Want to get out from under the doona and hit the open road on your own bike, but you’re not quite up to the lycra bodysuit and full-racing standard yet?

Why not start off riding with a bunch of friendly locals then, one gentle trip at a time.

Orange Bicycle Users Group (BUG) offers learner and intermediate riders the chance of great social outings and safe group cycling without the competitive times and personal bests of more-serious clubs. 

This great local group is now looking for new ride leaders to host and manage rides with a training day coming up in March.

If you’re looking to get back to your life after the lockdown blues, now’s the perfect time to get involved, Orange President, Carolynne James believes.

“We’re looking to recruit new ride leaders to lead our cycle events, people with decent experience in riding themselves. We are always looking for passionate people who can become ride leaders, we’re always looking for more,” she said.

Becoming a ride-leader is about helping others to enjoy the unique fun of cycling on our busy roads while keeping everyone safe.

“The course is to show people how to lead groups on the open road, we’re all accredited ride leaders with Bicycle NSW,” she said.

“The training program is designed to show the correct road rules so that they are able to lead small groups of riders, to help them navigate on the road safely… there’s also bicycle maintenance and some first-aid,” Carolynne added.

Orange BUG, one of dozens of similar groups around the State, is designed to introduce the joys of pedalling the open road to those whose most-recent riding may have been on a BMX in their teens.

 “Absolutely, that’s the purpose of BUG; to introduce people to social riding and getting more people to participate and get on bikes,” she said.

“It is also to show people the local cycling paths around their area,” she said.

Rides are chosen for their suitability, safety, attractiveness, and social aspects, and are usually held each Sunday morning.

In direct contrast to the negative impact the lockdowns had on many sports, social cycling enjoyed a mini-boom as people looked to their local area for fresh experiences.

“COVID was a really interesting time, a lot of people took the opportunity to get out with an increase in social cycling; getting on their bikes and getting around town,” Carolynne said.

For those who like the idea of riding but haven’t hopped on a bike in years, then Orange BUG could be for you. “A lot of people are not confident to join the Triathlon Club tomorrow.”

Rides, she explained, are about the journey and not the destination. “We look to work-in tourist themes in our rides, gardens and the botanic gardens.

“We try and have one of our cyclists who’s a geologist or who knows the history on many rides; recently we went out to Lucknow Mining Museum.

“Another ride we’ve done before is the hospital at Bloomfield and we had a former nurse with us who talked about mental health,” Carolynne said.

Ride leaders with specialist local knowledge are especially sought for specific trips, she added. “When we call for ride leaders, we are looking for those interested in farming, history, architecture, fine food or wine.”

 Cycling, she says, offers the perfect way to get around the beautiful Central Tablelands, experiencing it in a way that you never get from the air-conditioned confines of a motor car.

“It’s a wonderful way to see the world around you and experience it fully and be out in the fresh air. 

“It is always a great way for people that are new to town to meet new people and see what the town has to offer. We support local businesses and have been on tours to wineries and the like.”

With about 50 other BUG groups around the State, riders can take their bikes with them on holidays and enjoy the opportunities for group social riding in other towns.

“Just say you go for a holiday in Coffs Harbour, you can contact the local BUG group and go on one of their rides,” Carolynne said. 

BUG provides the chance to get to ride with a supportive local group to build up your confidence.

“When you’re cycling with a group rather than alone, there’s positive peer group pressure; a lot of people who started with us, have since moved on to the Triathlon or Cycling Club as they’ve got more serious,” she said.

Having grown-up cycling as a child, Carolynne got into Orange BUG once she moved to the country. “I was cycling as a kid with the typical girls' bike, the streamers out of the handlebars and basket.

“I got back into it when I moved back out here, it’s just another set of people outside of work, it’s such a giving place and it’s great to meet people in a different context,” she said.

“You don’t need to be a member, we take on anybody who turns up and try and make sure they have a nice day,” Carolynne said.