Rotorua Bike Festival starts February 13

The forecast is fine and the Rotorua Bike Festival is ready to roll with 10 days of events that celebrate all things on two wheels. The festival is set to open this Friday February 13th.

Sport Bay of Plenty’s invitation to Go by Bike to school, work or play is in the morning. And there is a unique opportunity to ride the Rotorua Airport in the evening. Open to all-comers this will be followed by the spectacular Flying Kilo straight-line time trial for licensed riders.

This will be live-streamed on the Festival website, thanks to local companies, Fever Pitch Visuals and bluedog media.

“Last year we had a total of over 4000 entries across the 30 events,” said Festival event coordinator, Martin Croft “Some events haven’t returned, but other great new ones will bring in similar numbers, if not more.”

In the second weekend, it is a chance to circumnavigate Lake Rotorua. Entries are already the same as 2014 and will exceed 600 by race day on Sunday February 22.

Another repeat event, the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro, is almost sold out. Also running in the second weekend, it is a preview of the first round of the Enduro World Series in March and will feature current world women’s champion, Tracy Moseley from the UK. She’ll be joined by friend and former elite downhill rival, Vanessa Quin. The Kiwi won the 2004 UCI Elite Downhill Championships in Les Gets in France and is coming out of retirement to contest the 2W and the Enduro World Series round in March.

 “That’s the great thing about our Festival, it’s all about community and participation…it’s really inclusive,” said David Crowley, from the Rotorua Bike Festival Charitable Trust. “You can rub shoulders with world class superstars or go for a fun ride with the family, sometimes both at the same time. It’s all about getting everyone on bikes.”

He still travels in his work as coach and rider mentor for Australian Pro Tour team, Orica/GreenEdge, but can spend more time at home in Rotorua now he’s retired from competition.

All Festival events are free to spectate at and many are free or gold coin only to enter.

The National Championships will take place on the first weekend of the festival. They will feature dramatic action in the cross-country on the world-renowned Whakarewarewa Forest trails on Saturday, followed by the downhill on a brand-new course at Skyline Rotorua on Sunday. This will be a dress rehearsal for Crankworx Rotorua in late March.

Sam Gaze © Alan Ofsoski

“Over the first two festivals a lot of top riders hung out in town after the Nationals and raced in things like Bike Speedway and the Redwoods Coast,” said Croft. “This year there are also brand-new events like Park Ride, up and down the central city car park, and the 16” Dual Slalom World Champs at the new Dodzy Skills Park. All fun and very entertaining.”

Matt Walker

The festival gives a big boost to the local economy, like a lot of sporting events.

“It really started with the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials in 2006,” said Croft.

This continued with the more eccentric and very colourful Singlespeed World Championships in late 2010.

“There were 1000 entries including over 400 international riders from 29 countries and an estimated economic benefit of more than 2 million dollars,” Croft added.

The full festival programme is on www.rotoruabikefestival.com