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Eighteen retired people on electric bikes must have stood out, as the group cycled 28km from Matakana to Point Wells and Omaha earlier this month.
The riders belong to the Orewa E-Bikers Club, a group for retiree e-bikers set up at the end of 2020 (HM July 2021). Club president Robert Scott says 18 is a record number for one of the group’s fortnightly rides of trails in wider Auckland.
Riders are aged from 65 to 87, all with different bike skills and fitness levels.
“One of the highlights any of our rides, apart from the beautiful scenery, is the coffee and bun stop where we enjoy each other’s company, chatting and making new friendships,” Robert says.
It’s safety first, with one rider taking the lead and a tail-end-Charlie appointed to mop up and assist any stragglers.
“We also nominate a middle rider whose job is connecting riders from the front group to the back group especially when the front group take a hidden exit off the trail not seen by those riders cycling behind,” Robert says. “With 18 riders we needed to have two of the middle riders.”
New members are welcome. Ōrewa E-Bikers meet at the Ōrewa Surf Club carpark three times a week – Monday, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 9.50am and ride away at 10am. They do a lot of local rides, as well as regular excursions further afield. Info: phone Robert, 0274 756 122, email robertandrobyn@xtra.co.nz
