For more information download our Regular Rides Cheat Sheet and our guide to Ride etiquette (PDF)
Whether you're after bunch training, tough racing on country roads, adrenaline-packed criterium, or a nice relaxing ride with some friends, uphill, downhill, head-winds and rain then we're the club for you (well, not so much the rain).
Rider Safety
Wear an approved helmet on all rides, have front and rear lights for any pre-dawn starts (like in the colder months). No personal music players as they may limit your ability to hear calls and stay safe in the bunch. You should be familiar with bunch riding calls and procedures: if you don't have any bunch experience make sure to come along to Saturday Slowies, introduce yourself to the ride leader and we'll help you pick it up.
Rides
(Scroll down for detail on each ride.)
- Saturday Slowies: 6.30am (Centennial Park and return)
- Saturday Eastern Hills: 6am
- Sunday 76km Waterfall (four bunches): 6.30am
- Sunday 92km Royal National Park (irregular): 6am
- Kurnell, 1st Sunday of the month (slower ride): 6.30am
- Tuesday Eastern Hills: 5.30am
- Wednesday La Perouse: 6am
- Wednesday ToM (Tour of Maroubra), 5.35am Redfern / 5.50am Horse Gates
- Thursday Eastern Hills: 5.30am
- Friday Mosman Alps (North Shore): 5.15am
- Women's LaPa ride, 1st and 3rd Thursdays in the month: 5.30am
Saturday Slowies, the Sunday C25 cruisers and C28s cruisers bunch road rides are generally led by riders who hold a Ride Leader endorsement or coaching accreditation from AusCycling. If one of these members is unavailable, each bunch will be led by a rider with considerable experience of the course and the experience to perform minor repairs.
Do I need to be a member?
Yes, but that doesn't mean you have to pay anything, you can take out a free 4-week free trial with AusCycling. See this link for details on how to join. If you are already an AusCycling member with another club then you are also welcome to join our rides.
Start Point
All rides start from Alex Trevallion Plaza, next to the Post Office at cnr Silver St and Marrickville Rd, Marrickville (276 Marrickville Rd—see map below) unless otherwise noted. If it's raining, it's probably off ... unless you adhere to rule #5. All weekend rides finish at Freepour Espresso at the Alex Trevallion Plaza.
Saturday Slowies, 6.30am Strava Route
Saturday SlowiesSaturday Slowies is our ride for everyone!
Leaving from the Alex Trevallion Plaza (cnr Silver St and Marrickville Rd) at 6.30am, this low key bunch ride makes its way through Newtown and Redfern to Centennial Park. All you need to ride Saturday Slowies is a roadworthy bike, a helmet and lights. Too easy ;-)
Once you arrive in the park, go as hard or as easy as you like. Hit the hills or cruise the flats, but be at the Western (Robertson Rd / Horse) gates by 8am to return to Marrickville with the bunch for coffee and breakfast at the wonderful Freepoour Cafe. Remember that following two or three rides, we ask that you join the club and obtain a 'Lifestyle' license or higher from AusCycling. This ensures that our ride leaders have the comfort of knowing that you are insured and helps to build DHBC as a club.
You will never be left behind on Saturday Slowies: someone will always get you back to the starting point of the ride and help you out if you have a flat or a mechanical.
Eastern Beaches Hills, Saturday 6am
Outgrown Sat Slowies? Want to get some hills and more distance on a Sat? This ride is for experienced C28+ pace riders (not that the avg will be 28kph but you get the idea). The bunch will wait at the top of the climbs for the last rider so you won't get dropped. The ride will depart from the Alex Trevallion Plaza at 6am sharp and head via Newtown and Redfern (the slowies route) to Centennial Park then Bronte, Bondi, Watsons Bay, Rose Bay, Bondi Junction and then back to the park to meet up with Slowies. Not for the inexperienced.
Usually there will be a faster 'A' bunch and a more relaxed 'B' bunch. There won't normally be a coach joining this ride (but they may attend from time to time).
From time to time, there may be a ‘slowies’ Eastern Hills ride on Saturday for newer riders wanting a gentle introduction to hills. These will be led by an experienced club member.
Waterfall, Sunday 6.30am
Every Sunday morning, DHBC has four bunches riding the 76kms from Marrickville to Waterfall and back starting at 6:30am from the Alex Trevallion Plaza, cnr Marrickville Rd and Silver St.
This ride takes between 2.5 and 3.5 hours (depending on which bunch you're in) and involves riding in a bunch on major roads with sometimes heavy traffic and some 650m of climbing (hills).
DHBC sends four bunches to Waterfall - the bunches leave approximately 1 minute apart, from fastest to slowest. Average speeds are indicative only (except for C25s) as it depends on who turns up on the day.
Fasties
With an average speed of 35kmh+, our fasties bunch is for fit and experienced riders who want to attack a long training ride. You must be a member to ride in this bunch;
Middies
Average speed 31kph+. Not for new riders, our middies know the route well and go hard for the whole ride. You must be a member to ride in this bunch;
Cruisers 28s (C28s)
An average speed of ~28kph makes this a bunch that pushes hard, but does not attack the climbs. Generally waits for people with flats but it's not 'no-drop', although the bunch will strive to stay together and will re-group if split by lights;
Cruisers 25s (C25s)
With a target average speed of 25kph, this is the place to start your Waterfall experience as it is a no-drop bunch. Assuming you can ride at the required average speed for the 76kms, you'll never be left behind and someone will always get you back to the starting point of the ride. However, if you are physically unable to ride (or continue) at the required speed, you may be asked to catch a train home. The whole bunch stops for flats and mechanicals and you'll almost always have an accredited coach leading the bunch, although this is not always possible.
Note that the C25 cruisers bunch will stick as close as possible to the advertised average over the length of the ride. Other bunches may (will!) vary depending on which riders turn up on the day. Click this link for a map of the route.
Sunday ride to Royal National Park (RNP, irregular)
Royal National ParkThe ride will leave Alex Trevallion Plaza at 6am sharp and returns around 9.30 to 9.45am. This is not currently a regular ride: post in the Facebook Members group if you interested and you'll most likely find people willing to do it.
It's a ride suited for strong C28+ riders and above. Pace going out should be somewhere between C28s/Middies with each group to find the right speed, making sure everyone stays together. The idea is not to blow everyone up prior to taking on the RNP. Waiting for riders at the top of hills in the Park at appropriate waiting points will be required as well.
The bunch will decide whether to go into the park at Audley or at Waterfall.
Kurnell, 1st Sunday at 6.30am
A ride midway between slowies and 25s Waterfall. It is a no-drop ride of about 70 Km returning to the square. You'll need to be able to maintain a 25 km/h average speed to do this ride comfortably. The group often stops for a coffee at Kurnell.
Tuesday Eastern Beaches Hills 5.30am
This ride is for experienced C28+ and Middies or faster riders (it's fast!). The ride will depart the Alex Trevallion Plaza at 5:30am sharp and head via Newtown, Alexandria and Moore Park to Bronte, Bondi, Watsons Bay, Rose Bay, Bondi Junction and then on to Surry Hills for coffee, off to work or back to Marrickville. Six Hills. Not for the inexperienced. Check out a profile here. There won't normally be a coach joining this ride (but they may attend from time to time).
Wednesday La Perouse
Eastern HillsThis ride is for experienced C28+ riders. The ride will depart the Alex Trevallion Plaza at 6am sharp and head to La Perouse usually ending up in Surry Hills for coffee and an option to head straight back to Marrickville. There will be an experienced ride leader (although usually not a CycleSkills Coach) joining this ride. Usually there will be more than one bunch depending on numbers.
Wednesday ToM
The TOM ride leaves at 5.35am from Redfern station (corner of Lawson and Little Eveleigh St) or from Centennial Park Horse Gates at 5.50am.
The route does a tour of Maroubra hills and then meets with the usual Lapa group at the La Perouse stop and returns back to Surry Hills with them.
Thursday Eastern Beaches Hills
This ride departs from Alex Trevallion Plaza at 5.30am and goes through Newtown, Redfern and Centennial Park. Usually it follows the Tuesday Hills route. Occasionally the bunch may decide to go Queens Park Road (The Corkscrew). This ride is not as fast as Tuesdays, with a B and sometimes a C bunch. This ride is for experienced C28+ pace riders and there won't normally be a coach joining this ride.
Women's Ride
DHBC has a regular Thursday morning ride for women. The ride is paced at about 22km/h and suits novice to experienced road riders. The ride is lead and mentored by experienced women ride leaders and coaches. Assistance is provided with mechanicals and flat tyres. No one is left behind. The ride leaves Marrickville via Centennial Park and heads down a safe route to Sydney’s famed La Perouse. Return via Anzac Parade to Surry Hills for coffee around 7.30am depending on speed.
The ride is run on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. The ride can be joined at 5.30am at the Post Office Square Cnr Silver St and Marrickville Rd Marrickville OR at 6am Robertson Road Gates Centennial Park.
Friday Mosman Alps (Northshore)
Mosman Alps - Bradleys HeadThis ride is for experienced C28+ and Middies riders - its fast! The ride will depart the Alex Trevallion Plaza at 5.15am sharp and head towards the Harbour Bridge. Other pick up points are the corner of Wattle St and Broadway, Ultimo at 5.30am and the Southern Pylon to the Sydney Harbour Bridge at 5.45am. It is a challenging ride, it covers 50KM and 1,000M of climbing. Mosman, Balmoral, The Spit and Cremorne are often visited. You should be comfortable achieving the Tuesday East Hills ride and riding in variable traffic conditions. The Bunch regroups at the top of each of the major climbs. If you don’t stop for coffee you can expect to get back into the City by 7.45am. Not for the inexperienced. Check out a profile here. There won't normally be a CycleSkills Coach joining this ride (but they may attend from time to time).
Adventure rides
Every so often, we try to arrange a ride to a destination other than Waterfall or RNP. When you join the club you should also join the club Facebook Members group. Adventure rides and others ad hoc rides are advertised there. Soon we hope to have the information on this site and you will then be able to click this link for details about these rides.
Fixies
For those who love tradition or simplicity, a number of riders choose fixed gear bikes. Fixies are well supported within our club, and are a great way to gain some extra fitness and train for track racing. DHBC welcomes the riding of a fixie on our training rides for experienced riders with two functioning brakes.
Is It safe?
DHBC strives to run safe bunches and prides itself on being a good 'cycling citizen'. We obey the road rules and take safety seriously.
Please see the Safety page for more information.
By riding with the Club each rider accepts the inherent risks which they knowingly expose themself to. If the rider is not prepared to accept responsibility for these risks themself, they must not ride with Dulwich Hill. Riding with the Club constitutes acceptance of responsibility for these risks by each rider.
The Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club does not take responsibility for the conduct or safety of the training rides detailed here. Cycling training and riding in a bunch on public roads can be dangerous and you do so at your own risk.
Road Racing
Our club has a long tradition of road racing. We race in opens (unrestricted entry for higher levels of competition) as well as at club level and try to get as many participants on the start line as possible. For road opens we travel all around the state racing the complete Cycling NSW road calendar. At a club level, there are various racing options organised by our fellow Sydney clubs (Waratah Vets for 30+). A nice calendar of races in Sydney can be found at http://cabici.net/races/.
A few times each year we hold a club only “Come Try Racing” event to introduce club members to the fun of racing. We cater for all financial members; we have members come that are between national champions to the "never raced before ever" rider. You don't require a racing licence for this event which makes this event all inclusive! There are multiple races on the day which includes separate mens and womens races. Support is provided from the more experienced riders for those just starting out or for those looking to step up to the next grade. Nominal prizes are handed out to those luckily enough to snare a podium, with equal valued prizes given to the women and men for each race.
