Poignant ride to Anzac dawn service

Last year's Anzac Day dawn service at Muruika urupa cemetery. Photo / Ben Fraser

It's the mountain bike singlespeed national championships in Rotorua on Sunday but riders of all types of pushbikes are invited to join the annual ride to the Anzac Dawn Parade tomorrow.

The ride has become something of an annual tradition since the inaugural New Zealand championships were held in Rotorua in 2008.

With the championships drawing a field of Australians and the RSA one of the event's beneficiaries, the 100-year-commemoration is a poignant one for the singlespeeders.

"Singlespeeders are into having fun and it's not too serious," said race co-organiser Paul Laing.

"But this creates a nice balance. It's all about remembrance and we'll treat it appropriately. We have a lot of Australians coming over and this helps cement our relationship with them."

The ride is not just for those taking part in the championship. It is open to all bike riders, whether they owned a singlespeed or not, Mr Laing said.

They have arranged for bike parking in the front yard of a home in the Ohinemutu Village.

"The whole country is getting more galvanised by Anzac. It's bringing the whole community together. There will be a whole lot of out-of-towners who have never been to our dawn parade, and ours is really special."

Riders keen to take part should meet at the Pig & Whistle on Tutanekai St for a 5.30am ride to Ohinemutu.