What to expect?

The rides are a friendly occasion, riding as a group at locations in the Darwin region, drawing on the local trail knowledge of a number of DORC members. There’s plenty of stops to regroup and catch your breath.

The rides suit all riders unless otherwise specified.

All non-DORC members must sign a waiver when joining a social ride.

Do I have to be a member of Darwin Off-Road Cyclists?

No you don’t. Everyone is welcome.

If you’re not a member, we’ll ask you to sign an insurance waiver form.

Ride difficulty

All of our rides will have a posted difficulty level. Please check to see if this ride suits your skill level.

Easy – Suitable for all riders, including beginners. All riders are welcome on our easy rides. Most of our Saturday rides are easy rides.
Intermediate – From time-to-time intermediate level rides are hosted by DORC. This will be clearly posted in the ride details. Intermediate rides will cover more challenging terrain and obstacles AND will be of a higher pace.
Advanced – Challenging rides that require a high level of skill and fitness
Night Rides – Rides at night. Powerful lighting (beyond that of your average commuter light) is not just recommended, it is necessary. Familiarity with the proposed trail route in daylight conditions is strongly recommended.

Whilst riders are always encouraged to join our rides, there’s times when under-prepared riders can present a safety risk. Please consider your skill, fitness and preparedness before engaging with a higher level ride.

DORC Ride Leaders have a responsibility for everyone’s safety and reserve the right to refuse riders considered not prepared for Intermediate, Advanced or Night Rides.

What to bring?

A mountain bike (of course!) in good working order. You’ll see a wide variety of bikes on our social rides, from “old-faithfuls” to high-end mountain bikes.
All riders must wear a helmet. Gloves and covered shoes are highly recommended.
Water. Bring enough water for two hours of riding. On many rides we don’t pass any opportunities to refill. A hydration pack is perfect. If you don’t have a hydration pack, we recommend two sports water bottles.
Spares & tools. Try to be self-sufficient. Bring a spare tube and basic tools for your bike.
Sunscreen. Generally, rides are later in the day, but slip/slop/slap is a good idea.
Mosquito Repellent. If you’re susceptible to mosquitoes or midges you may want to spray on some repellent. Some DORC locations are particularly popular with the biting insects. We have links to the Mosquito and Biting Midge calendars (at the top left of the page), showing when the little biters are particularly busy.
Snacks. Not essential, but some people bring snacks for an energy burst as the ride progresses. Depending on your preference, sweets (snakes are popular), or fruit (such as banana) work well for a quick pick-me-up.

Rider Briefing

Before we start each ride, there will be a rider briefing.

During the briefing, the ride leader will inform the riders of the basic plan for the ride and any relevant information to enable everyone to be safe and have fun.

Ride Etiquette

Remember we’re riding as a group, it’s not a race. There’s no need to blast by the rider in front of you. If you’re aware that there’s a group of riders behind you, that’s fine. If they’re distracting you, stop when convenient and let them pass.

Intersections. When you come to an intersection, check behind and make sure the rider behind can see you. If you can’t see the rider behind (or are not sure if they’ve seen you). Stop and wait for them.

If you get lost. Or separated from the group. Stop where you are. We will come and find you.

And finally,

Here’s our most recent Social Ride information.

If you’re regularly riding with DORC, you may want to check out the benefits of becoming a member.

If you have any suggestions about rides, or how we can make them better, have a chat to a ride leader or drop us a line on the contact page.

Enjoy the trails!

Information for DORC Ride Leaders – Here’s a link to the Insurance Waiver Form