.com or 0408238495 with your contact details so you can be notified if one of the rides is cancelled. More information on the three rides is in our Events listing on the RidewithGPS website.
Kangaroo Bay hops off to many destinations
The use of Kangaroo Bay as a starting point for many different destinations continues with two more rides coming up this month:
Kangaroo Bay to Rokeby Hills
Meet at 9.45 am on Sunday 16 August at the playground car park for this 21 km ride with a few low hills to climb.
The ride follows the Foreshore Trail to Howrah, then the paths through Rokeby before heading over the short bush section of Rokeby Hills and its stunning views, and on to Tranmere and back to the coastal path.
This will suit experienced and less experienced riders with a mixture of tracks, quiet roads and small section of bush track.
There will be coffee afterwards in Bellerive if you feel like it, please RSVP to ride leader Brian Chapman online or bchapmantas@gmail.com or 0429125638 in case the ride is cancelled.
Kangaroo Bay and local bush tracks
Meeting at the playground car park at 9.45 am on Sunday 23 August, this 16 km ride takes about 2.5 hours and takes in all sorts of paths and tracks to enjoy some of the eastern shore’s varied landscapes and views.
This will suit hybrid, mountain and rugged e-bikes with a mixture of bike tracks, bush tracks and quiet roads.
There will be coffee afterwards in Bellerive if you feel like it, please RSVP to ride leader Brian Chapman online or bchapmantas@gmail.com or 0429125638 in case the ride is cancelled.
Meet at 9.45 am on Sunday 30 August for this 24 km ride leaving from the playground car park for the 2.5 hour ride to the Risdon Dam and its loop around the lake.
This ride will be suitable for all levels of experience, however, there is a section riding on a busy road so you must feel comfortable in that situation.
There will be coffee afterwards in Bellerive if you feel like it, please RSVP to ride leader Brian Chapman online or bchapmantas@gmail.com or 0429125638 in case the ride is cancelled.
Nearly New Knocklofty Knee Trembler
This ride ran a couple of months ago but this time has the added twist of a diversion along the New Town Rivulet.
Meet at 9.15 am at the car park at the end of the Intercity Cycleway near the Cenotaph on Saturday 29 August for the 26 km ride which will take about 2.5 hours.
This is a challenging ride so will suit more experienced cyclists with a mix of dirt tracks, roads and some steep climbs. Bikes with low gearing, electric assist and wide tyres for gravel paths will be the best choice.
There will be a coffee break along the way but please RSVP online or contact ride leader Greg Dutkowski on greg.dutkowski@gmail.com or 0408238495 with your contact details so you can be notified if one of the rides is cancelled.
Gunns Plains Loop
The monthly north-west ride will tackle the Gunns Plains Loop with its challenging hills or the easier option along the banks of the River Leven and back.
Meet at 10.45 am on Sunday 30 August at the car park of Wings Wildlife Café in Winduss Road for the main ride or the easier option.
The main ride is 30 km in length and has a total ascent of 544 metres taking South Riana Rd to Gunns Plains Rd, Raymond Rd to Preston Rd, (we have the option of a short walk to Preston Falls) then back on to Gunns Plains Rd and return.
The easier ride is 16 km with 235 metres of ascent and will start with the South Riana Rd to Gunns Plains Rd section but will then follow the river to Bannons Park and return.
We’ll have lunch at the café after the ride, check out the menus online. Please RSVP online or contact Roger on nwtasrecriders@gmail.com or 0418 508 435 in case the ride is cancelled due to bad weather.
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.
- Saturday 15 August – Two Bridges– Tasman and Bowen Bridges ride
- Saturday 15 August – Tunnels and Bridges– ICC and quiet streets
- Saturday 22 August – Tunnels and Bridges– ICC and quiet streets
- Sunday 6 September – Women on Wheels – ICC to Cadburys Estate
- Saturday 26 September – Cygnet Coast Road – Port Cygnet Cannery
- Sunday 27 September – Sprent Loops – Sprent Recreation Ground
- Sunday 4 October – Women on Wheels – Fern Tree Pipeline Track
- 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
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.