Autumn may have officially started, but after February’s biking bonanza, there’s still plenty of cycling to be had this month. Here’s a run-down of some events that you might like to enjoy in March:
- After last month’s successful get-together, Wheel Womyn Wednesdays returns on Wed 9th Mar, 6pm at the RAD Bikes shed in The Commons (cnr Kilmore/Durham). This is a casual, drop-in workshop focused on one cycling topic per event where you can socialise with others and learn a few new things. This month, the focus will be on the ABC’s of bike safety check-ups; a great starter session to get an overview of your bike.
- If you like your socialising to involve a brew or two instead, then why not head along to the 2nd ever Bikes, Beer & Banter, from 6pm on Thu 10th Mar at Space Academy on St Asaph St. Join other bike-minded people and have a chat about whatever takes your fancy. What do you think of the new Major Cycleways? How about the 30k CBD speed limit? Got a cool new bike to show off? Come and join the gang!
- On Sat 12th Mar from 11.30am, Frocks on Bikes will be leading a City to Culture Galore Ride, starting outside Canterbury Museum (Rolleston Avenue). The ride will wind its way over to Ray Blank Park in Ilam where food, dance, music, song, and crafts from around the world will be represented at the Culture Galore Festival. Why not dress up in something cultural too? This ride is free and open for everyone; men, women and children, old and young.
- Also on Sat 12th from 12-3pm, the ICEcycles team are back with their first bike maintenance workshop for the year. Located at the Phillipstown Hub in Nursery Rd, this is a chance for you to get your bike looked over and (hopefully) all fixed up. ICEcycles also take old bikes and bike parts and lovingly refurbish them to produce new rides for new homes.
- The weekend of Mar 12th also sees the introduction of the CBD’s 30km/h speed limit (apparently, about five minutes later, the world will end…). Spokes Canterbury are thinking about marking the occasion with a celebration of cycling in town; with lots already happening on Saturday, keep an eye out on their Facebook page for more details about “Slow Sunday” on Mar 13th…
- This event’s out of town, but is pretty important in NZ cycling circles: if you want to help advocate for a more cycle-friendly country, then you should get along to this year’s “CAN Do” National Biking Summit in Hamilton on Mar 18-20. Hosted by the Cycling Action Network (CAN), this is the annual forum for meeting with other fellow cycling-passionate bods and learning some useful tips and advice from what others have been up to, as well as sessions on speed management, cycling education, and NZTA activities. You also get the chance to sample the cycling that Hamilton has to offer, including the Te Awa Cycle Trail
- We don’t usually mention competitive cycling events much here, but it would be remiss not to mention the iconic Le Race cycle event from Christchurch to Akaroa on Sat 19th Mar. Starting at 8am from Cathedral Square, teams and individual riders make their way over the Banks Peninsula roads for 100km to the historic French village, some for the glory, but most just for the satisfaction of doing it. This year, there’s even a “Le Race Petite” option, taking only half the distance and finishing in Little River.
- One more event to sneak in before month’s end will be another Lazy Sunday Cycle Ride. This month the target is the Coastal Pathway route from Ferrymead to Redcliffs. It so happens that the last Sunday of March is Easter Sunday (27th Mar), so it’s possible that the date might be shifted to sometime else on the long Easter weekend. Lazy Sunday Cycle Rides are designed to be completely along off-road routes and quiet streets; ideal for nervous riders. We can even arrange a few spare bikes for those who don’t have one. More details to come…
As usual, you can catch up on all the coming cycling events via our Events/Activities Calendar; easily found on the righthand side of every Cycling in Chch webpage.
What will you be taking part in?