Club Rides
SOCIAL AND TRAINING RIDES
RATS Cycling Club organises rides at a variety of distance and speed levels. To participate, all riders must have MTBA insurance, through membership of either the RATS or another MTBA-affiliated club.
PCS MONDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY MORNING TRAINING RIDE (REDLANDS TRACK PARK)
This ride is hosted by PCS Coaching who support the club with sponsorship and by assisting in activities of this kind.
- Departs Cleveland McDonalds car park
- Starts at 5:30 am
- Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes duration
- For riders who want to improve MTB skills/intensity
- For general enquiries or if unsure about weather, contact Donna Dall on 0400 740 055 or donna@pcscoaching.com.au
SATURDAY MORNING SOCIAL RIDE (DAISY HILL)
Our regular Saturday social ride has something for everyone, including entry level riders and kids.
If you are not a MTBA member with another club you need to sign off an insurance form each time you ride, so please arrive a bit earlier for this. The club pays for your first ride, after which the cost per ride for insurance is $10 for seniors or $7 for juniors; of course this ride is one of the advantages of being a RATS member in which case there is no cost.
MTBA offer a Free Trial Membership – choose RATS cycling club as your club and you can try before you buy with the benefits of personal accident & public liability insurance for 8 weeks. All going well you can become a financial RAT!
- Departs Daisy Hill Top Carpark (unless an away ride has been organised)
- Starts at 7:30 am during the warmer months and 8:00 am during the colder months
- Approximately 2 hour 30 minutes duration
- All levels of skill/fitness: we encourage those looking for their first taste of mountain biking to join this group
- Ride leaders will give trail knowledge and riding hints as they go
- Non club members can confirm ride details and ask questions on the RATS Cycling Club Facebook page
The Saturday Social is just that . . . Social. The group maintains contact at each trail junction, ensuring you don’t get lost or left behind. We encourage those looking for their first taste of mountain biking to join this group, however we highly recommend you having ridden single track in the forest at least once, previously.
If there are a lot of riders on the day we may break into a faster group and a slower group but either way there is always a sweep rider for each group to ensure everyone makes it to the next trail junction, as we leave no one behind.
If you are just beginning, our Saturday ride is great to be part of, as our ride leader and support riders are looking to help with trail knowledge and hints to assist in your ride as you build your confidence. We have a wide range of fast to more casual regular riders so you will defiantly fit in.
JUNIOR RIDERS
Riders under 17 years old need to be accompanied by a responsible adult on the ride. Alternate arrangements may be possible if you continue to ride with us and join the club. RATS is a family friendly club with many adult members who were once kids on this ride, so come along and join the fun.
General information for Club Rides
WHAT TO BRING
- Mountain bike in good working order
- Cycling helmet meeting Australian Standards; downhill trails require a full face helmet
- Basic tool kit of allen keys, pump, tubes and tyre levers
- Sufficient food, water and sunscreen for the length of the ride
- For night rides: adequate front lighting and red rear light or reflector
DURING THE RIDE
- If you have to leave early, let others know (preferably the ride leader)
- Respect the policies of the land managers: don’t make or use unauthorized trails
DIFFICULTY
“Can I handle the ride?” All social rides are just that: social. Groups maintain contact at each trail junction, ensuring you don’t get lost. As rides become more popular, they may break up into smaller groups that allow everyone to ride at a pace they are happy with. In that context, a faster group may evolve, but essentially the group is only as fast as the slowest rider. If you are just beginning, our Saturday ride is probably the best one to join, as our ride leaders are looking to help riders with trail knowledge and riding hints, however we highly recommend you having ridden single track in the forest at least once, previously.
OTHER RIDES
Other club rides may be arranged on an ad hoc basis, and will be posted on our RATS Events Calendar.
WANT MORE RIDES?
If you have a group wanting more rides let us know and we can include them to be advertised as a weekly ride too.