Ride round Ruapehu for greenie cash

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 576, 7 March 1995, Page 9

Ride round Ruapehu for greenie cash

A group of enthusiastic amateur cyclists cycled around Mounts Ruapehu, T ongariro and Ngauruhoe over Waitangi weekend to raise money for ECO, a national environment organisation. The dozen cyclists from Wellington and Auckland gathered sponsors for their 154 km journey. ECO coordinator Stephen Blyth estimates $2500 has been raised to help ECO in its work. Based in Wellington, ECO works for 80 environmental groups scattered around the country, lobbying government on a range of issues and keeping groups informed about key issues. Recent work has been on fisheries management, management of national parks, and Department of Conservation funding. Stephen said the cycle ride was a fun way to raise money. The journey took the urban cyclists — of whom some were not the fittest greenies ever to pedal down a mountain road — two days to complete. Total time on the road was about eight hours cycling with about seven hours in between for stops. "We consumed 10 kilos of bananas and a heap of energy bars," said Stephen. It rained for most of the first day (Sunday) when the group cycled from Ohakune, past Waiouru, up the Desert Road to Rangipo and left to T aurewa Lodge - a challenging 104 kms. The last 50 kms heading south past National Park back to Ohakune were a breeze the next day in fine weather. The roads were clear, and everyone coped well with the hills, said Stephen. A highlight for some was learning how to slipstream (follow closely behind another cyclist so they break the force of the wind). Cycling round the high mountains was a definite attraction and thrill for the participants who were keen to leave Wellington and Auckland for the weekend. In fact, the event was so successful that Stephen believes it could be the start of an annual event.