This month is Bike Wise month and February 11th is Go by Bike day when people are encouraged to bike to work or college.
Many towns held events today for families – Nelson, Timaru, Christchurch in the South Island and Waiheke, Rotorua, Napier / Hastings, and Palmerston North all had family fun bike activities.
Perhaps it is true to say there are three main types of bicycles and riders in New Zealand. First there are the commuters who travel to work by bike. Then there the racing cyclists who wear lycra clothing and ride racing bikes. Their bikes are light weight with narrow wheels. Lastly, there are the sports lovers who ride mountain bikes on cycle trails, often through forests. Their bikes have strong frames with shock absorbers front and back, and thick tyres.
The Prime Minister, who is also the Minister for Tourism, had the idea for the New Zealand Cycle Trail, Nga Haerenga which means The Journey. Check out their website New Zealand cycle trail. Cycle trails are graded according to difficulty. Grades 1 and 2 are easy. The website has a map showing the cycle trails. It’s a good way to see more of New Zealand and the natural scenery. Many of these trails have a visitor centre where you can hire a bike and arrange for transport to the beginning of the trail.
However, Wednesday is a day for commuters to ride their bikes. The bike wise website, Bike Wise, lists the benefits of a 30 minute bike ride at a moderate speed. These include using up 300 calories (about the same as 1 chocolate bar), growing more brain cells, improving your heart and lungs, being more awake at work, and also being a happier person.
Listen to March 23rd 2014 to hear more about cycling in NZ.
Vocabulary
• commuter – a person who travels to work regularly
• lycra – a stretchy fabric
• shock absorbers – so you don’t feel the bumps too much
• calorie – energy value of food = 4.1868 joules
Writing
Use this as a writing frame. Add some other details too.
There are 3 (4, 5) main types of ……………………………… First there is /are ………………. They do / have/ wear/ like ……………………………….. Then there is / are ……………………. They do/ have/ wear/ like ……………………… Lastly, there is / are ……………………………….. They do / have/ wear/ like …………………..