Sweeping vistas, towering redwoods, gnarly descents, and a post-race pint with your crew are just a few of the reasons to come shred at Rotorua this winter. Returning for its 16th year the highly popular Nduro MTB Winter Series is back. And it’s better than ever with a new partnership with Gloworm Lights and a fresh new look for the event village.
There is something here for everyone, from novices to world-class shredders, and it’s the perfect winter MTB challenge for all. Casual or hardcore, weekend warrior to World Cup racer – the Cyclezone Winter MTB series can’t be beaten for a good time and heart-pumping race action.
Bruce Davey, managing director at Gloworm says, “Events such as the Winter Series help drive mountain biking as a sport and provide a great opportunity for participation in competition, but in a relaxed atmosphere.”
Designed to be a classic, old-school mountain bike race there are three different courses available. Choose from short, mid, and long distances, 15km, 30km and 50km in length, all on some of the most epic singletrack in the world. This event gives riders a chance to rip through the Whakarewarewa Forest and see Rotorua from a whole new perspective. The selection of trails cater to every level of rider from elite downhill racer to beginner, but regardless of your level, smile-inducing flow is guaranteed. This a race by mountain bikers, for mountain bikers.
Truly an ‘all ages’ event, there are categories starting at 5-years old to 65+ and every age in between. This inclusive event welcomes everyone to get their wheels dirty and ensures you’ll get cheered on while hucking, pumping, and whipping your way through the course. There are also women-specific options. So bring the whole family for an epic day of mountain bike action.
Have no fear of venturing out in the possible chilly and sometimes wet winter conditions, this year, there is a cozy new riders social lounge and showers are available on-site for a small fee. All trails are monitored and maintained for optimal racing conditions.
Train hard for your chance to win a set of waterproof, Gloworm X2 1500 Lumen LED mountain bike lights, one of the sponsored prizes for each event. Night riding is all about adding another dimension to your riding experience and allowing riders of any ability to ride where you want, when you want, and to keep you on your bike longer. Nduro Event Manager Tim Farmer says riding with lights is the perfect way deal with the lack of daylight after work and to keep up with your winter training. With the Gloworm X2 1500 mounted to your helmet or handlebars (they fit a GoPro mount as well) you’ll be able to turn night into day.
“Riding with lights really helps to hone a rider’s ability to read the trail and react more instinctively,” Bruce Davey says, “Overall, adding a night ride to your weekly mix of riding will not only add excitement but also helps refine and develop skills.”
Gloworm offers a full range of LED bike lights with up to 17,500 hours of usability, so how far you can ride is only limited by how much ‘go power’ you’ve got in your own legs. Also available is a range of batteries and mounts for bikes and helmets, the perfect choice for any adventure races you’re training for this season.
Also worth mentioning is that the Winter Series courses are a wonderful place to get some Instagram-worthy shots of the action and of the primordial redwood and fern landscape, so don’t leave the camera at home. While there is plenty of support available along the course, it’s also recommended you carry basic riding gear: warm clothes, food, plenty of water, tools, tubes, patches and a pump. And after downing the complimentary beer and warm slice of pizza at the finish line, swing by the wash station to clean up your ride and get a service from one of the local vendors on-site.
Regardless of if you come for the prize money, to celebrate a fitness goal, or win bragging rights with your crew, Bruce Davey offers some other great reasons to sign up for the Nduro MTB Winter Series, “It allows friendly competition and an opportunity for riders to test their skills and abilities against peers and strangers. It’s a chance to get out and ride trails not normally ridden in a race environment that, once again, adds a different dimension to a participant’s riding.”
Sign up now and get ready to shred!