Events
Monthly Meeting
The Fraser Coast Bicycle Users Group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm at the Arts and Crafts Village, Bideford Street, Hervey Bay. Bring $2 to cover supper.
Regular Rides
Weekend Rides
Hervey Bay
Weekend Hervey Bay Ride - 'Beach n' Coffee Ride' - every Saturday - leaving Pialba at the All Abilities Park on The Esplanade, at the bottom of Taylor Street near the oval, at 6.00 am* finishing at 'Pavilion By The Pier' cafe, Urangan Pier with coffee afterwards. There are now five routes run to cater for all skill levels from kids just off trainers to 'gun' riders on carbon steeds. Duration for rides ranges from 1 hour to 1.5 hrs approx. Three of the four routes are each headed by an experienced leader and have a sweep to monitor issues eg. mechanical failures. Although participation in these rides is free, money for the 'finest coffee in town' is suggested. These rides can be described as:
| Ride 1: KILLER (A) | 28+ kph average. | ** Not another hill! |
| Ride 2: HARD (B) | 25 to 28 kph average. | Expect some hills. |
| Ride 3: MODERATE(B/C) | 22 TO 25 kph average. | Occasional hill. |
| Ride 4: MODERATE(C) | 20 TO 22 kph average. | Cute hill. |
| Ride 5: EASY (D) | < 20 kph average. | What hill?? |
* Later 6:30 am start 1st Saturday in April to last Saturday in August inclusive.
** Ride 1 is self guided (no leader or sweep) and will require you to carry your own repair equipment and know how to use it alone.
Maryborough
'Heritage City Ride' - every Sunday - leaving band rotunda in Queens Park 6:30am. A 'laid back' tour from the town centre to the rural surroundings along roads less travelled. Ending the tour through canefields with a coffee at somewhere like Toast Espresso Bar near the Post Office.
Howard
Weekend Howard Ride - 'Open Country Ride' - every Saturday - leaving the Skate Park (opp. Howard Railway Station on Old Bruce Highway) at 7:00 am. Free coffee and tea supplied, else BYO. This ride often winds through the historic part of town circa 1870's before quickly moving into open country farm roads.
The third branch of the Fraser Coast Bicycle Users Group was kicked off in Howard during April 2010. Members ride over mostly sealed roads but occasionally traverse unsealed roads that have been recently graded, even bush trails (see photo at side). Currently ride is graded easy.
Weekday Rides
6am every Tuesday and Thursday - leaving outside the Black Dog Cafe cnr Esplanade and Denman Camp Road. In winter headlights and taillights must be used when light is poor.
***6 am every alternating Wednesday - from the TAFE on Urraween Road to River Heads OR from Eli Waters Bus Stop to Toogoom/Burrum Heads OR from Enzo's on the Charlton Esplanade. These are rides of up to 85 klms. (***5:30 am during the hotter months)
Other rides are run every other day in between from Eli Waters Shopping Centre or the Hervey Bay Tech College - see our History page for more information or contact our Secretary - see home page.
2012 Events
January 26th - Australia Day Nosh Up
A get-together at Dayman Park is being held again this year. Details available from Lenore or our secretary.
January 28th - Annual (delayed) Australia Day Celebration
After the Hervey Bay branch Saturday morning ride, the annual get-together at Mark and Sues, Pacific Haven is also on again. Feel free to bring your own grog and meat with sleeping bag and bicycle if intending to stay a while. Details available from M and S on 41294889 or the secretary.
Past Events: 2011
January 26th - Australia Day Celebration
The annual get-together at Mark and Sues, Pacific Haven. Feel free to bring your own grog and meat with sleeping bag and bicycle if intending to stay a while. Details available from M and S on 41294889 or the secretary.
March 5th & 6th - Mountains At Murgon Weekend
A club tour of the Murgon and Kilcoy area staying at the Barambah Bush Caravan Park. Great scenery, quiet setting. Optional Friday night accomodation as well. See Lorna on 41246138 for details.
March 12th to 20th - National Bike Week incorporating Mount Coot-tha Challenge
The club is well represented on these cycling activities with a group heading off to Brissy. For more information visit the Bicycle Queensland website.
April 30 to May 2 - River 2 River Ride
The 5th annual ride from Burrum Heads to the mouth of the Mary River, with a Saturday night stopover in Hervey Bay, is on again this year.
First Day: Burrum Heads to Hervey Bay. Supported with water points, marshalls, morning tea, lunch. Dinner option available. Second Day: Hervey Bay to River Heads and return. Supported with water points, marshalls, morning tea. Sausage sizzle at finish.
Consider this ride a good practice for those wishing to undertake Cycle Queensland. Contact us for details by ringing the Secretary or via email.
Details also available from our River 2 River Co-ordinator, Cathy on 41215675.May 14th to May 15th - Cania Gorge Ride
This will be the first time the club has run this scenic tour through the area just north of Monto. See Lorna on 4124613 for details.
May 22nd - Bundy City To Coast Ride
Our sister club in Bundaberg is again hosting this annual event. A supported leisurely ride from the Riverside Parklands through the cane fields to Burnett Heads for a BBQ. Entries and details on-line at www.madcycologists.org.au.
June 24th to June 26th - Noosa Ride
Back by popular request, this ride will again test the riders with plenty of downhills and meet up with our Sunshine Coast BUG buddies. See Craig on 41247118 for details.
July 30th to 31st - Biggenden Ride
Saturday will be a 90ish km ride and Sunday a walk up Mount Walsh. More details to follow when these become available.
September 10th to 11th - Human Powered Vehicle Technology Challenge
Held in Maryborough. Historically the BUG assist with maning the pits at this event. If anyone can help out with some hours over the saturday and the sunday contact the Events Department on 1300 794929.
September 10th to 18th - Cycle Queensland (CQ)
9-day cycling paradise - Goodiwindi to Brisbane. 570kms of cycling, 1500 friends, fun and relaxation. Biggest cycling event in Queensland! Our BUG has a large contingent of riders and volunteers each year supporting this event. For more information visit the Bicycle Queensland website.
September 24th - Scooter Convoy
This is a fund raising event for the BUGS and is really a big help for those wheelchair or scooter bound. We provide logistical support such as set up shade and organise the participants at registration.The Council contact is Juls De Waard and they provide water and lanyards for us to distribute. We need about 8-10 volunteers to do this morning and we need to be there at 7.30am at the start ride area on the Esplanade. It is usually all over by about 10am for us. If you are available to help out, contact the BUG secretary.
October 6th - Pedestrian/Bicycle/Scooter Count
All day Thursday. (If it is wet then the first dry Thursday after this) Craig Thompson will be organising this one. Once again it is a dual function being a fund raiser for the BUGS and supply vital statistics for council planners. For this one we need more volunteers. The blocks of time are 3 hours and Craig will send out more information on this shortly. The idea is you take a chair and a hat and a drink and sit at your appointed spot and mark off on a formatted tally sheet who comes by your spot. Then you hand over to the next volunteer when they arrive. There will be an over all manager of this event and they will be checking each site in case of any problems. Once again it is good money for the work. 3 hours out of your day isn't much to ask.There will be time slots from 5am through to 7pm finish. Some people like to do a time slot with a friend and this is OK as well.
October 9th - Brisbane to the Gold Coast
This event is popular with our riders with a sizeable club contingent participating.
November 13th - Gundia Ride
This will be a loop ride starting and finishing at the Prince Alfred Hotel in Gundiah (southwest of Tiaro). Closing date for nominations is Saturday 5 November as we have to provide firm numbers to the pub for catering purposes and also let the Bauple cafe know how many will be there for coffee.
December 6th - Christmas Party Meeting
Our annual get together BBQ straight after the shortest monthly meeting of the year! Please advise Kayleen (BUG email) if you can supply a dessert or salad.
Past Events: 2010
March 7th - Revolutionary Womens Program
This is a cycling program provided by women and directed at women cyclists; encouraging us to get back on our bikes and to improve our cycling proficiency.
The purpose of this program is to:
- promote cycling for women within the community;
- help inexperienced women cyclists gain the confidence to undertake recreational cycling; and
- keep fit and healthy and enjoy the social aspect of meeting new people.
The program will again be managed by accredited Bicycle Skills trainers. The program includes the basic skills of balance, cornering, using gears, bike set-up, care of your bike, road rules and care of yourself. The program will consist of 4 weekend coaching sessions of 3 hrs. each. Click here for more information and for an entry form or ring Kay on 41282018 or Jane on 41242768.
March 15th to 21st - National Bike Week
This includes Ride To Work Day (locally) on the 17th and the Great Brisbane Bike Ride and Mt Coot-tha Challenge on the 21st. We will have our customary contingent participating at this event again.
May 1st and 2nd - River 2 River Ride
The 4th Annual running of this event is shaping up to be bigger than ever. See pictures of previous years events in our photo gallery.
First Day: Burrum Heads to Hervey Bay, longer route available for those wishing to do more k's. Supported with water points, marshalls, morning tea, lunch. Dinner option available. Second Day: Hervey Bay to River Heads and return, longer route available again. Supported with water points, marshalls, morning tea. Sausage sizzle at finish.
Consider this ride a good practice for those wishing to undertake Cycle Queensland. Contact us for details by ringing the Secretary or via email. To download flyer and entry form click here. For a great accommodation option, click here.
May 15th and 16th - Gold 'n Beach Ride
This club ride starts at Mt Morgan and ends at Yeppoon (where the CQ ride starts this year - see below).
June 20th - Bundy City to Coast
Our sister group, the Bundaberg 'Mad Cycologists', will be conducting their annual event. Our BUG will again be there 'en masse'.
June 26th and 27th - Noosa Ride
This is another of our great annual events conducted in reciprocal association with our friends from the Sunshine Coast (Bicycle) Touring Club.
July 4th to 7th - BNT Ride and Camp
Foundation member Dave (currently also director of the Bicentennial National Trail), with support from Brian, will be conducting the latest sojourn along this iconic track. More survey work will be conducted to add to the previous data update effort.
July 17th and 18th - Woodgate Weekend
This well patronised annual event is on again incorporating a barge transfer for those taking this option.
August - Masters Games
We will have our superstars representing in the cycle leg of the swim and cycle event.
August 14th and 15th - Imbil Weekend
A new ride. An alternate date of October 23th and 24th has been reserved if required. (postponed - see alternate)
September 4 to 12th - Cycle Queensland (CQ)
9-day cycling paradise - Yeppoon to Bundaberg. 600kms of cycling, 1000 friends, fun and relaxation. Biggest cycling event in Queensland! Our BUG has a large contingent of riders and volunteers each year supporting Bicycle Queensland in this event. For more information visit the Bicycle Queensland website.
September 11th and 12th - Technology Challenge
The BUG will again be marshalling, etc. at this premier 'human powered' event run in Maryborough. Check out the marvels of exotic pedal powered machines and other intriguing scientific pursuits.
September - Scooter Convoy
We will again be providing logistical support for this world record holding event.
October 10th - Wilson HTM Brisbane to the Gold Coast
This event is popular with our riders especially as one of our BUGs' great sponsors just happens to be the main sponsor of this event too!
October 13th - Ride to Work Day
This is an annual event heavily promoted nationally and in this part of the world by Bicycle Queensland. For more information visit www.ride2work.com.au
October - Ped-Cycle Count
This initiative of the Fraser Coast Regional Council contracts our BUG each year to conduct a service involving data collection, statistical analysis, and a final report to establish long term trends in human powered movement and utilisation rates of supporting infrastructure. Members are located at various stations around Hervey Bay collecting the data. Many people are always required in shifts during a full day. An alternate day will be used in case of bad weather.
October 16th - Yepoon to Byfield
Our sister club, Capricorn Coast BUG have organised a followup ride to the recent CQ 2010.
October 23th - 24th - Imbil Weekend
Lorna has this one under her control.
October 31st - Tour de Bay
This cruisy ride around Hervey Bay is organised by the local Rotary Club with our crew providing support.
November - Maintenance Workshop
Due to popular demand, these sessions are being run regularly by Dennis and Lorna targetting those looking to increase their knowledge on basic maintenance of pushbikes, fixing tyre punctures, broken spokes, etc. Bring your own coffee cup.
December 7th - FCBUG Christmas Party
Yahoo! More food than you can fit in a pannier bag here! One of the few occasions that all members from all the different BUG interest groups and branches get together at the one place and time.
December 11th - Bike Fit Session
Commencing on this day after the Saturday morning rides, Dennis & Lorna will be conducting this regular fitting for a bike setup to get the most out of your intended purchase or simply to get the most from your current trusty steed. Bookings essential. Details available from D & L on 41246138 or the secretary.
