Bike festival to get big boost

The Ibis Bike the Lake event will include a summer edition to coincide with the Rotorua Bike Festival. Pictured is Whakatane's Brad Jones during the event last year. Photo/File.

The Rotorua Bike Festival has received a boost, with a popular road cycling event shifting dates to coincide with the festival.

The Ibis Bike the Lake event is a familiar part of the spring events calendar in Rotorua.

Now event organisers have decided to introduce a summer edition to coincide with the opening weekend of the Rotorua Bike Festival, on Sunday, February 16.

The Round the Lake event is a well-known road cycling fixture, catering to all levels of cyclists.

Event organiser Shane Hooks said being part of the bike festival was a sharp move.

"The weather in February is normally settled and, with such a beautiful cycle challenge, the decision to join the festival was a logical one."

Recreational and competitive road cyclists will be able to enjoy either one or two laps around Lake Rotorua, with distances of 42km or 84km.

Another exciting road cycling event will wrap up the festival on Sunday, February 23, when the Inner City Street Criterium brings bike racing into downtown Rotorua.

The 10-day festival programme features a full range of cycling events.

Visit the Rotorua Bike Festival website www.rotoruabikefestival.com for more information.

Entries for the Ibis Bike the Lake event are now open and it costs $48 to enter for those who sign up before January 1.

The spring edition of the Ibis Bike the Lake event will also continue.