"The Accumulator category meant our family could compete together. It seemed like the best idea ever. It took a bit of convincing our two adult children, as they had not been on their bikes for some time, but I nudged them hard."
Eventually the Burt children agreed, bikes were dusted off and team Chain Gang entered the event.
The Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is a smorgasbord of two-wheeled fun. The thrilling Criterium - elite street races - start on Friday night and are a popular drawcard for spectators.
Saturday features the main events with almost every iteration of road bike or mountain bike event on offer in a variety of locations around Taupo. A sport and lifestyle expo and various forms of entertainment keep riders and spectators fully engaged during the weekend in "nature's ultimate playground" - and the Burts are ready to roll.
Entered in the Accumulator four-person progressive relay, Garry will start the 160km circumnavigation alone on Saturday morning, collecting son Jamie after the first 40km, daughter Kylie after another 40km and mum Erin joins the team for the final 40km push to the finish line. Daughter-in-law Tracey is team manager responsible for logistics on event day - her challenge is pushing husband Jamie out the door for a ride.
The 31-year-old busy sharemilker isn't the only family member who has struggled to train for the event.
Sister Kylie (29), technical assistant at Seeka, doesn't shy away from the discipline of training but has been affected by a long period of work-related illness.
Erin (58) manages the family dental practice and worries about being the "snail" in the team. Completing the majority of her training on the flat to build up speed, she came down with pneumonia during a critical period of hill training.
"I hate hills - I even have them in my nightmares. But I am terrified I will let the team down, so have challenged myself to tackle them. It's an ongoing mental battle."
The family have found many ways to motivate and encourage each other to train for the event, Erin says.
"The inspiration to keep training comes from being part of a team - if you don't do your part, the rest of the team will suffer.
"When it's windy, damp and we're tired or distracted, we remind each other of how it will feel to cross that line together as a family.
"We discuss our plans for the post-race celebration - where Tracey will be waiting for us, what time we will get in - all that talk keeps us going."
Erin appreciates the deeper connection the family have as a result of stepping up to this challenge.
"We've always been a close family. The kids live locally and spend a lot of time with us. But training together has made us more aware of each other's different strengths, personalities and approaches to life, in a way that may not have been evident to us before.
"Jamie tends to leave things to the last minute, so we have all been encouraging him to get his training in. Kylie is super-serious and strict about her training. Garry sets himself a goal and just plugs away at it. And they all encourage me to keep working really hard at those hills"
"Physically and mentally this has changed us all for the better."
