People who wish to pedal towards their New Year’s resolutions in 2019 are being invited to ride with cycling enthusiasts at Dubbo.
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The Dubbo Bicycle User Group (BUG) is there for those with goals to get fit, meet new people or explore the great outdoors.
It embarks from Wahroonga Park every Sunday morning and concludes the outing with a coffee stop.
Dubbo BUG master ride leader Mick Cooper encouraged people to come along.
“It’s good for new riders, but it’s good for experienced riders as well because it they can just go and ride at their own pace, so everyone gets to do what they want,” he said.
“That’s what it’s all about, encouraging people to get on their bike and go for a ride, and know they’ve got people there to sort of look after them if they get into trouble, or to give them a bit of encouragement, a few pointers.
“And if they do get into strife with a puncture or a mechanical [issue], they know there’s someone there to help them out.
“It works really well.”
Dubbo BUG has been going since 2005 and has up to 40 riders come along to its Sunday sessions, which take a different route from week to week.
On Sunday pedal power took members out along Benolong Road before they returned to Taronga Western Plains Zoo, where friendly chatter went up a gear.
“The important thing is the ride, but the most important thing is the… coffee stop,” Mr Cooper said.
“The social interaction at the end of the ride that seems to be the key.”
Mr Cooper says the number of people involved in the activity has grown, particularly in the past decade.
There was also more diversity, and the city boasted two road cycling clubs, a triathlon club, a mountain bike club as well as the Dubbo BUG, he said.
Sunday’s crew believed the key for people wishing to ride was to come to Dubbo BUG to get fit, rather than wait to get fit first.
They said there was no expectations about what riders had to do, and “no one to keep up with”.
The Dubbo BUG ride starts at 8am during the warmer months and 9am for the rest of the year.