A formal challenge and open public invitation has been issued by Far North Mayor Wayne Brown to join him on a 13-kilometre cycle ride on the former railway corridor from Okaihau to Kaikohe on Sunday 29th May 2011.
This will be the first time a section of the 85.6 kilometre Pou Herenga Tai-Twin Coast Cycle Trail currently under construction has officially been used for a cycle event.
The Mayoral Challenge will start at Okaihau with a predominantly downhill run to Kaikohe. This section of the trail is particularly suitable for bike riders of all ages and was selected to encourage both family and experienced trail riders to participate.
The ride is expected to take the majority of the field around one hour to complete.
Entry to the inaugural cycle trail event is free and there will be spot prizes including new bikes to give away at a prize-giving, sausage sizzle and market day at the Mid North Motor Inn at Kaikohe at the conclusion of the ride.
The 13-kilometre section selected for the Mayoral Cycle Challenge is now close to completion and will be a taste-tempter for the full trail which will run from Horeke to Opua when construction is completed.
The first objective is to have the trail along the former rail corridor open from at least Okaihau to Kawakawa in time for the anticipated visitor influx for the Rugby World Cup later this year. However this will be dependent on ongoing negotiations with adjoining property owners.
In the medium term the Twin Coast trail will link with shorter trails and cycling-based activities across the mid-north.
The Mayoral Cycle Challenge will also focus attention on the government-initiated NZ Cycle Trail designed to provide inter-connected trails across New Zealand. The Pou Herenga Tai-Twin Coast trail is expected to be one of the first sections of the nationwide trail to become operational.
