Welcome to the Ulysses Club Canberra Branch. The Ulysses club was founded in 1983 to provide ways in which older motorcyclists could gather together for rides, companionship and mutual support. We’re still going strong nearly 40 years later and we are very proud that the Canberra Branch is one of the club’s oldest. Membership is open to men and women over 40 years old, and to their non-riding partners.
New members are always welcome and it doesn’t matter whether you are a seasoned veteran rider, a new learner, or returning to riding after a long break, we have an active ride program that will give you plenty of opportunities to hone your riding skills and make the most of motorcycle ownership. You definitely DO NOT have to own a certain type of bike; our members ride all sorts from scooters, to trikes, to heavy weight tourers, adventure bikes, and everything in between
The social aspect of Ulysses membership is just as important as the riding. There is no better environment to meet with like-minded folks and expand your network of friends. The Canberra branch has a couple of social meetings every month and all our rides generally include coffee stops, lunch and plenty of friendly chat. You are most welcome to tag along for a ride or turn up at our social meetings if you would like to check us out. It’s a great way to sample the Ulysses experience before you commit.
We conduct different types of rides aimed at a range of skill levels. Check out our Ride Calendar and you will note that all scheduled rides include notes on distances covered and ride difficulty. Most branch rides are suitable for the average rider, though some longer rides demand a higher level of expertise, experience and endurance.
Chomp and Chat rides are probably the best for beginners and returning riders as they are generally shorter and include a long, leisurely lunch. Club Rides are longer and cover the best riding roads (and coffee stops) in our region. Collectively, our riders have clocked up hundreds of years of motorcycle exploration and they will take you to the most interesting places and best back roads that the ACT and southern NSW have to offer. The branch also schedules an occasional overnight ride.
Most rides depart from a service station on a main road leading out of Canberra and will have a designated ride leader. Details are on the What's On (our Ride & Event Calendar) but you don’t have to wait for an organised ride – you’ll always find another Ulysses member eager to join you for a day trip into the country or down to the coast.
The Ulysses Club national committee hosts an annual National Rally and AGM which brings together members from across Australia for a week-long festival of motorcycling fun and fellowship. The national rally is held in a different location every year and attracts thousands of participants.
Have a browse through our blog to see what we have been up to – read our Ride Reports or our RO2 newsletter. There’s the For Sale page and Me and My Bike and plenty more there. As branch members you can also join our email list, our blog update email and our Facebook page.
Many members have discovered that contributing back to the branch and the club greatly enhances their Ulysses experience. You will find there are plenty of opportunities to help out with fund-raising activities, charting and leading local rides, organising social events and contributing administratively on the branch committee. Our fundraising is primarily based on BBQ events, like those at Bunnings or using our own specially built BBQ trailer. Our preferred charity is the Ulysses Club Arthritis Research Fund (UCARF) but we also donate regularly to local Christmas appeals and blanket runs.
Ulysses has something for everyone, so please join us on a ride or at one of our social events and see what the Ulysses can offer you. I am always happy to have a chat if you have any questions.
Glen "Bulldog" Jones
President 2022
Ulysses Club Canberra Branch
President 2022
Ulysses Club Canberra Branch
