The fifth annual Hawke's Bay 'Big Easy' cycling event set to be staged over Easter may have just adopted a new title - the Bigger Easy.
As well as having grown to take in three days of cycling the trails of Hawke's Bay, the three councils which worked in with Hawke's Bay Tourism to develop and run the original event, which were then joined to by a fourth council three years ago, have now been joined by a fifth.
The Wairoa District Council has now climbed into the saddle, joining the Napier City Council, Hastings District Council, the Hawke's Bay Regional Council and the Central Hawke's Bay District Council and will be staging one of the three rides planned - the Little Easy North Ride.
Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said she was delighted at the arrival and input of the Wairoa District Council as it meant the increasingly popular event now covered a wider slice of the Bay.
"This is our fifth year and it continues to grow," she said.
"We are delighted to offer another fabulous ride on the new trails developed by the Wairoa District Council," Ms Dundas said, adding the event's timing was important as it was a key holiday period which traditionally attracted a "significant" number of visitors to the region.
The Big Easy pedals off on April 14 (Good Friday) with the Little Easy Central Hawke's Bay which is seen as a "warm-up" ride over a gentle 12km loop along the Central Hawke's Bay Rotary pathways starting from Russell Park in Waipukurau.
Saturday sees the 45km Big Easy starting from Havelock North and taking the trails through to Church Road Winery in Greenmeadows, where a concert is planned to wrap up the day.
Ms Dundas said there would also be a "family start" from Farndon Park in Clive so that families with smaller children could still enjoy the day without it being too much of a challenge.
On Easter Sunday the inaugural Little Easy North will see riders embark on a 10km cycling cruise along the trails from the Wairoa lighthouse, alongside the river and out to Whakamahia.
Tickets went on sale yesterday and include a special T-shirt, deals on the day and entertainment.
For details and tickets prospective cyclers are asked to check out www.thebigeasy.co.nz