Expect the unexpected during the Singlespeed Mountain Bike World Championships next month. Photo/File
Expect the unexpected during the Singlespeed Mountain Bike World Championships next month. Photo/File
Have some fun, maybe help a mate.
That is the theme of the 2017 Singlespeed Mountain Bike World Championships, being held in Rotorua next month, which will be supporting suicide prevention awareness.
Established in 2007, the Rotorua Singlespeed Society has organised three New Zealand Singlespeed Championships, an Anzac championship and the world championship in 2010.
Society president Gary Sullivan said each event was "loud and colourful with extravagant costumes" and this year would be no different.
"At the same time, we've always tried to use them to make a positive contribution," Sullivan said.
The society has previously made donations to CanTeen, 88Bikes, Cancer Society, Kidney health New Zealand, the Returned Servicemen's Association Fund and the Rotorua Trail Trust.
This year's profits will be donated to New Zealand counselling service Lifeline.
The Singlespeed World Championships are a unique event with competitors in an array of wacky costumes, tattoos for fastest man and woman and on-course beverages.
The 2010 event attracted 1000 riders, 400 from all round the world, and worldwide coverage.
Competitors in costume at the 2010 Singlespeed World Championships included the Bike Vegas team undercover as Croucher Brewing beer bottles. Photo/file
Rotorua Singlespeed Society committee member Graeme Simpson said the event was as much fun for spectators as it was for competitors.
"It's one-gear mountain biking, it's tough and a real satisfying challenge to fulfil. The bikes are simple and it's a bit of a throwback in a funny sort of way.
"With events we've run, they have always been incredibly funny and entertaining and what we find is we get quite a few people - not even mountain bikers - coming out to watch because of the entertainment factor.
"The crowds there can be really big and the noise is amazing, it's great to be a part of," Simpson said.
He said there were about 400 entries so far for this year's event.
"I think this year will be a little more low profile than 2010. In 2010 Singlespeeding in New Zealand was at a real peak, this year it will be a bit more relaxed and we don't have a problem with that - we're still making a lot of noise.
A competitor dressed as Alien was a crowd favourite during the Anzac Singlespeed Championships in the Whakarewarewa Forest in 2015. Photo/File
"The defending champ this year is actually a Kiwi, his name is Tadeas Medjr, he won in Melbourne in Australia last year. [Rotorua's] Garth Weinberg, who was 2010 world champ, is just a local legend and he's in the field.
"The course is kept secret until the day. It's usually a series of laps totalling between 30-40km, which is quite a lot on a singlespeed in that forest, with those trails. It's great having laps because the riders come through the village [based at Waipa mountain bike car park], which is great for spectators."
He said the every charity or organisation the society had supported through its events had a personal connection to the committee.
"Everyone is aware of the whole situation with suicide and mental health issues in this country, so we are all really behind [supporting Lifeline].
"For me it's that whole thing of sure it is a fun event and it's light-hearted, but I've always thought an event like this can bring profile and do some good at the same time."
Simpson said the event was well-supported by the Rotorua Lakes Council as well as local businesses and organisations.
"It's great because whenever we run an event we go out wondering if people will support us again, but it's never a problem, there's amazing enthusiasm actually.
"We have a great team and committee - an amazing group of people who have been involved for a long time, making the event possible," he said.
The 2017 Singlespeed World Championships will be held on November 18 in Rotorua.
