The feedback from outside cyclists who took part in the Cape 2 Kaitaia (C2K) road cycle ride on June 21 has overwhelmed organisers of the event.
On behalf of the hosting Far North Flash Cycling and Triathlon Club, event founder Phillip Gibbs said this year's turnout more than doubled thatfor the 2013 event, while the response had been unanimously positive.
He cited one comment made on social media made by rider Gary Smith from the North Shore. Among a 17-strong contingent representing the NZ Cyclist group, Smith noted, "The Far North is a wonderful place with some lovely people. The good people of Kaitaia couldn't have been more accommodating with a warm welcome fantastic hospitality, superb food, beautiful scenery and the most enjoyable bike ride I've ever taken part in. Thank you to Far North Flash and all concerned, will be back next year for sure."
Gibbs believed comments like this would help promote the Far North in a more positive light than the one typically portrayed in the media.
"The feedback has been actually incredible. All the bad stuff that goes on [up here], and here we have somebody from outside saying something really positive about the north, someone actually enjoying being here," he said, adding one group who stayed at a local motorcamp told him they had already reserved the same spot for next year's event.
Gibbs went on to note another widely shared sentiment by the participants was how the route used, along SH1 from the Cape to the outskirts of Kaitaia was very rider friendly: "The cool thing about this ride is there is nobody on the road up here, [because] it's winter."
The C2K raised over $1000 for the Auckland Cancer Society, nominated as the benefactors of this year's event. Saturday, June 20 has been confirmed as next year's date.
