Excitement is high for bike extravaganza

Rotorua's inaugural Bike Festival is all on.

After months of hard work and preparation the first Rotorua Bike Festival begins in the city today with Let's Ride MTB Skills Training in the Whakarewarewa Forest, the North Island Bike Polo Tournament at the Kuirau Park basketball courts and the World Shweeb Champs at Agroventures Adventure Park.

With 30 people already registered and many more expected to compete on the day, the World Shweeb Champs is an event anyone can have a go at.

Agroventures Adventure Park marketing manager Anna Rodgers said she was pretty sure at least one world record would be broken during today's competition.

"It's a fantastic opportunity to showcase the Sweeb during the festival.

"It was important for us to be involved and part of the cycling community in Rotorua."

She said former world single speed champion, Rotorua's Garth Weinburg, would be pushing the old record to its limits. "He came very close the last time he tried."

The team at Agroventures will be putting on a free barbecue, there will be music and entertainment and a festival atmosphere.

The event kicks off at 4pm and runs until 7pm. Registrations are being taken at the event.

Events and Venues events manager Martin Croft said he was feeling a combination of excitement and nerves as the festival got underway.

"We're keen to see people out there getting involved in any way they can, whether competing, organising or spectating.

"It's been so pleasing to see so many people come up with great ideas for the events - having 24 events for the first festival has been incredible."

For the programme visit www.rotoruabikefestival.com. The festival runs from today until Sunday, February 17.