Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

I’m a female looking for intermediate level group rides in Melbourne.

I’m looking for weekday rides of about 40km-50km and longer weekend rides of 70km or longer.
I’ve already been to a beginner group ride a few times, but I’m finding the pace a bit too easy. I’d also like to ride a lot further than 25km.

My skills in group riding are basic- I know a few basic calls and I can ride next to someone and ride behind someone comfortably. Hopefully people are nice enough to teach me more skills on the go.

I love climbing, so routes with hills are no problems.

I’m looking for rides that start around the inner East or inner North (Kew, Ivanhoe, Heilderlberg, Hawthorn, Camberwell).
On the weekend, I’d like to ride to places like Kinglake and the Dandenongs.

I’d like to ride before work, so 5.45am-6.15am starts are ideal.
I’d also like it if there was at least 1 other female.

Can anyone recommend any group rides that I might enjoy?
Thanks

Go down to Blackburn Cycling Club - it has a large female contingent who are all good riders, as well as men and juniors. I'm sure they'd run some rides to suit.

Otherwise, google 'Maling Room Ride' it runs a few days each week.

Cheers

macca33 wrote:Go down to Blackburn Cycling Club - it has a large female contingent who are all good riders, as well as men and juniors. I'm sure they'd run some rides to suit.

Otherwise, google 'Maling Room Ride' it runs a few days each week.

Cheers

Thanks a lot. I’ll check those out

Try Meetup - there are quite a few Melbourne cycling groups there.

RonK wrote:Try Meetup - there are quite a few Melbourne cycling groups there.

Thanks - I’m struggling to find any rides that are early in the morning on there. Thanks for the suggestion though!

Around that area there is 99 Bikes in Clifton Hill (Rides every Tuesday morning, 6:30 from the shop returning at 7:45.

Another option is Peak Cycles - Wednesday and Saturday mornings. I think it's still 6AM on Wednesdays, not sure tho.

Cyclelink in Bayswater has a shop ride on Saturday mornings into The Dandenongs. Judging from the rides a (female) friend of mine uploads to Strava, they usually head up Mountain Hwy from The Basin to Sassafras (known to cyclists as the '1 in 20') and then up to Skyhigh. From there, they mix it up a bit as to how they get back.

I'm not sure of the exact details so you'll need to contact them (they have a Facebook page) if you're interested.

Ashburton Riders Club if you're willing to head a little south.

If I recall correctly:
6:00 am weekday starts, usually bayside to Mordi/black rock, sometimes kew/ivanhoe way
6:30 weekend starts, often to the 'nongs or further south to franga.

http://ashburtonridersclub.asn.au/
https://www.strava.com/clubs/ashburton-riders-club-arc

Ha! That’s what they are. I’ve been seeing ARC kit on rides for several years

clubs are good options. Hawthorn CC has a really strong and active women's membership that suits all levels of riding (ideally intermediate upwards), as do many other clubs - some more than others.

There's the week day Maling Road Ride starting/ending in Canterbury at around 6am. I'm not sure of the distance but there's some hills (Doncaster Rd, Belmore Rd). I've never been but I know people who are/were regulars and they are all friendly.

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