Joining a cycling club can be safer for a few reasons. Firstly, club rides are usually led by experienced cyclists who know safe routes and are familiar with local road conditions. This can help reduce the risk of accidents caused by unfamiliarity with an area. Secondly, riding in a group can make cyclists more visible to motorists and help deter aggressive or reckless driving behaviour. Finally, riding in a group can provide a sense of community and support that can be helpful in the event of an accident or emergency

Joining a cycling club offers many benefits beyond just safety. Club rides provide a fun and social way to explore new routes and meet other cyclists. Additionally, clubs often offer training programs, workshops and events that can help cyclists improve their skills and fitness. Clubs may also offer discounts on gear and equipment, as well as access to group rides and races. Finally, joining a club can provide a sense of belonging and community that can be motivating and inspiring for cyclists of all levels.

We aim to have ride leaders available for all of the entry rides, including:
• Saturday Slowies
• Saturday 25's LaPa
• Sunday 25's Waterfall
• Kurnell on the 1st Sunday of the month

We also have a ride leader to help with 28's on Wednesday Lapa and 28's Waterfall. All other rides will be members only riding around Sydney.
‍
Having a ride leader or qualified coach on all entry rides helps with the safety of the rides. Riders need to be are aware of their surroundings and ensure that they are following proper cycling etiquette.

In NSW cyclists are considered to be vehicles and as such, are required to follow the same road rules as motorists. This means that they must ride on the left, obey traffic signals, and give way to pedestrians at crossings.

Cyclists are also required to wear an approved helmet that meets Australian standards. Failure to wear a helmet can result in a fine. It is illegal to ride a bicycle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and doing so can result in fines and drivers license suspensions.

When riding at night, cyclists must have working lights on the front and back of their bicycles, as well as reflectors on the pedals and wheels. Failure to have proper lighting can result in fines.

Cyclists are allowed to ride on most roads in Sydney, except for certain motorways and freeways. However, there are also many dedicated bike lanes and cycleways throughout the city that provide safer and more comfortable routes for cyclists especially when commuting.

To ensure your safety when riding in bunches, you need to always wear a helmet, have properly maintained brakes and tyres, and use flashing lights to increase visibility.  Cyclists in NSW also are required to have a bell. With the right equipment and safety protocols in place, cyclists can enjoy every ride with peace of mind knowing that they are protected.

Some common hazards that cyclists should be aware of include potholes, uneven surfaces, gravel and debris on the road. They should also be cautious when riding in wet or slippery conditions and watch out for parked cars opening their doors suddenly.

To avoid accidents with cars and other vehicles, cyclists in NSW should always ride defensively and assume that motorists may not see them. They should also use hand signals when turning, make eye contact with drivers, and avoid riding in blind spots.

The most common causes of accidents among cyclists in bunches include: being distracted while cycling, unsafe lane changes and failure to yield right of way.  Additionally, cyclists who are not familiar with the route or lack experience riding in groups can be more prone to accidents.

If it's your first time doing a particular route or first time riding with DHBC, make sure you pay extra attention and have increased awareness of potential hazards. Every cyclist can take steps to ensure their safety and the safety of others in a bunch, especially by saving the conversation for the cafe afterwards. Don't get distracted by talking to one another. Make sure you pass calls up and down the line. And ensure you ride predictably and follow all the road rules.

We recommend that you take out separate insurance for your bicycle that covers damage if this is of concern to you. We don't recommend you use expensive equipment for training. The old rule in cycling is to keep your top quality equipment for race day and train on equipment you can afford to lose

Every year a number of cyclists are killed on Australian roads. Although uncommon, deaths and injuries on road and track cycling do occur.  Even bunch cycling has risks. All riders in the bunch - including yourself - can make mistakes and cause other riders to fall. Road conditions such as potholes, debris, oil or water are typical causes of falls. When a rider falls in a bunch often others fall with them and this will often result in injuries. We have to share the road with cars - but these are a constant danger to cyclists.  Although a bunch of cyclists will stand out on the road, cars can create collisions.
‍
When you ride with us you are agreeing to accept this risk.

To minimise this risk we ask you to tell us before you join our bunch if you are not an experienced bunch cyclist. We can offer you coaching and advice on which groups you should ride with. We require all riders to join Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club through an AusCycling membership. Our aim is to have every rider in our groups covered by an AusCycling membership. If you are trying us out we require you to join with a 4-week trial membership.