Saturday Cycle - Wickham to Blackbutt Reserve Cafe: 17km cycle + 2km walk

This is a free relaxed guided bike ride at a leisurely pace of 15km/hr.

The main aim of this group is to showcase quiet routes & safe cycling principles so people have the option to cycle around town for everyday short trips 😁

12 spots only. New people very welcome. Any questions, don’t hesitate 🙂

😎 Starting at Wickham, we will cycle 10km to Richley Reserve, lockup our bikes, before walking 1km on a hilly sealed firetrail through the bush to the new Blackbutt Reserve Cafe & wildlife exhibits. After an hour or so, we walk 1km back to our bikes, then cycle 7km back to Wickham via a different route ✨

What we'll do:
8:45am Safety briefing
9am Cycle 10km to Richley Reserve, via Throsby Ck shared path, R5 shared path past Hunter Stadium, & quiet streets of New Lambton.
10am approx Lock up our bikes (bikes are not allowed in the reserve). Walk 1km/15mins on a sealed firetrail through the bush.
10:20am approx Arrive at Blackbutt Reserve Cafe. Eat at the cafe, or byo food, enjoy the picnic area, wander through the wildlife exhibits.
11:20am approx Walk 1km back to Richley Reserve
11:45am approx Cycle 7km back to Wickham via Adamstown Station, Teralba Rd, Gosford Rd & Everton St (Hamilton)
12:30pm approx Finish at Wickham

Blackbutt Reserve, more info: https://newywithkids.com.au/blackbutt-reserve/

Cafe menu: see photos below

Start/finish point: Tree of Knowledge Park, Hannell St, Wickham, the little park next to the outdoor carpark that's at the corner of Honeysuckle Dr & Hannell St

Start time: meet at 8:45am for a 9am start
Finish time: approx 12:30-1:15pm

Cycling fitness level: very easy/ EASY/medium/hard/very hard

Distance: 17km total cycling + 2km total walking
Pace: leisurely, max 15km/hr
Total active pedaling time: approx 1 hour 30 minutes

Topography: the cycle is flat, except for three brief inclines; the walk has a 400m steep hill in each direction

Cycling infrastructure: 6.5km shared paths, 8km low-pressure streets, 0.8km medium-pressure street (Teralba Rd), 0.5km high-pressure street (Clyde St), 0.2km footpath, 0.2km separated cycleway

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You’ll need:

• helmet
• bike with good working brakes & tyres pumped to the recommended PSI
• bike lock/s
• water bottle
• phone & opal card in case of mechanical issue/puncture
• a repair kit, if you have one (spare tube, patches, pump)
• bring lunch/snacks, if you like

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How we ride: We are a group of people with varying experience, confidence levels and cycling styles. A safety briefing at the start of the ride will establish how we ride together. I lead the ride and provide instruction at certain junctions. We stick together & ride in an alert, slow manner. We position ourselves to be very visible, keeping clear of drivers' blind spots, & keeping a predictable trajectory/speed. We ride in single file, clear of the doorzone & of the mouths of side-streets. We frequently take primary position (claiming the lane) to prevent unsafe passes, & to turn right. We pass pedestrians slowly. You are responsible for your own safety at all times. If you have never heard of primary position, or the doorzone, it doesn't matter! I explain things at the start. Just follow along and you'll pick up it up as we go :)

Suitable for those who have recently learnt to ride through to those who are experienced.

However, you must be able to effectively: stop and start, pedal, steer, signal left and right, look over your shoulder to check for what's behind you, be always alert to upcoming hazards, and anticipate the behaviour of pedestrians and vehicles.

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Indemnity and release of liability
By participating in this activity you unconditionally indemnify the organiser/host against any and all claims, demands, losses, injuries, damages, liabilities or other costs, whether present or future, relating to your participation and/or dealings with Bike About Town - Newcastle, including but not limited to, any accident, loss or damage to property or death or injury to any person.
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Getting there

• By Bike: https://www.newcastlecycleways.org.au/way-finding, or find routes on the group’s Komoot account https://www.komoot.com/tour/1831416099?ref=itd , or message me for a low-pressure route :)
• Coming by train? Bikes travel free. Alight at Newcastle Interchange.
• Parking: free unlimited weekend parking at the outdoor carpark, cnr Honeysuckle Dr & Hannell St, or park in Carrington

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If the weather is looking unfavourable, check the comments below for updates; heavy rain may result in cancellation.

Great videos with tips for everyday city trips!

• How to cycle safely at junctions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CG0VTwevoU

• Road positioning for city cycling explained: https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/road-positioning-cycling-explained#

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Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1831416099?ref=itd