OG Ride

OG ride

6am start from the Nightcliff Shell servo, finish at the Sailing Club (as of mid-2026)

Distance: 64km

Ave Speed: around 26km/hr

Strava Route: here

This is a cruisy ride but does have a few fast sections. The group may start with only a few riders but often meets people along the way. There are several stops and re-grouping spots, including at Crocodylus at around 6.45am and near the junction of the service Rd behind the Berrimah Caltex (old Puma) servo and Vanderlin Drv around 7.30am, which is also a water and snacks stop.

*** Note: This is not a Darwin Cycling Club ride ***

Nightcliff Pool - Roma Bar Café Ride

6 am start from Nightcliff Pool, finish at Roma Bar Café @ 8:10, Cavenagh St, Darwin City

Distance: 75km

Ave Speed: 35-36km/hr

Strava Route: Here

This ride now usually involves around 10-15 strong riders. The official finish is at Roma Bar, but some riders may ride home to the northern suburbs afterwards. The ride goes hard most of the time and the pace really ramps up along Roystonea Ave and Tiger Brennan Drive. The hills through Palmerston and Berrimah are also sprint sections. The bunch regroup after the Palmerston hills (just past the roundabout on Chung Wah) and after the section through Berrimah with an opportunity for water at the corner of Beaton Rd and Hidden Valley Rd.

*** Note: This is not a Darwin Cycling Club ride ***

Nightcliff Pool - Café Central Rides

6:02 and 6:15 am starts from Nightcliff Pool, finish at Café Central, Rossiter St, Rapid Creek @ 8:30 - 9:00

6:02 am ride

Distance: 87km

Ave Speed: 33-35km/hr

Strava Route: Here

This ride began during the 2022 Dry Season, partially by 6:30 am riders who were looking for a few more kms and by ex-6 am riders who were finding the 6 am Roma Bar ride too fast. The route is similar to the Sat 6 am Roma Bar Café ride route with a few minor changes such as doing a 'hook turn' onto Temple Tce, a regrouping after 'Death Hill' (corner of Chung Wah Tce and Lakeside Blvd) and a stop near the bus bay opposite the Bakewell Shopping Centre on Lambrick Ave. There is another regrouping and water point after the section through Berrimah at the corner of Beaton and Hidden Valley Roads. The ride turns left at the top of Hughes Ave and continues onto the Esplanade, Daly St/Stuart Hwy and along Bagot Rd to Café Central. This ride leaves the pool 2 minutes after the 6am Roma Bar ride so that anyone dropping off the first group can join back onto this (somewhat) easier ride.

There is an alternative route on the first Saturday of every month.

6:15 am ride

Distance: 65km

Ave Speed: 30-32km/hr

Strava Route: here (NB. ride sometimes finishes at the Trader Bar in the city)

This ride has become very problematic since late 2025 after being rejuvenated in 2024 and as of mid 2025, hasn't been running. Previous riders are now joining the 6.02 ride or doing their own thing. When it is running, there is a regrouping and water point after Berrimah hill at the corner of Beaton and Hidden Valley Roads. Riders go hard at times with sprints along Tiger Brennan Drive, through Winnellie and along Bagot Rd past Jape.

*** Note: These are not Darwin Cycling Club rides ***

Sunday Ride

6 am start from Kimmorley Bridge on McMillans Rd (outbound near Charles Eaton Drive): Usually around 5 to 10 riders. Around 50 km, averaging around 29-30 kph. This is a relatively easy ride and is often treated as a recovery ride after the more taxing Saturday bunch rides, although there are a few sprint points for those wanting to have a hit out too: one at the end of the bike path up to Howard Springs Rd (where's there's a stop and regroup point), another through the hills of Leanyer (also a regroup spot), and a final sprint along Rocklands Rd up to Trower Rd. Finish is at Café Central.

*** Note: This is not a Darwin Cycling Club ride ***

Darwin BuMpS

6am from Cullen Bay hill, finish at The General cafe, 161 Mitchell St, Larrakeyah at around 7 am.

Note: This originally had a 5:45 am start from the Nightcliff Shell servo (cnr Progress Drv & Dick Ward Dr) with riders riding straight to Cullen Bay, but it seems no riders are doing this ride from the northern suburbs.

This is a short 'hills' (or 'bumps') ride which includes doing several hills around Darwin 3 times each beginning with the hills around Cullen Bay.

Hills include: Cullen Bay hill (Marina Blvd), Cullen Bay Cres hill, Larrakeyah hill (Temira Cres), Doctor's Gully hill and Govt House hill (Hughes Ave). There can be anywhere between a couple and 10 or more riders do this ride. Strava route (from original start location) and more details here.

*** Note: This is not a Darwin Cycling Club ride ***

Hour of Power (HOP)

5.40 / 5:45 am - Hour of Power (HOP) ride, starting from Blue Cycles, Totem Rd, Coconut Grove. Finish at the corner of Bagot Rd and the Stuart Hwy. As of mid-2020, the Thursday edition of this ride has become less reliable.

40 km, averaging 40-44 kph. Not for the fainthearted!

*** Note: This is not a Darwin Cycling Club ride ***

Hour of Some Power (HOSP)

5.45 am - Hour of Some Power (HOSP), starting at Nightcliff Pool.

37 km, averaging 37-41 kph.

Note, this is a slower and slightly shorter version of the HOP. It leaves the pool just after the HOP group goes past, which is usually around 5.50 am.

Depending on numbers, the group usually splits into a HOSP 'Heavy' bunch and a HOSP 'Light' bunch with the Heavies averaging around 40-41 kph and the Lights around 37-38 kph.

*** Note: This is not a Darwin Cycling Club ride ***

Hills of Darwin (AKA HuMpS)

6 am start from the Fannie Bay Coolspot*, finish at Ray's Café and Patisserie, 66 Smith St Darwin City @ 7 am.

This is a short 'hills' ride which includes doing several 'hills' (AKA 'humps') around Darwin 3 times each - Darwin High School hill, Gardens Hill Cres, Cullen Bay hill (Marina Blvd), Doctor's Gully hill and Hughes Ave hill, although the final Hughes Ave hill is ridden after looping past the ABC studios, taking RH turns onto Bennett St, McMinn St and Kitchener Drive. After the final ascent of Hughes Ave, it's back along Cavenagh St, turning left onto Searcy St and then to the café. The ride is generally about an hour. There can be anywhere between a few and 10 riders do this ride. Strava route here although note that this group is now using Temira Cres to travel from Cullen Bay to Dockers Gully.

*Some riders go straight to the Darwin High hill at around 5:50 am to get a head start on the group leaving the Cool Spot, with the latter group generally going a bit faster.

*** Note: This is not a Darwin Cycling Club ride ***

Hidden Valley Crit training

6 pm Hidden Valley Raceway (gates open at 5:30 pm)

This involves several laps around the race circuit (2.82 km laps). It can be intense, but you can also ride at your own speed on a really smooth race track. AusCycling membership is required.

More information at Hidden Valley Crit Training

2026 Dates and venue (dates denoted with an asterix are held at the Go-Kart track)

• 29 January
• 5, 12, 19, 26 February
• 5, 12, 19, 26 March
• 2, 9 ,16, 23, 30 April
• 7, 14, 21, 28* May
• 4*, 11*, 18* June (NB: No crit on 25 June)
• 2*, 9, 16*, 23*, 30* July
• 6, 13*, 20, 27 August
• 3, 10*, 17*, 24* September
• 1*, 8, 15, 22, 29 October
• 5, 12, 19, 26 November
• 3, 10, 17 December

Lucky Bat Ride

6am start from the Nightcliff library, Pavonia Place, Nightcliff, now finishing at Ruby G's Canteen, 2 Tang St, Coconut Grove at around 7 am.

25 km/hr easy loop around town. Strava route here (note: route has old finish location).

This is a great introduction to group riding for newbies, and a good recovery ride for more experienced/fit riders.

*** Note: This is not a Darwin Cycling Club ride ***