"I like being out in the garden and going to the beach and stuff, but being out on the open road, on two wheels, it gives me a sense of freedom."
She said being diagnosed with breast cancer, and surviving, had put life in perspective.
"I was scared when I found out, I never felt the lump and we had no family history. The treatment made me really tired, but I had a good support network of friends and family."
Upon finishing treatment in 2014, Kepa and a friend joined the Rotorua Group Challenge Boot Camp. It was through that that they started doing events.
"I decided I just have to live my life to the fullest, I had a new lease on life."
Having completed triathlons, trail runs and cycling events, she is now a self-confessed "event-aholic".
"[The Moa 100km Flyer] was cool, it was really awesome. I'd never ridden that far before. We had a really good mentor, Mark Enright, and our Rotorua Group Challenge coach David Massey, they made sure we were prepared.
"The training for this one is going well, I try to get out most weekends and a couple of times during the week.
"There are three of us doing it together who are celebrating milestones. I turned 50 in August, Sonia [Te Whare] turns 50 next month and Hayley Puddle is our pocket rocket, she turned 40 this year."
Kepa said checking for breast cancer was "really important" for all women, regardless of age or family history.
"You just never know when your whole life could be turned upside down."
Kepa is one of thousands set to join some of New Zealand's most accomplished riders in the 41st annual Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.
Michaela Drummond is back hoping to win the 100km Bayleys Women's Classic Race. It was a dramatic split-second finish last year, seeing Drummond come in an incredibly tight second. This is the first year the elite women will receive the same prize money as their male elite counterparts riding in the 160km Holden Men's Classic Race, which this year features ex-rowing champion-turned-cyclist, Hamish Bond.
Event director Aaron Carter said it was designed for cyclists of all abilities, and spectators alike, with a range of free entertainment and activities.
"Live music and great entertainment adds a fantastic flavour to the event. It's one of the many reasons people come back to enjoy this iconic event every year."
In 1977, event founder Walter De Bont had a vision to get 25 other riders together and cycle around Lake Taupo to raise funds for what was then the IHC charity. Now owned by the Lake Taupo Rotary Club, since 1977 the event has generated more than $3.4 million for community groups and more than $700,000 for Heart Kids, the event's official charity.
The not-for-profit event injects an estimated $7m into the Taupo economy every year.
