Kids set for Cycle Mania

ROTORUA turns into the city of cycles this Sunday with a fun cycling event for children throughout the district.

Puarenga Park on Te Ngae Rd will host the GJ Gardner Homes Bike Mania event, in conjunction with The Daily Post, from 10.30am on Sunday. The cycling starts at 12.30pm.

With three different distances for riders of different ages and abilities there's bound to be an event for everyone, as long as you can ride a bike - even if it has training wheels.

Event organiser Kathy Emery said there were three events to choose from including the 2km Major Mania course for young, beginner and disabled riders and the 4km Massive Mania course is for older riders with some experience and is a scenic ride around the sulphur flats.

There is also the 10km Mammoth Mania course for more experienced riders and goes around the sulphur flats and through a tunnel under Te Ngae Road and around the Redwoods.

Mrs Emery said there would be cycling demonstrations by the Rotorua BMX Club along with appearances by some of Rotorua's cycling royalty including New Zealand under 23 cross country mountainbiking champ Dirk Peters, New Zealand elite cross country mountainbiking champ Carl Jones and 2010 NZ and Oceania elite women's champ Nic Leary.

There will be face painting and bouncy castles for the kids and plenty of spot prizes as well as prizes for the best decorated rider and bike. Every child entered receives a medal and certificate for participating.

"It's all about the kids," Mrs Emery said.

"They will enjoy it. The most important thing is to have fun. Children can pick a course suitable for their abilities with Zumba warm-ups before each race. There are 60 spot prizes up for grabs including six helicopter rides and there will be a specialised bike for one lucky entrant to win and lots of entertainment for the entire family to take part in. It's going to be heaps of fun," Mrs Emery said.

Late registrations are available on the day at the event, otherwise it's $20 per rider. Adults can accompany their children for free. For details, route maps and entry forms visit www.bikemania.co.nz.

BIKE MANIA

10.30am: Late registrations at the GJ Gardner Home tent.

12 noon: 2km Major Mania warm-up.

12.30pm: 2km Major Mania starts; 4km Massive Mania warm-up.

1pm: 4km Massive Mania Starts; 10km Mammoth Mania warm-up.

1.30pm: 10km Mammoth Mania starts.

2.30pm: Presentation of spot prizes. You must be there to claim your prize; All entrants must collect their helmet sticker at the GJ Gardner registration tent at least 30 minutes before their event