Bike-wash stations on their way

CLEANING UP: Former Commonwealth Games gold medal cyclist and Rotorua resident Mark Rendell is the man behind the bike-washing facility. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 260914BIKE1

Mud-soaked mountain bikers coming off trails around Rotorua will soon be able to clean up their gear in a flash new bike-washing facility.

Former Commonwealth Games gold medal cyclist and Rotorua resident Mark Rendell is the man behind the city's newest bike-washing facility after noticing there was a lack of options for people to clean their bikes.

Rather than having muddy bikes and riders spreading dirt Mr Rendell successfully lobbied the Rotorua District Council for the construction of dedicated bike-washing stations.

"Rotorua now has some of the best mountain biking trails in New Zealand - from Skyline to Redwood Forest.

"Yet the supporting infrastructure for this leisure activity is lagging somewhat far behind," Mr Rendell said.

"The first site for a new bike-washing amenity is set for the Waipa side of the Redwoods.

"If that proves simple enough to initiate then I'll look at asking the council to replicate the concept at Long Mile Rd.

"It's a very positive move by the council to get behind the bike-washing site, and shows visionary support for what is fast becoming one of the region's leading tourism activities."

Fellow mountain biking enthusiast and Rotorua architectural designer Darryl Church already has drawn up plans for the wash stations which measure only a few square metres in size.

"They are commonplace at many of the mountain biking towns and regions I've seen overseas and they cost less than $1000 to install," Mr Rendell said.

In July, the Holiday Inn became the first Rotorua hotel to open a mountain bike wash station as part of a strategy to attract more mountain bikers.