Graeme Simpson: Bike festival gets off to a flying start

Ride the Runway was an absolute spectacle, with 830 bikers taking part. PHOTO/ ALICK SAUNDERS

At 7.45pm last Friday evening I was standing in the middle of the Rotorua Airport runway, shaking my head in wonder. The Runway Project, the official opening of the third Rotorua Bike Festival, was in full flight.

Simon Hunt and his crew from Fever Pitch Visuals were rolling in through the security gate in their Outside Broadcast van. A massive artic was following, loaded up with the Vistamax big screen.

Fifty traffic management people were laying out cones to form a temporary 4km racecourse. And, behind the security fence, 830 eager bikers were ready to ride that runway.

I've done a bit of live TV production and event management over the years, but never been involved in something where the venue was only accessible after the last plane of the day landed. And darkness was fast approaching - incredible, high-risk stuff. There were a few nervous glances at watches and the Air New Zealand flight time app.

It was a real tribute to event organiser Jason Cameron that everything proceeded so professionally and calmly. It was the same with Simon and his TV crew, who laid 500m of fibre-optic cable and fired up cameras to feed to the big screen.
Actually, it was a lucky break having that screen.

By the time that everyone had circumnavigated the runway and it was time for the Flying Kilo, it was pretty much dark, the scene dramatically lit by the glow of screen and the runway landing lights.
There were a lot of really happy people, including Julian Dean. He rode the runway with his 6-year-old son, Val, and then shared commentating duties with Mountain Bike Rotorua's Tak Mutu for the Flying Kilo.

"It was a great reminder of what cycling is about, what cycling can bring to a family, a community and what it means to Rotorua," Julian said.

The Flying Kilo men's and women's races were dramatic and high-paced. Emma Petersen won the women's, with Sequoia Cooper and Kate Mullarkey on the podium.
Track specialist Cameron Kaworski edged local Olympian Sam Bewley, with Jordan Castle in third in men's.

My main memory among many was of the numbers of families who took part. Bike festival magic.

Over to Jason Cameron to say thanks:
"Rotorua Airport, for sponsoring and allowing it to happen. Rotorua Bike Festival Trust for sharing the vision and saying go for it. Cycling NZ for helping to promote Runway Project & Flying Kilo. Sulphur City Steam Rollers and Rotorua Air Cadets 29th Squadron, our two volunteer groups who did an amazing job on the night.
"Air Cadets involved with traffic management and parking, public viewing area set up and Steam Rollers (20-plus of them) marshalling on the runway were awesome in helping out kids and families.

"The council community-events team within the council who set up the bike obstacle course.

"Other sponsors who contributed cash and in kind support that made the event possible on a slender budget: Destination Rotor, Fever Pitch Visuals, Vista Max, Bluedog Media, Mountain Bike Rotorua, Lakes Medical Services Trust, 50 Fifty Traffic Management, Hyundai Rotorua & Giant."

The festival runs until Sunday.

For further information go to www.rotoruabikefestival.com.