Biking has now become de rigueur in many circles, with fashion labels such as Fendi, introducing handmade $US5, 900 bikes with mounted beauty cases and saddlebags in leather for the fashion conscious. Also, in June last year, luxury watchmaker, Hublot, partnered with Swiss bike maker, BMC, created a sleek black 11- speed, costing a mere $US20,000. In New York, a fashion competition was held, aptly called ‘Bike in Style Challenge’, asking aspiring designers to create fashionable bike wear.
A far cry from the reality of riding ‘Raglan Styles’, but nonetheless, a good indicator of the popularity of bike riding around the globe. This popular pastime, minus the designer fashion labels, will hit the roads of Raglan on Sunday 18th July for the inaugural Karioi Classic — a 50km mountain bike on road around our beautiful mountain.
Not a ride for the faint heartened or one to be attempted straight from the comfort of your winter warmed couch, however, if you are thinking of tackling the ride, then now is the perfect opportunity to get on your bike. Estimated finish times on event day will vary between 1.50hr — 5.30hrs.
A nice training route combining both gravel and sealed roads is a 28km circuit from town going up Te Hutewai Road left onto Te Mata Road, then onto Maungatautiri Road and back into town for a nice cup of coffee.
Locally, there is talk circulating, that there are some intrepid riders seriously considering dusting off their single speeds and hitting the road on the day — in fancy dress! So don’t leave it to the last minute, or worse still, not giving it a go at all, get on your bike. Remember, it could be you taking out the cavorted Chris Meek designed trophies with the title of ‘King or Queen of the Mountain’.
For more information checkout www.karioiclassic.org.nz or pop in and see Dirk at Bike2Bay, Stewart Street.
Lisa Thompson
