Rotorua Bike Festival 2014 - events for all the family...

Cycling events for all the family will be at the heart of the 2nd Rotorua Bike Festival in February.

The full programme is confirmed with events ranging from the National Mountain Bike championships with 2013 titles on the line for the country’s elite riders to fun rides for everyone.

The festival launches on the morning of Friday February 14 with Go by Bike organised by Sport Bay of Plenty.

“Go by Bike is a great way to get more people active and on their bikes,” says Melanie Short from Sport BOP. “It’s a national initiative through Bikewise and in 2013 we had over 200 cyclists riding to work or school and stopping by for refreshments and the chance to win spot prizes.”

Sport BOP is also running Tykes on Trikes on Wednesday February 19.

“Working with the under 5s is a great place to start to teach movement and create a life long love of activity,” continues Melanie. “Tykes on Trikes is an event with lots of colour and the little ones achieving great things as they pedal their way through the course.”

The Sport BOP Play in the Bay programme has different themed months through the year. February is Bike Month.

“The Bike Festival means there are so many opportunities to get involved in riding,” says Melanie. “There’s really no reason for the Rotorua community to not get on their bikes at some point over the month, too.”

Other events through Festival week - like the New Zealand Home Loans Family Fun Ride, LikeaBike Kiddie Cross, Pimp your Bike and XRace - are all aimed at families and kids. Frocks on Bikes and Ladies Shuttle Night are aimed at getting more women on bikes and BMX Rotorua are running a Have a Go evening where anyone can try the sport.

“There will be some fantastic action for more competitive riders and also spectators at events like Ibis Bike the Lake, the National Mountain Bike Champs, Skyline Sprint Warrior, 2W Giant Gravity Enduro and Telecom Inner City Street Criterium,” says Jeremy Christmas from the Bike Festival Trust. “And there are also events that everyone can enjoy. It’s all part of getting as many people biking both during the festival and all year round.”

The full programme is on www.rotoruabikefestival.com with regular updates at facebook.com/RotoruaBikeFestival