Mangaphai cyclists meet the challenge

More than 70 cycle enthusiasts from pre-schoolers to seniors joined Kaipara Mayor Neil Tiller in the BikeWise Mayoral Challenge fun ride along Dune Drive, Mangawhai, last month.

Each entrant earned a point which will be tallied to determine which region in NZ is the most cycle mad within its category. This was the first year that Mangawhai had participated.

Earlier in the day, Cr Tiller led a similar ride in Dargaville which attracted 58 cyclists. He told the Mangawhai participants that their turnout was a fantastic effort, considering the size of the local population, and that he would be back to lead another ride next year.
“This is your chance to lobby your councillors for better facilities for cyclists in the area,” he said.

Sport Northland co-ordinator Bridgette Sampson, who organised the event, said that she hoped it would spark interest in the formation of a cycle club in Mangawhai.
Lucky Otamatea student, Blake Anderson, 11, won the Avanti Discovery bike which the Mayor had ridden earlier. Blake, from Kaiwaka, had kept abreast of Mr Tiller for duration of the two kilometre ride, and was very happy to be taking the $750 bike home.
Olivia Cullen, 6, won the best dressed bike award, transforming her pink bike into a fearsome shark, with the help of Dad Travis.