Ride the Runway is back as part of the 2017 Rotorua Bike Festival, featuring the addition of some new and familiar events with a Kiwiana twist.
Next year's twilight event will be on Saturday, February 18 at Rotorua Airport.
Event organiser Jason Cameron, from Rotorua Lakes Council's events team, said it was great to be back for a third year and to keep building on previous years' events.
"After the popularity of the past two years and over 1300 riders participating in 2016, it's great to be back with new events to get people's wheels spinning.
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Advertise with NZME."We've also moved the event to the evening, to take advantage of the magic of twilight.
"New for 2017 is the Bike Sheep Dog Trials, where different bike codes - mountain bike, BMX, unicycle, tandem, downhill, you name it - will go head-to-head in teams to round up the Romneys.
"Also new this year is the Elite Elimination Race - picture a short, fast course with frantic and close racing over about 15 to 20 minutes. The rider at the rear of each lap is chopped until only one remains.
"The Open Speed Session is another event where we switch everything up a gear. Riders will have the opportunity to race their mates over various measured distances to post a fast time in the speed zone."
Airport acting chief executive John Harrison said the free event was a great night out for the whole family and was one not to miss.
"It's a great opportunity for locals from Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty to get involved in the bike festival and have a ride on a runway - there aren't many other places you can do that.
"The family friendly event is all about having a go and celebrating Rotorua's unique bike culture and it's great the airport can team up with the festival for such a fantastic community event."
On top of all the action on the runway will be DJs, live music, craft, food and drink stalls, kids' bike obstacle course, penny farthing and e-bike have a go, fire engines, a photo booth, prize draws and more.
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Advertise with NZME.Rotorua Airport will also be fundraising for the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge, where firefighters race up the Auckland Sky Tower's 51 flights of stairs to raise money for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.
Gates open at 5pm, with the final event at 7.45pm.
It is free to enter. Turn up on the day to register for the Ride the Runway and Speed Session events. For more information, keep an eye on the Rotorua Bike Festival Facebook page.
The event had been made possible with the continued support of Air New Zealand and Holland Beckett Lawyers, a media release stated.
