Cycling Activities for April 2016

The days are starting to get a bit shorter, and some of the temperatures a little cooler – but that’s no reason to stop all the cycling! We still have another busy month of fun (and mostly free) cycling activities for everyone to get into – read on! Remember that all of these cycling activities can be found in our Events and Activities Calendar, which is updated regularly and contains more info and weblinks.

• We start straight away this weekend with the Tour de Chch on Sat 2nd Apr, hosted by Generation Zero Chch. This is a fun way to see your city by bike and win some prizes! Teams will compete in an Amazing-Race style challenge, completing mystery activities before being able to move on to the next location, with food and drink at the final destination. Unfortunately registrations have already closed, but perhaps you will see a few frantic groups of riders if you are around town this Saturday?

• One thing you can still be a part of, particularly for those new to the saddle, is a Short Ride for New Cyclists hosted by the inimitable Connie of Go Cycle Chch. These free rides are for new cyclists to gain confidence to ride more for transport; they typically involve riding around parks and along quiet streets. But wait, there’s more – Go Cycle Chch are offering rides on six different dates this month in various places around the city – your options are Sat 2nd, Sat 9th, Mon 11th, Thu 14th, Sun 17th, and Mon 18th Apr! So pick a date (or two) and contact Connie to secure a space.

• Frocks on Bikes return with another ride on Sat 16th Apr, a City Street Art Ride. Starting at 11am in Cathedral Square (near the Police booth), this ride will take in some of the many fantastic and beautiful ‘Street Art’ murals in and around the central city. The ride will include visiting the free SPECTRUM Street Art exhibition at YMCA on Hereford St, before finishing up with a cuppa and chat at a CBD cafe. As always, everyone is welcome to come along.

• Also on Sat 16th is the exciting return to Christchurch of the Cycle Powered Cinema. Yes, that’s right; why just sit back and watch the movie when you can contribute to its screening? Bring yourself and your bike along to Space Academy (371 St Asaph St) at 6.30pm to watch the classic BMX biking movie “RAD” (1986). If you’re feeling energetic (or bored?), take your turn to help power the projector. I dare you not to pedal faster during the race scenes!

(If you like your cycling-themed movies, keep an eye on more bike movie events coming in May and June – you won’t have to pedal for these ones either!)

• Look out also for another Lazy Sunday Cycle Ride on the last weekend of April. The last ride on Easter Sunday was along the Coastal Pathway; details are still being worked out for where the next ride will be, but count on another family-friendly route for less confident riders.

• The wonderful folk at RAD Bikes will also continue to be operating their bike workshop at The Commons (cnr Kilmore/Durham Sts) every Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon, helping to build and repair bikes for whoever is in need. All offers of old bikes and bike parts gratefully accepted, and you’re welcome to come along and learn how to improve your own bike maintenance/crafting skills.

• If you like to combine your riding with a local brew, then you might like to sign up for a Radler Tour. This new Christchurch venture offers guided bike tours (with their own distinctive bikes if you don’t have one) showcasing the best that central Christchurch has to offer with the opportunity to sample the finest local craft beer along the way. Tours are run every Saturday and Sunday, starting on the western side of Cathedral Square at 1pm and running for about three hours. Tours cost $35 – book online (up to 8 people per tour).

Finally a reminder that, with daylight savings about to disappear, the evenings will be getting darker. So make sure that you light up well when out riding (but not too bright!).

Will you be taking part in some April cycling events?