A NEWCASTLE BUNCH RIDES Facebook Group has just formed to help people in Newcastle and the hunter to find regular rides around the city. The group is the brain child of Dave Rugendyke, who has recently moved to Newcastle from the Armidale region. Having riden with road groups all over the world, he found that Newcastle was lacking regular coordinated road bunch rides that welcomed all. With an aim to set up a variety of different rides in the newcastle area which cater for different fitness levels, Dave hopes that the group will make it easy for visitors to Newcastle and Novacastrians alike to find a group ride any day of the week.
With the first ride kicking of this saturday and gauging from the interest already generated, the forum may prove to be a winner.
Stay in the loop of more regular bunch rides in Newcastle by joining the NEWCASTLE BUNCH RIDES Facebook Group
Here's the details of Saturdays ride as posted on the page.
"Here it is!! We are going to kick things off with our first ride on Saturday! Meet at the roundabout at Broadmeadow Racecourse (Corner of Beaumont St and Dumaresq St). We will roll out at 6am sharp so be there ready to go by 5:55am. Alternatively, you can meet at Drift Bikes Kotara. Be there and ready to go by 6:05am and join the bunch there at 6:10am as it rolls past.
Ride Route Description:
We will roll out, swing past DRIFT to pick up some others then head out to Black Hill via Minmi Rd and Lenaghans Dr. There are several bergs on the way that will definitely get the legs warm. The ride will be a controlled pace/tempo until those weightless whippets who probably don't eat enough get their time to shine as they battle for the KOM up a solid little ramp on Black Hill Rd. We will re-group and thankfully the hills ease up a bit to allow a fast run home.. John Renshaw, Hunter Expressway then bomb down Newcastle Link Rd. At the bottom we swing left through Wallsend and head all the way across to Sandgate. The aim is to keep it together until the top of the Telstra Hill... then it's game on. Industrial Drive all the way in to the big roundabout (Elizabeth St x Industrial Dr) where we take a left and swing around to the back streets behind Carrington for a gallop along Darling St and an opportunity to grab a rainbow jersey! After throwing your hands in the air, you can wait for everyone then we can all spin to The Edwards together for a brew... We will make it back to The Edwards right on 8:30am. (If anyone gets unhitched on the Industrial Drive run in, you can skip the loop around the back of Carrington, roll straight through and meet us as we tap over the bridge at the other end, or head straight to the most important part of the ride... the Coffee and post ride Banter/Smack talk).
The guys at DRIFT Bikes are going to help promote this ride. That being said, it is open to anyone and everyone regardless of where you do or don't shop or what club you may race with. The idea is to just get out and ride! This is going to be a weekly thing as of this Saturday. Same place, same time, every Saturday... Everyone welcome... get there!! LET'S RIDE!!
NB. This ride will be 30-35kph avg speed. If you're not quite up to that yet, keep an eye on this page. A shorter 'no-drop' ride with an amphasis on catering for and encouraging those who are new to bunch riding will be the next ride to be advertised!!"