Mountain Biking: Benefits to city are sky high

There is a lot of research in the world. Quantifying this, qualifying that, explaining and predicting trends. This is especially useful if you are selling something and need to know what the public want.

Research has been a good friend to mountain biking in Rotorua. The report on the 2006 UCI World Mountain Bike & Trials Championships estimated the economic benefit to the city at $35 million. Research has estimated the annual value of mountain biking to Rotorua to be $10 million. Even the 2010 Singlespeed World Championships saw a benefit of more than $2 million.

These are significant figures and all for a relatively small investment. The 2006 Worlds were run on a tiny budget for what was achieved. The 2010 Singlespeeds were run on a real shoestring and only broke even because of generous support from the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust. Like a lot of events, this only happened because the organisers put in lots of hours and hard work.

Apart from the financial benefits, both also resulted in worldwide media attention shining the spotlight on our trails and city. And because they attracted race fields from round the world and were successful, riders went home and sang the praises of our little corner of the world. Word of mouth is something you really can't buy.

There is a whole roster of other events run every year that wouldn't exist if it wasn't for that forest and that trail network. All of them continue to bring riders and dollars to town.

Part of the reason for the extraordinary return versus investment is the venue for mountain biking is in a natural amphitheatre, so no expensive buildings are required. Volunteers working in their own time and Department of Corrections crews led by Red McHale created a high percentage of the original trail system during the past 20 years. Red's crews are doing their time, unpaid. However, there are still real costs to administer and supervise the work that the New Zealand taxpayer covers. It is a far cheaper solution than prisons, though, and of far greater benefit to the community. But, thanks, Kiwi taxpayer. And if you haven't ever stopped to say thanks to the guys shifting dirt out there, you should. The sense of pride in what they do is tangible.

Money from trusts and, in the last couple of years, the Rotorua District Council has ramped up the trail building programme with the focus on restoration of trails munted by logging operations. New trails are planned, as well.

Based on all this research, a lowball estimate of the benefits to the city of mountain biking since 2000 is close to $150 million.

Specific businesses, like bike shops, guiding, shuttling and hire, trail building and skills clinics are the first beneficiaries of this and it spreads into the general community, especially food and accommodation. There are a handful of bars and cafes, motels and backpackers who really embraced and contributed to the culture and always have bikers in.

Mountain biking has also bought people to Rotorua to live, bringing their talents, their businesses and their income and mortgages [and rates].

There are also the less quantifiable results of all this. One is improved health of those who participate. Mountain biking can be as intensive and competitive as you want to make it. However, even a slow and mellow cruise with your mates will get the heart and lungs pumping.