Get on your bike this summer

Jump on your bike and celebrate Wellington City Council’s Cycle into Summer programme with the Bike the Bays family bike ride and a cycle into the city day.


Cycle into Summer kicks off with the annual Bike the Bays family bike ride on Sunday 4 November, followed by a cycle into the city day on Wednesday 7 November.

The Council's Community Recreation Programmer, Leanne Parsons, says the Council decided to hold the Bike the Bays event in November instead of February to encourage more people to get their bike out and start cycling in the lead up to summer. "Cycling is a great way of getting fit in summer. Not only is it good for you but it's good for the environment and a great way of getting outside and enjoying our beautiful city."

This year there are three Bike the Bays rides leaving from Frank Kitts Park esplanade. The first starts at 10.00am and is a 32km loop around Miramar Peninsula. If you fancy a shorter ride you can bike the 13km return journey to Evans Bay starting at 10.30am or the 4km return ride to Waitangi Park starting at 11.00am.

The ride to Waitangi Park will have marshals and is traffic free as riders can stay on the shared path around the waterfront. The Evans Bay and Miramar loop have directional staff and water stations. There are no road closures and riders need to follow road rules at all times. The rides will be followed by a picnic at Frank Kitts Park with live bands, giveaways, and food stalls.

Get a free breakfast in Civic Square, a free bike safety check from On Yer Bike and handy tips about how to keep safe on your bike when you cycle into the city on Wednesday 7 November. Breakfast is available from 7.30 - 9.00am.

On Yer Bike is offering free bike safety checks from Monday 5 November to Saturday 10 November. Just take your bike into their shop. No appointment is necessary. Or if you are taking up cycling for the first time or returning to cycling, why not take a free cycling skills workshop on Saturday 10 or 17 November from 9.00am till 11.00am. On Yer Bike is also offering bike maintenance courses for beginners on Thursday 8 November and intermediate riders on Thursday 15 November. If mountain biking is your thing, check out the free mountain bike skills session being held at Makara Peak on Sunday 11 November.

If you are looking for other ways to bike into summer or want to register for Bike the Bays, the cycling skills workshop, bike maintenance courses, and/or the mountain bike skills session visit www.feelinggreat.co.nz