Memorial cycle race taps into deeply poignant mood

Every time Mike Eagles rides past the spot where a memorial "ghost bike" stands near where his training buddy Fred Ogle died after being hit by a car while cycling, he takes a moment to acknowledge his mate.
It has only been three months since Ogle, aged 48, died after he was knocked off his bike just west of Whangarei, so for Eagles and a tight bunch of fellow cyclists who used to train regularly with Ogle, the emotions are still a bit raw.
Come Sunday, Eagles is not sure how he will react when he is joined about 150 other cyclists for the Fred Ogle Memorial Ride.
It is an organised fun ride prompted by Ogle's death, and local cyclists are set to flock to the event venue at Mangakahia on Sunday to be part of what looms as a poignant sports event.
"It's going to be a bit sad because the race is along a lot of the roads he used for training himself. We won't be going past the spot, but just riding those roads will be a bit emotional I suppose," Eagles said.
"Really, I haven't got it all out of my system yet, it all bites a bit when I think about it," he said.
Eagles has been pleasantly surprised to learn of the 150-strong field entered for the event, but in a way the response could have been expected.
The theme is striking a chord as, soon after Ogle's death, another Whangarei recreational road cyclist, Lynley MacDonald, was hit by a truck and died.
Cyclists will ride past the spot where MacDonald died and a large contingent of her friends and family are expected to take part.
But the event will be special for Eagles and the group of cyclists who used to ride every Saturday morning with Ogle.
"We still ride every Saturday and pass by his business, his home and his (ghost) bike and I always take a moment to say 'morning Fred' as we cruise past. We have managed to keep the group going, we had eight of us on Saturday.
"Fred had a rule that you never rode off and left anyone in our group. A flat tyre, or if anyone was in a bit of bother, we always stopped and waited.
"I'm glad there are quite a few entered for Sunday, because we start off chasing a few fast bunches then when we get into trouble we can wait up and get some help from the next bunch and we won't be left out there slogging away by ourselves."
The race starts at the Mangakahia Sports Complex and heads on a 110km circuit through Kara, Ruatangata and the Hikurangi Swamp to Hukerenui and back. Shorter 50km and 25km courses are also available.
Racing starts at 8am.