Editorial: Cycling into the new year

I'll be partying on the hill urging the elite riders up Spencer Rd which is part of this week's Summer Cycling Carnival.

Welcome to 2017.

My New Year's Resolution is not to make one after a few too many unkept resolutions.

I do however, have a list of things to do.

First on the list is to clean my bike for this week's Summer Cycling Carnival.

Five days of cycling events kick off on Wednesday with two criteriums on Marine Parade - one for families and one for more serious riders.

I was contemplating entering this event but given my nervous disposition going around corners fast I feel I would be better on the sideline cheering everyone else on as they sprint around the 1.1km circuit.

I will bring my clean bike out for the Traffic Design Group Flying Lap. As it is time trial I should be able to navigate all corners safely.

Riding the same course the elites will take will give me a taste of what it would be like to be a professional cyclist - just a bit slower.

Watching the Elite Road National Championships last year from the Napier Botanical Gardens, I was impressed with how fast the riders climbed up Spencer Rd on a hot windy day. Some of them made it look effortless.

However as the race progressed and their legs tired, I saw more grimaces amongst the peloton.

I felt as if I almost expended as much energy ringing a cow bell and yelling encouragement to spur them up the hill.

I'll be at the same spot again this year with snacks to fuel my spectating.

It's not quite Mont Ventoux but it certainly is a lot of fun.