'tis the season to start cycling tra-la-la-la-laaa-la-la-la-la! Yep the weather is warmer (slightly) the days are stretching out and daylight saving is on the close horizon.
'tis also timely to update all our supportive members and friends - you�ll have to read on for the NEWS OF THE CENTURY!
Remember, if anyone would like to add something to our newsletter that�s cycling related please email us with it
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LATEST TRACK AND THE GREAT LAKE CYCLE CHALLENGE!
I bet there�s a ton of you out there commencing the annual training for the Cycle Challenge round Lake Taupo. Good on you all. It�s amazing how Spring fever hits us and encourages us out into the outdoors (unless you ride all year round!).
Last year the introduction of the new mountain bike first leg from Spa Park to the Sale Yards off Poihipi Road proved very popular and this year we will see the return of it. BUT an even better experience than last year - the mountain bike leg will start on the real start line in town and travel to the beginning of the control gates bridge and then veer right to travel along side the Mighty Waikato river up to the Bungy and out to Spa Park TOTALLY OFF ROAD.
Yes it�s our latest track you can now ride from town centre to Huka Falls and Wairakei Forest totally off-road. Very exciting!!!! So all you mountain-biking/road cycling people - get your teams together now and enter for this unique experience.
ROADIES!!
Urban Cycle Lanes
Sounds great doesn�t it!! Just to let you know we are still chipping away endeavouring to get our precious green paint on the roads and proposed cycle lanes made permanent and law enforceable. Policy is a harder to deal with than spading tracks in a peaceful forest setting!!!! Another thing - we hear all the time about the near misses in town and even accidents with the petrol variety of transport. This is inexcusable as motorists need to be more watchful - also you need to be highly visable in bright colours to be seen. If you do have a near miss/accident and its lawfully not your fault you need to report it to the police!! The only way we can get things changed around town is to have statistics. Once the Council sees numbers we have fuel!!!
The Fast Track
It�s still going strong. In fact its one of the busiest night spots you�ll find in Taupo on a Tuesday night!! Riders go back each week for AA (Adrenaline Action) on the fastest roadie off-road cycling track around. Great place for hooning, with no cars, and playing with many riders = good experience for all those road races this summer. Be there or be square Tuesday nights 6pm sharp. http://www.taupocyclingclub.org.nz/tuesday-time-trial-races/
Router Markers
Ever thought ‘I�ve got to go out for a 50km ride where do I go!’ Well hopefully we will solve that problem soon as we investigate some routes and mark them for your use. Example - 100km ride; 70 km ride; 50 km ride etc etc.
Always Train Safely
We cannot say this enough you all need to be safe and be seen on our district�s roads. This has been pulled out of the last newsletter because I cannot put in better words!!!! ‘Yep sure cars sometimes get a bit close even those 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.’
Duathlons/Triathlons
Tri-Sport Taupo start their world famous in Taupo Duathlons on Monday 29th October and are weekly throughout summer. The first of the triathlons kick off 2nd December. Don�t you just love SUMMER!
OFF-ROADIES!! -
Wairakei Forest Tracks
We are always making small improvements around the place. We applied and Oxfam granted... money which was well used on the Tunnel Track from Hub Caf� under State Highway One. A couple of blind corners have been widened - titivation - our middle name. This track now has LOADS of traffic and we want the two-way etiquette to live on so still take it easy racing is for single track.
New Track - suspiciously called Lazy Sunday suspiciously because it�s a Grade 5 track! Remember to check out tracks of such calibre before taking on the jumps. Both Lazy Sunday and Coles Killer have chicken chutes if things are turning to custard! The Lazy Sunday recently bit a biker in a big way so take care out there! Ride to your level and if you want to step it up investigate first ?
New Track The Bungy Track - its awesome being able to now bike from Town Centre out to Huka Falls and beyond - a popular loop is becoming Town to Huka, Wairakei Forest etc and then back through Redwoods into town.
Other Tracks are in the planning stages for much action at Wairakei.
Some Statistics: We can proudly say that we estimate around 40,000 people visit Wairakei now for riding and around 15,000 per annum use the Rotary Ride for either biking, or on foot. Wow haven�t we come a long way. One member saw about 40 people in two hours one afternoon at Wairakei this week.
Promotion
CANZ (Cycling Advocates NZ) did a profile of Bike Taupo in a recent Endurance Magazine - looked awesome - If you didn�t buy the magazine and you want to check it out there�s a link on our website.
Maps for Sale
Did you know we produce our own maps??? We are selling them so fast we have to keep building new tracks just so we can add them to the latest batches. The greatest news is we have some wicked dedicated sponsors on board so we can always keep our off-road biking maps absolutely up-to-date. These great guys are: Fine Fettle; Zest; Replete; Licorice Caf� (Motuoapa); Hub Caf� (all caf�s which make great coffee) and Pilates Body Dynamics - you all look after your bikes getting them tuned up, well Pilates is the place you get you body tuned up. A popular hangout for sports people who care for their bodies. (now for the Violins pleaseThanks all sponsors - you make it possible for us to be who we are.)
NZ CYCLING CONFERENCE - Napier November 07
This is the place where all concerned cycle advocates will be, as well as a mixture of local body persons like road engineers and planners. It�s a forum to hear opinions and facts on the past present and future of cycling in New Zealand. Some of our committee will be attending to bring the latest back to Taupo for implementation If you keen to attend or want to check it out follow this link http://can.org.nz/events/conf2007/
SUBMISSIONS
We are always submitting to future Taupo developments as advocates for cycling on your behalf. Here are some of the latest:
Annual Plan - April 07
WEKA (Kinloch to Taupo arterial) - July 07
Tapuaeharuru Bay Lakeshore Reserves Management Plan - September 07
NEWS OF THE CENTURY
You have heard of Y2K? Well roll over Y2K and make way for W2K code name for Whakaipo Bay to Kinloch.
It seems a long time ago that the first words were mentioned regarding building a track that runs from Whakaipo Bay to Kinloch Village for bikers, walkers and runners. Well we are now pleased to advise that after many, many months of waiting, liaison and patience, the proposed route has been given the big green GO.
The last official document is in our hands and we can now put away our pens and paper and pull out our digger and spades. Log on to http://w2k.org.nz for updates.
UPCOMING EVENTS
28 October 2007 - Mid North Island MTB Championships (off-roadies)
24 November 2007 - Great Lake Cycle Challenge - (roadies)
8 December 2007 - Taupo Half Ironman (roadies)
1 March 2008 - Ironman NZ (roadies)
5 April 2008 - 100K Flyer Rotorua to Taupo (Roadies)
10 May 2008 - Cateye Moonride - Whakarewarewa Forest (off-roadies)
Keen as Mustard? Check out Bike Taupo�s website for more details.
Also check the links to the Clubs for regular weekly stuff on the road and on the track!
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