Mountain Bike Social Night Rides ★ Rockhampton

Weather permitting, we ride at First Turkey each Wednesday night for around 90 minutes. Start time varies depending on the time of year.

• Apr to Jul: 6.15pm (before it gets cold)
• Aug to Oct: 6.45pm (when the magpies sleep)
• Nov to March: 6.30pm (when it's cooler)

You have two options:

• German Street car park at the start time.
• Man Thing car park 20 minutes before start time. We then ride the 4 kms to First Turkey, mainly through parks and back streets. It's a fun little warm up before we hit the trails, and cool down after. Optional coffee at the end.

Nor am I. Typical group size for MTB is 2 to 6 riders.

I post rides as events at Man Thing on Facebook. If nothing is up by 11am Wednesday, I'm working late or the weather looks bleak, so the ride isn't happening.

If you don't have FB, that's fine, just phone or text me and I'll tell you if it's on.

Other fitness activities happen as well, including road cycling social rides and kayaking, which I also post as events, so you might find other activities to take part in as well.

No. I, and by extension, Man Thing, offer no guarantees for your safety, nor take any responsibility if you have an accident.

I have no control over your actions or those of other cyclists and drivers.

I'm just a bloke going for a ride, and providing a meet up point for anyone who wants to tag along. If you choose to, that's fine, but your safety is entirely up to you.

Don't stress. We were all noobs once.

The rides are informal, and we stick to green XC cross-country trails, with maybe a few blue trails thrown in, depending on the skills and pace of the weakest rider.

There are no big drops or anything too scary. You'll never be pressed to do anything beyond your abilities.

• Your mountain bike needs to be mechanically sound. Gears, tyres, brakes should all be in good working order.
• Helmet and closed shoes. Clothing choice is up to you. I suggest a long sleeve jersey in case you have a stack on the trails.
• While not essential, knee and elbow protection are worthwhile too.
• Two lights, one for your helmet and one for your handlebars. Also bring a tail light for the ride home. If I know you, I may be able to loan you some lights for your first ride.
• Mosquito repellent. Spray yourself before you head out on the trails.
• Water bottle, basic tools for repairs, spare tube, a pump, phone, and personal first aid kit for treating minor injuries.
• You should have at least some experience riding on mountain bike trails. If you're familiar with your bike's operation, and you've done a few kilometres on the dirt, you should be fine.

No. I've been running social rides on the roads and trails of Central Queensland, both privately and as a volunteer for Rockhampton Mountain Bike Club, Cycle4Life, and Cycle CQ since 2016.

You don't need to be super-fit but you should be able to jog a few hundred metres without dying.

You'll find that your fitness increases quickly with subsequent rides, especially if you're taking other steps in your life to get healthier.

Obviously, check with your doctor before commencing any new sports activity.

Waxing and massage pay the bills. I don't need to charge for this.

Riding is something I thoroughly enjoy. It's how I recharge, and I love to share it with others.

That's why I started Man Thing. To help men explore new things and live their best lives.