Graeme Simpson: View to a thrill on testing ride

One ride I always enjoy is Kinloch to Kawakawa Bay. It's a good day out.

Adrive to Kinloch on the shores of Lake Taupo, usually in a car packed with bikes, people and laughs and then a demanding ride.

It is a rewarding one, with epic views of the lake. It used to be a tight and often technical climb on an unsophisticated single track to a big rock outcrop, then a fast run down to Kawakawa Bay, south of Kinloch.

You always knew it would be a grovel back up, but it didn't matter as you blasted down to the bay. The return climb was never really an issue, because there was the downhill return to Kinloch to come.

Dual usage and two-way with a couple of tricky corners where the next stop, if you got it wrong, was the lake a long way below, meant you had to be a little careful. But thrilling stuff. Times have changed and a lot of the track's rough edges were smoothed off as part of the development of the Great Lake Trail.

Part one of this was the newer two-way, dual-use W2K trail from Kinloch north to Whakaipo Bay. This is another excellent ride.

It's wide and sight lines are good in most places, though you have to take care.

Exiting either Kinloch or Kawakawa Bay, there are steep, steady, honest climbs to deal with. However, they are short and to the point and followed by fast and flowing trail. As well, there is a loop out to the headland that extends the ride a few kilometres, should you choose to do it.

If you start at Whakaipo Bay, then ride past Kinloch and on to Kawakawa Bay, it is 35km oneway. It's a healthy distance because it is one-way and you will have to ride back. The plan is to continue this trail south and work has already started.

It's not technical. This wellengineered trail was built to grade 2 and 3 levels, with recreational riders, runners and

walkers in mind. Some might argue the grooming of the old Kinloch to Kawakawa Bay trail is dumbing down something more challenging and technical.

However, the Great Lake Trail was always planned to be one for as wide a range of people as possible-to be user-friendly. You just need to ride it to see how successful that is, with the full spectrum of people enjoying themselves. And that can only be a good thing.

A few weekends ago, Gary Sullivan from NZO in Rotorua rode a section of the Great Lake Trail. He met a Hawke's Bay rider at the end of the journey in Whakaipo Bay. Gaz said this guy had been to the other end of the trail and back, including twice around the headland loop. About 90km-a big ride by anyone's standards.

He drove all the way from Hastings, rode 90km off-road, and was about to drive home again. The reason? He had a new bike. Was it worth the effort? He thought so.

? For more on the Great Lake Trail and plans for future development, check out Bike Taupo's website: www.biketaupo.org.nz/on-yourbike/great-lake-trail