Media Release

29 October 2014

Mountain Bike Event at Tūtira

http://www.hbrc.govt.nz/News-Events/Media-Releases/Pages/Mountain-Bike-Event-at-Tutira.aspx

A new mountain bike event is being held at Tūtira Regional Park on Sunday, 9 November.

The event is being run by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council with support from the Hawke’s Bay Mountain Bike Club.

Starting at 10am, the event goes from Lake Tūtira campground and will use mostly existing tracks and trails in Tūtira Regional Park, usually open to walkers only.

“The Regional Council appreciates help from the club in assessing the options of adding mountain biking to the activities available at Tūtira and other areas around Hawke’s Bay, and we are excited about opening the park to riders,” said Antony Rewcastle, Open Spaces
A club event at the park in May helped to test the suitability of the tracks for mountain bike riding.

For this event, a new route through neighbouring farmland has been added to the challenging intermediate grade Ridgeline ride to the top. This track is about 16km with a 614m elevation and some steep sections that most riders will have to walk. The ridgeline has views to Napier but at 494 metres above sea level it is exposed so suitable clothing and equipment is essential.

Easy grade (family) track options include a 3km circuit of Lake Waikopiro (beside Lake Tūtira, with a 19m elevation difference) and the 4.4km Kahikanui Circuit (45m elevation difference).

Entry is free but limited, so riders should register with HBRC by 12pm, Friday, 7 November, 2014 at either openspace@hbrc.govt.nz, phone 06 835 9200 or 0800 108 838. Registered riders will be given updates with rules, a route map, and the latest track conditions prior to the event. The routes go through erosion-prone forestry and working farm areas.

Tūtira Regional Park is alongside State Highway 2, about 40 minutes’ drive north of Napier. There is plenty of parking plus a basic camping area with water and toilets (no shower or cooking block) for any participants who want to travel up early and camp.

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