Rotorua encouraged to give electric bikes a go in city's Bike Festival

People gather with their bikes at last year's Great Electric Bike Challenge. Photo / Alan Ofsoski

The wait for the Rotorua Bike Festival is now over, and it is not just leg-powered bikes being celebrated during the festivities.

The use of electric bikes is encouraged at the events The Great Electric Bike Challenge and Dash to the Caldera.

The Great Electric Bike Challenge is a scavenger hunt. Riders will be given a list of locations, objects and information to bring back to the finish. A map will be provided.

All correct entries received will be eligible to become the winner of the Great Electric Bike Challenge. There will also be spot prizes for other lucky entrants.

This will be the second time the challenge has been held in the Rotorua Bike Festival organiser Fiona Simmonds says.

She says they are happy for anyone to take part and people do not have to be riding an electric bike.

"It's always great to be out on a bike and our bike tracks are fantastic."

She encourages people to get out and support the bike festival's events.

I think it's a great idea because the local economy gets a lot of benefit from mountain biking, so I think encouraging all sorts of biking is great."

Fiona says electric bikes are a great option for people who did not think they could ever get back on a bike.

She says at Electric Bike Rotorua they get a lot of people who have knee, leg and heart problems, and who can not put in the effort they used to when doing activities like biking.

"They never thought they would be biking again and it's been wonderful for people."

Dash to the Caldera organiser Joe Lindsay says it is an event on a private piece of farmland, going from the bottom and ascending more than 400m to a ridge line.

The ridgeline has a 360 degree view of Lake Okataina, Mt Tarawera and a panoramic view over Rotorua.

He says they are running the race primarily on electric bikes but there is a category for leg-powered bikes.

This is a new event to the Rotorua Bike Festival.

Joe says it is to try and get people to come out and use electric bikes.

He says he is excited to be able to showcase electric mountain bikes and their capabilities.

"The ride itself is fantastic. It's a pretty incredible ride up there and the ride down is lots of fun."

Joe says there are a lot of people out there who normally would not be able to compete in an event of this kind on a regular bike.

"It is a timed event. People can come and compete if they would like, but the big thing of the event is getting people out there."

People can register through the contact information on the Rotorua Bike Festival.

The details
- What: The Great Electric Bike Challenge
- When: Sunday October 21, 1pm to 4pm
- Where: Government Gardens
- Cost: Free

- What: Dash to the Caldera
- When: Monday October 22, 10am to 1pm
- Where: Omania Farm, 976 Te Ngae Rd
- Cost: $30 with own bike or options to rent and participate from $49 to $69. Proceeds go to Bay of Plenty Rural Support