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NEWSLETTER 10
A couple of weeks till Christmas and we are still getting snow!!! But the weather does not deter those dedicated riders and I see many people out there on our rural roads and off-road trails training hard out. Round the Lake has been and gone and with the inaugural mountain bike leg both roadies and mountain bikers are increasing their odos!
Remember, if anyone would like to add something to our newsletter that�s
cycling related please email us with it .
1. CAN:
Most of you may not even have heard of the Cycling Advocates' Network NZ (CAN), but surely heard of Simon Kennett, one of its first ever paid employees. Simon and Fiona Whero are working to help consolidate and develop CAN's networks and local groups. This exciting project is part of the implementation of "Getting There", the national walking and cycling strategy. If you like to get more information on the fantastic work they are doing and show your support for Cycling Advocacy, please sign up to "Friends of CAN".
Even better, for just $20 per year you can become a Full Member of CAN and receive not only the e-Can, but also the printed "Chain Links" newsletter every 2 months. You can easily pay online here to show your support.
Everyone signing up on one of the options above before 31 December will go into the draw to win a "CAN 'Biking for a Better World' t-shirt" or a "CAN 'One Less Car' backpack cover".
2. MOUNTAIN BIKE LEG IN GREAT LAKE CYCLE CHALLENGE!
What an innovative bunch the cycle challenge team is. On 25th November the inaugural mountain bike leg of the Great Lake Cycle Challenge was launched. Mountain bike riders did enjoy 80% single track riding from town (Spa Park) to the Sale Yards on Poihipi Road. Wow that�s around 22kms of adventure. They then taged their next rider who will have biked from town to the Sale Yards and the roadies took over to complete the cycle challenge. Part of your entry fee went towards the maintenance of Taupo�s awesome off-road trails.
3. ROADIES!!
The Fast Track: Taupo Cycling Club and Tri-sport Taupo have found a new exciting place to play. The Fast Track (new racing circuit on Broadlands Road). Tuesday night races are held for roadies and Tri-sport is currently holding their duathlons out there on Monday nights. Fast and furious is the word on the street. Resistance training with the wind is also a draw card!!?#!??#.
Train Safely: Just a timely reminder to all of you two-wheeled fanatics training on our district�s roads - be safe and be seen. Yep sure cars sometimes get a bit close even thogh we have our 1.5 metre signage up reminding car drivers of a safe passing width. But that�s all we can do - remind them (unless a dangerous incident is reported to the police). The important thing to remember is that if a car collides with a bike it�s the car that�s going to be better off. SO when training please please leave your egos at home and:
• Stay as far to the left of the road as possible;
• When riding two or more abreast on those narrow rural roads and cars are approaching - return to single breast.
• Wear bright and reflective clothing in any weather
• Make sure you are well off the road if you need to stop for any reason.
4. OFF-ROADIES!! -
Gullies Treasure Hunt Event - A great successful event was run on 19 October with approximately 100 people turning up to check out the latest gully track known as Waipahihi Gully. Three major spot prizes ($200 vouchers) sponsored by Top Gear, Avanti Plus Corner Shop and Life Cycles went out to three totally stoked participants. Imagine being 10 years old and getting a $200 voucher from a bike shop !!$#%??!!!**
Still Building �Em: Tracks are still appearing at Wairakei Forest, Slalom being the latest and like its name its tight and goes down! The hard working ‘Bees’ are still building a new tracks and are concentrating on a few more challenging tracks Grades 4 and 5. That will keep the young guns working their brakes and sitting on their back wheels like the rest of us!
Other improvements include re-routing the Helistar Hill (from Huka Falls to Hub Caf�) and Huka Hill on the Rotary Ride has been regraded. Yes The Rotary Ride continues to get its regular face lift and we have now re-routed the track onto DoC land leased by the Gun Club. Not to worry though - the trigger happy chaps will be far far away from our piece of track paradise.
Promotion: Exciting news is the NZ Mountain Biker Magazine came to Taupo and interviewed a few people and rode our local tracks for around 6 hours! So have a look for the December edition for a great article of Taupo mountain biking and you might even catch a glimpse of a few local mug shots!!
Hub Caf�: Sussed out the new caf� - well it�s actually Helistar renamed to ‘Hub Caf�’ Still doing their awesome food and caffeine fixes. It�s also a proven great stop after a hard ride or even in contemplation of a blast through the forest. Loads of bikers are now using Hub Caf� as a pit stop. Our aim is to have more bikes parked out front than cars!! From observations of recent times it won�t be hard to achieve!!!
The Bike Fence: Heard of the Bra Fence? Well we are inventing the Bike Fence which will be erected at a location soon to be revealed. It will be on this fence that you can hang any unusable gear - a bit of a memento of loved gear that has either worn out or broken. For example bucked rims, worn out tyres, ripped cycle shirts (from those blackberry falls!), busted cycle shoes, holey cycle pants (hopefully washed one last time!). Who knows we might even get some famous pieces like Cathy Lynches broken chain!
Thursday Night Mystery Rides: THEY ARE BACK. Everyone raved about the Thursday Night Mystery Rides last summer and so the Mountain Bike Club is holding them again. The first one was last Thursday. Its pretty informal just turn up at Wairakei Car Park at 6pm and head off on a ride to be revealed on the night. Great way of having an enjoyable evening ride without having to think about where to ride!!
5. GROUNDEFFECT AND TE TOTARA GULLY
Our special friends of the South Island namely, Groundeffect Clothing, have yet again been a great support for Bike Taupo. They have provided funding for us to complete the Te Totara Gully track which commences the connection of the west side of Waikato River. You can now bike from Huka Falls to Prawn Park - yep no stairs anymore! And of course it�s a simple side track to Hub Caf� for some well needed refreshments because there�ll be some uphill work involved! Of course what goes up must come down. So remember it�s a two way track. Hooning is for single track!
6. SUBMISSIONS
Well everyone we were successful in convincing Council to reduce the speed limit of Huka Falls Road permanently. The change is to 80kms which will make it safer for bikers and pedestrians. You, the members, give Bike Taupo the stability and strength to advocate and win such debates. So thanks!! Just keep telling your friends to join if they haven�t - STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!!
7. KINLOCH TO WHAKAIPO BAY TRACK
We have now stood up and jumped up and down (and consequently we are feeling fit now!) In other words, we have made a huge leap forward in the progress stakes recently. The wheels are turning again! Don�t give up keep watching this space.
8. UPCOMING EVENTS
Keen as Mustard? Check out Bike Taupo�s website for more details
Also check out our website and click on the Clubs for regular weekly stuff on the road and on the track!
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