"Get on your bike," has a new meaning in the corridors of the Beehive as Members of Parliament start training for the iconic 2009 Wattyl Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge on November 28th.
Taupo’s MP Louise Upston (National Party) is participating in her first Cycle Challenge and encourages everyone to give it a go.
“As a MP, wife, and a mother of three, I’m pretty busy but I’ve set myself a goal to cycle 40kms as part of a team in this year’s Cycle Challenge – it will be difficult to find the time to train, however I’m determined to make it to the start line,” said Upston who will take part in the Linfox Relay where teams of 2, 3 or 4 tackle the 160km ride around Lake Taupo.
“I’ve signed up to the BNZ Trainer Wheels programme, which has helped me start training – as they say, you don’t need any fancy gear, just a roadworthy bike, a helmet and the determination to finish,” said Upston.
Fellow National MP Hekia Parata has persuaded 3 other women, also in their 50th year, to form a relay team and train for the event – she too balances three children, the busy life of a politician and wife.
‘Our doctor calls us inspirational, the Prime Minister says it’s aspirational, we say is perspirational; but we’re absolutely loving it,” said Parata.
Green Party co-leaders Metiria Turei and Russel Norman are demonstrating their commitment to cycling as an eco-friendly form of transport and entering a team with parliamentary colleagues Kevin Hague and Keith Locke.
"The Green Party is stacked full of cycling enthusiasts, but this will be the first time that the Green MPs have entered a team into the Cycle Challenge. We will be the only political party leaders participating, but we challenge the leaders of other political parties to get involved too next year. We're not expecting to win in the competitive aspect of the event, but rather to emphasise that riding a bike is a form of exercise and a form of transport that is available to almost everyone, " said Norman.
Meanwhile, National’s Nikki Kaye (Member for Auckland Central) and the Hon Trevor Mallard from the Labour Party (Member for Hutt South) are taking the friendly nature of the Cycle Challenge to the next level in an outright competition to see who can finish the 160kms of the BNZ Solo first.
It will be the fifth time Mallard has participated in the iconic Cycle Challenge, something he hopes to use to his advantage against first-timer Kaye who isn’t without extreme sporting credentials having completed the 2008 Coast to Coast event.
Labour’s Member for Rimataka Chris Hipkins has also started training for the iconic event, which is expecting over 10,000 entrants from around New Zealand and the world.
While the politicians are focusing on the tarmac events, the Contact Huka Mountain Bike Challenge is expected to be popular with off-road riders – the 80km ride takes in some of Taupo’s most famous mountain bike tracks including those not normally accessible to the public. Entries are limited to 600 and it is expected to see out early.
Mallard, Kaye and Upston are blogging their training progress on Bike New Zealand’s Ride Strong website http://www.ridestrong.org.nz/rs/blogs/.
“We are delighted that cycling crosses all party lines and encourage all Kiwis to set themselves the challenge of entering this year’s event,” said Doug Simmons, Chairman of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Trust, the organisation responsible for organising New Zealand’s premier cycling event which is also part of the prestigious UCI Golden Bike Series.
“From its humble beginnings in 1977 with 26 participants, the event has grown significantly but still retains a unique community feeling – it is owned and organised by the Taupo Moana Rotary Club and involves 1000 local volunteers who provide much-needed support to the participants throughout the weekend.”
In total, there are twelve different Challenges that form the Wattyl Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge:
- BNZ Solo - 160 km circuit of Lake Taupo
- BNZ Tandem riders – 160km around Lake Taupo on a tandem bike
- BNZ Solo Combo – 20km MTB followed by a 160km circuit of Lake Taupo
- Linfox Tarmac Relay – 4 x 40km legs, use 2, 3 or 4 riders
- Linfox Dirt & Tarmac Relay – add a 20km MTB leg to the start of the relay - 2, 3, 4 or 5 riders
- Enduro - 320 km twice round the lake.
- Maxi Enduro - 640 km four circuits of the lake.
- Contact Huka Challenge - an 80km MTB challenge
- Contact Huka XL Race – 80km MTB race for licensed riders .
- Avanti Men’s Classic Race - 160 Km Classic Race component for elite male riders
- WorkOut Zone Women’s Road Race – 60 km classic race component for elite female riders.
- Heart Children NZ Heart Ride – a 5 km ride for under 10s
More information about Cycle Challenge including training programmes, accommodation and entry fees is available at www.cyclechallenge.com.
