Christchurch challenged to cycle 2000 kilometres in five hours

Christchurch will be challenged to cycle almost 2000 kilometres in five hours on Friday, as Bike Wise month finishes with the Community Pedal Power Challenge in Cathedral Square.

Well known local cyclist 79 year old Roger Fowler, who still competes regularly, will kick off the Challenge at 10am on Friday morning.

The Community Pedal Power Challenge is a new Christchurch City Council public event developed to wrap up Bike Wise month.

“I think more people should ride more often,” Mr Fowler said. “Cycling is much easier on the body than running, and you can keep cycling for years.”

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker will ride one of 10 the stationery bikes at 10.15 am to add to the accumulated kilometres.

“We are a great cycling city and this is a great cycling challenge,” Mayor Parker said. “I’m looking forward to doing my bit to see if we can get around the South Island in five hours.”

Christchurch Central MP Brendon Burns, City Councillor Chrissie Williams, mountaineer Mark Inglis and Coast to Coast legend Steve Gurney will also be joining in the fun at various stages.

The challenge gets participants to clock up kilometres on stationary bikes in the five-hour time frame. The time each person rides will determine kilometres travelled as the challenge route takes a 1940 kilometre tour around the island passing through Nelson in the north to Gore and Queenstown in the south.

Organisers are confident of completing the challenge as Christchurch has a proven track record of success in community challenges during Bike Wise Month. The city is leading the country in the national Bike Wise Battle which asks participants to record their daily cycling mileage, with the top three participants hailing from Canterbury.

Christchurch based Nik Stewart (Beca 2477kms), Brent Stewart (Horncastle Homes - 2155kms) and Kathryn Ward (Beca 2146kms) have recorded the greatest distances in the competition so far while firms like Maunsell AECOM, Outdoor Performance and ID Digital Media have 100 percent staff participation in the Battle.

Christchurch City Council staff in the Bike Wise Battle have already cycled a massive 31,655 kilometres and the University of Canterbury staff have done over 25,000 kilometres, John McKenzie of enthuse ltd, the event company handling Bike Wise events for the Council, said.

“So far, Christchurch has 137 organisations competing in the Battle. This compares to 106 in Wellington and 51 in Auckland. In the overall standings, there are at least two organisations from Christchurch on the leader board in each sized category, which is great for the city and shows our passion for cycling.”

“The Community Pedal Power Challenge is for anyone who wants to jump on a bike for fun to help us get around the South Island – you don’t have to be a cyclist or even that fit.”

There are great spot prizes to be won including a bike from John Bull Cycles.

Editors notes

o There have been Bike Wise events throughout New Zealand during the month of February to entice people out of their cars, off their couches, and onto their bikes.
o The Bike Wise programme is aimed at lifting cycling’s profile and getting more Kiwis to re-discover the joys of biking.
o The annual celebration has become so popular that a full month is now needed to accommodate hundreds of events nationwide.
o Bike sales are up and the increase in people cycling to work is noticeable in many places.

Roger Fowler Bio
o Over 2400 races over 59 years with 400 wins and still going strong, 79 year old Roger Fowler is a local legend in the Christchurch and Canterbury region
o Fowler was one of Christchurch's top amateur club riders for more than 20 years and is still a regular starter in local races. He won the Avon Cycling Club's Round The Bays event four times between 1952 and 1976.
o He finished middle of the field of 1700 at the Armstrong Peugeot Harbour Ride in December last year, doing the 80k distance in 3hrs 27min 59secs.

Local identities timing
o Roger Fowler starting things at 10am
o Bob Parker at 10.15am
o CHC Central MP Brendon Burns is there from 12 noon to 12.30 approx
o Mark Inglis at 10am
o Steve Gurney tbc
o City Councillor Chrissie Williams appearance time 10am and 12.30

For further information, contact:

john mckenzie
chief enthusiast
enthuse ltd
t 03 384 7338
m 021 384 730
john@enthuse.co.nz