Bike Waikato December 2024 Newsletter
In this newsletter from Bike Waikato:
- Message from the Committee: Merry Christmas!
- Events Recap and Future Events – Bike Month is Upcoming!
- Route of the Month – The Great Te Awa River Ride
- Summer Vacay Safety Tip
- Te Awa River Trail Update – Upcoming closure between Monday 6 January and Friday 31 January
Message from the Committee
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
What a full on year we have had with only a few days left of 2024. We want to wish you a Merry Christmas on behalf of all of us in the committee and we hope you are able to enjoy the upcoming holiday period.
Summer is an excellent time for morning and late afternoon rides, when the sun is a little lower and less intense. Remember to wear sunscreen if you are outside for extended periods of time, always have water on hand, seek shade often and most importantly have fun.
We have been hard at work creating subcommittee’s to help us better manage the organisation of Bike Waikato and to connect with our members and bring volunteers into the fold about the work we do. Whether you want to build community or advocate about cycling, there are opportunities for anyone interested. More information will be shared in the new year and we hope to invite people to subcommittee’s as soon as possible. If you would like to get involved feel free to email us at [email protected] with your experience and interests and we can begin connecting you to the right people.
Final Constitution Update
The Amended Constitution received no objections from our members and was gladly accepted by the Committee. It is being made available through the website for all to read with a shorthand version not far off for new members. If you have any questions or concerns about Bike Waikato, how we are run, or our obligations as a Committee, be sure to check it out.
Events Recap
Bikes help carry the mauri for the hiikoi mo Te Tiriti on its way to Wellington! (14 November)
Runners, horses, and even bikes played a part in delivering a movement through the country in opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill and other government policies. Between Ngaaruawaahia and Kirikiriroa, the mauri moved onto wheels as it traveled up the Waikato and was welcomed into Hamilton before moving on to Rotorua on the 14th of November. Bike Waikato’s valet was set up to receive the bikers and the bikes of other protesters converging on FMG Stadium on their way to Garden Place. At a time of solidarity we were able to be present and support the action in a small way.
The Bike Valet is readily available for the community.
Bike Waikato had a fantastic, colourful and festive flotilla of bikes in the First Credit Union Christmas Parade (8 December)
Bike Waikato hosted a huge range of bikes, trikes, recumbents, cargo bikes, bikes with trailers of all descriptions, and a hand-powered trike all blinged up in the very best of Christmas cheer. Leading the flotilla was the wheelchair trike that is making the Te Awa River Ride accessible for anyone in a wheelchair. Thanks to Tamahere Lions, Access NZ, and Riverside Adventures where the trike is based at the Cambridge Velodrome.
A total of 19 bikes and 30 people, including 11 kids, took part in the parade along Anglesea Street. Our flotilla was something different for all the families and kids who came to watch. You could see the delight on so many kids’ faces as they spotted a really unique type of bike. The one that got the most looks was the very unique hand powered trike!
Hopefully, there will be people at home now wondering if they too could use any one or more of what they saw during the Parade to get around our great city.
A special thanks to the teams from Tamahere Lions Club and Access NZ for providing six people to walk alongside us. They were a great addition to the Bike Waikato flotilla and the parade itself.
You can be sure that Bike Waikato will have another entry in next year’s Christmas Parade with even more bikes and trikes taking part.
Upcoming Events
Bike Month is kicking off in February and the Committee is hard at work organising with different groups to provide events to celebrate cycling in the Waikato.
Some fan favourites will be coming back such as our ride to Ngaruawaahia from the Hamilton Gardens and coffee meets around the city.
We will also be trying out some new events such as seminars on bike safety and pop up Bike Waikato giveaways for cyclists around the city.
If you’ve got any ideas for great events, let us know at [email protected]!
Look out for our January newsletter to get a calendar of upcoming events and we hope to see you there!
Route of the Month – The Great Te Awa River Ride
As the holiday season begins and summer unfolds, it’s an ideal time to explore The Great Te Awa River Ride, a 76 km off road (mostly) shared path from Ngaaruawaahia to Lake Karapiro.
This route features wide concrete paths, fenced boardwalks, and two short sections on the road, winding alongside the beautiful Waikato River as it passes through Horitiu, Hamilton, Tamahere, Cambridge, and Leamington.
Starting at The Point in Ngaaruawaahia, you’ll head south towards Hamilton, crossing the Perry Bridge and enjoying views both from the eastern and western banks of the river. Please note weekday detours will be in place around the Te Awa Lakes housing development between January 6th and 31st, but the path remains open on weekends.
In Hamilton, you’ll be close to the city centre, with plenty of spots to exit or join the path.
Continuing south through Riverlea and Tamahere, you’ll find cafes and a skating park before the trail leads through farmland to the Gaslight Theatre in Cambridge. Check out the new separated bike lanes from Gaslight Theater to the narrow bridge, where you can continue, or break off to visit the bustling town centre for a coffee, or lunch.
After a brief on-road section through Leamington, the wide path resumes to Lake Karapiro where a stunning boardwalk awaits at the end where it floats out over the water.
The Great Te Awa River Ride is suitable for everyone, with manageable steep sections, making it a perfect family outing. Add this experience to your New Year’s to-do list—you won’t regret it!
Don’t forget, Bike Waikato and GoEco are hosting a group ride from Hamilton Gardens to Ngaaruawaahia on February 15th at 9 AM.
Have a wonderful biking Christmas and a joyful New Year!
Summer Safety Tips
This month’s safety tip is: drinking and cycling might seem less dangerous than drinking and driving, but remember that alcohol slows down your reaction times and affects your balance – both important parts of riding your bike, on-road or off. Don’t risk traveling if you are getting intoxicated and try to stay in place when under the influence.
Te Awa Route Update
The Te Awa River trail was closed between the 9 and 12 of December to install a safety fence for the Te Awa Lakes development.
Unfortunately, there was no detour in place while this work was happening. We reached out to Hamilton City but were unable to organise an alternative.
Further work will be happening along this stretch of the trail and the Te Awa Lakes team has reached out to tell us a detour will be place in between Monday 6 January and Friday 31 January 2025. The work will be taking place during weekdays only.
This detour will take riders along the Eastern side of SH1C and down Hutchinson Road to link back with the trail. We have shared a map provided by Te Awa Lakes to make clear the detour route they have set up.
We are thankful to the Te Awa Lakes team for keeping us in the loop so that we can share it further, and we hope this won’t disrupt any summer travel plans or commuting.
