New to the club or thinking about joining? Here are some answers frequently asked questions.

What kind of rides does the club do? 

Club rides range from metro rides to day rides out in country areas through to multi-day tours involving camping or indoor accommodation.  

Our rides take in a variety of surfaces and terrain, within Melbourne or in country areas.  

What level are the MBTC rides?  

Our rides span all levels – from relaxed social rides around metro bike paths to multi-day bush expedition touring – and everything in between 

Make sure you carefully read the ride description to check if a ride looks right for you, and reach out to the Ride Leader if you aren’t sure. You can use the direct message function on MeetUp to do this.  

Our ride gradings are explained here. 

How do you plan out the rides schedule?  

Our rides are put on by volunteer ride leaders who schedule rides according to their own interests and availability. They take into account factors such as other rides already scheduled, weather and (for overnight rides) availability of accomodation.  

What if I have an idea for a ride?  

Great! Please get in touch with our Rides Secretary via rides@mbtc.org.au 
 

What equipment do I need to join an MBTC ride?  

There’s no need to have fancy or expensive equipment to join our club. You will need to have a bicycle in good working order (and check it before the start of each ride). You are also expected to have basics such as water, lights, bike lock and spare tube  – and to be prepared if things change unexpectedly (e.g. carrying extra water and snacks).  

The gear you need will depend on the ride type and surface so it’s really important to read each ride description carefully. 

For camping or longer rides we ask you to carry equipment in panniers or bikepacking bags. Backpacks aren’t suitable and may lead to fatigue.  

Are eBikes allowed on your rides?  

Yes! Many of our members use on eBikes and these are welcome on our rides.  

We do ask eBike riders to take responsibility for extra logistics around charging. 

How can I avoid getting lost or separated from the group on a ride?  

 We regroup regularly on rides to ensure no-one gets left behind. We also ask all members to look out for each other.  

Ride leaders always provide a route via the Ride with GPS navigation platform.All  Members are encouraged to download the  

Where do rides start and finish – and how do I get there?   

Each ride has a designated start point and may follow a loop or point-to-point format. While Most rides allow for train-based travel, some are purely car-based.

For train-based rides, can you guarantee I’ll get on with my bike?  

Unfortunately the club can’t guarantee you will get on to a train, however issues are relatively rare.  

Ride leaders spend a lot of time thinking about train logistics, and will often limit numbers accordingly. We strongly recommend ride participants to monitor messages in the lead up to and morning of a ride in case there are updates.  

What if I can’t make the start time or want to join the group mid-ride?  

Ride leaders will decide this on a case by case basis, so please reach out to check (ideally a few days ahead).  

Cycling in a group is highly unpredictable in terms of timing, so your ride leader may only be able to give you a vague estimate on timing for mid way points.  

Where do you stay on overnight trips? Do I need to carry a tent?  

We stay in various types of accommodation on club rides, some involving camping and some involving indoor accomodation such as Air bnbs. On camping rides members who don’t wish to camp are welcome to make their own arrangements.  

What if I want to become a ride leader?  

More information about leading rides (and what’s involved) is on our website here.