Graeme Simpson: More excitement to come

FAVOURITE: Singlespeed action on Rock Drop in the Whakarewarewa Forest. PHOTO/ALAN OFSOSKI

APRIL already. How did that happen?

It has been a very busy start to 2015 for mountain biking in Rotorua and the first three months of this year have flown by.

The Bike Festival and Crankworx are over. They'll be back next year.

And it doesn't end there in 2015. The days may be drawing in. However, it's an early-ish Easter this year and there are four days of superb riding coming up this weekend.

And there are Easter eggs and Hot X Buns - both edible and rideable. Work on that trail began on Good Friday more than 10 years ago.

The following weekend XTERRA Rotorua is back on Saturday April 11. This has been New Zealand's best off-road triathlon for more than a decade.

I've marshaled at all but one XTERRA. Driving down to the Blue Lake/Tikitapu early on race morning is always a stirring and beautiful sight with the event village stretched out across the lakefront. What a great location for an event it is. I'm looking forward to helping out again this year. www.xterra.co.nz

A week later Revolve Rotorua are running the women-only Super V on Saturday April 18.

There'll be shuttles to the top of Katore Rd with runs down Tokorangi Trail.

This is a typical Revolve event - you can go as fast as you like or as slow. It's all about having a good time in a supportive, friendly environment. facebook.com/revolverotorua

The next day is the Nduro Events Banshee Super D Sunday. Super D started as a response to more and more people wanting to race longer and less-technical descents, without needing to invest in a heavy-duty downhill bike, full face helmet and body armour.

The format evolved into the multistage gravity enduro format.

The Super D is simpler: a single 6 to 7-kilometre course with shuttles to the top of the trail. ndurosuperd.com

There's another long weekend at the end of April to book end the month. It's the first

Monday-isation of Anzac Day and the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli. The weekend features the 8th New Zealand Singlespeed Championships. This starts with the usual ride to the Anzac dawn parade at Ohinemutu on Saturday April 25 with race day on Sunday.

Last week, after some back and forth and an appearance on ONE News by Rotorua Singlespeed Society president, Gaz Sullivan from Nzo, the Ministry of Culture and Heritage generously agreed to allow the event to be called the Anzac Singlespeed Championships.

The society is not for profit and has always donated large sums to charity. The use of "Anzac" was never some cynical marketing ploy. The champs always run on the weekend closest to Anzac Day and it was a sincere nod to all Kiwi and Aussie servicemen and women over last century.

I can't deny the acronym - the ASS - didn't come into consideration. However, I suspect my father, who served in the RNZAF in the Pacific, and his younger brother, who flew 25 missions in Lancasters with 75 Squadron in Europe, would see the funny side of that, too.

Today's photo is one of my favourites, not just from the Singlespeed Worlds in 2010, but also from a dozen years of being involved in events in Rotorua.

Animal aka Timo St Anton on Rock Drop. What will Timo wear in 2015? Manamana. www.rotoruasinglespeed.com