Things to do  |  30 Sep 2021

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It’s that time of year again. The month long festival of cycling, Biketober, is back.

And this year it’s time to get the kids involved too.

Biketober gets underway on Friday October 1 with the opening of the Biketober Passport competition, which has a new children’s option. 

During the month, people and their families can cycle to destinations around the city and use their smartphone to check in using a code unique to each participating business or site to win prizes at the end of the festival.

“This is the perfect chance to get your bikes out of the shed, grab the kids and get out and see the city while trying out the new, safe cycleways around town,” Biketober organiser Robert Fleming says.

As always the festival is packed with events, rides and workshops but this year they will be run according to COVID-19 Alert Level 2 restrictions, Mr Fleming says.

“If you’re new to cycling, wanting to get back into it or an experienced rider, there’s something for everyone. Plus, there is a prize pool which includes bike tours, a pass for Christchurch Adventure Park, ferry trips, vouchers, bike servicing and t-shirts.”

Notable Biketober events:

  • Biketober Rave, Saturday 2 October – decorate your bike and join one of the ‘bike gangs’ to head into the city for a light-hearted evening of music and bright lights.
  • Try the Track, Sunday 3 October – ride your own bike at the Denton Park Velodrome.
  • Spokes Tuesday Transport Seminar, Tuesday 5 October – a talk from two different speakers about cargo bikes and managing bike luggage on cycling holidays.
  • Bike to Ice, Saturday 16 October – an afternoon ride through New Zealand’s Antarctic history cycling from Scott’s Statue to the Antarctic Centre, returning to the Explorer’s Hub at the Arts Centre.
  • Velo à l’est – Te Ara Ōtākaro, Saturday 16 October – join a guided ride on Te Ara Ōtākaro, stopping at several points along the way to hear from those who have been involved in the community development of this special area.
  • Treasure @ Otautahi, Sunday 23 October – find history, art and gardens on a treasure hunt along Ōtākaro Avon River.
  • Passport One-Day Challenge, Sunday 31 October – see how many Biketober Passport destinations you can get to in one day to be in to win prizes.