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Around 375 cyclists took part in the inaugural Ōrewa Bike Cruise, held on March 25 on the Te Ara Tahuna cycle and walkway and surrounds.
It featured a relaxed family friendly ride on an 11.5km, starting and ending in Western Reserve. Dressing up for the occasion was encouraged.
Three pit stops along the way provided refreshments, music and entertainment.
Riders enjoyed a sausage sizzle at Maygrove Lake among flowering waterlilies and weeping willows. The pit stop at Milllwater Parkway had free ice cream, and there were bags of lollies and scroggin at Pohutukawa Reserve in Red Beach. Clowns, Ukulele Union and the Harcourts mascot Homie the Gnomie entertained the riders as they passed the pit stops.
It was definitely not a race with all participants taking it at their own pace – the first rider was back at Western Reserve in just 35 minutes (courtesy of an e-bike) and the last returned after 2.5 meandering, enjoyable hours.
The event was organised by Destination Ōrewa Beach. Its operations manager, Hellen Wilkins, says overall it was a great event and will be repeated.
“As always with something new, there will be things adjusted or added to make next year’s event even better,” she says.
