– Biking for the Community
There might be mud, dust, breakdowns, rain, hail or heat but participants in the Pukemanu Adventure Ride will relish it all.
First run in 1992, the Pukemanu is New Zealand’s second oldest organised adventure ride with a proud history of delivering stunning Wairarapa scenery and old fashioned country hospitality.
This one day non-competitive ride covers approximately 250kms of gravel roads, sandy beach, farm tracks, forestry roads and some tar seal and has proven to be a popular event for anyone with a road legal ‘adventure bike’. It is designed for riders and/or couples seeking to see parts of the country and terrain not ordinarily open to the public and in a relaxed fashion.
The Adventure Ride is not held regularly, with the planned 2014 event being only the sixth in the 21 years since it began. The most recent was in 2011, when it attracted an impressive 176 entrants, the majority of whom camped over on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Pukemanu is a genuine community effort, run by a “not for profit” group of twelve very experienced local adventure riders. On ride weekend many helpers are seconded from the local rural community, lunch is provided by the local school, and paramedic support is supplied by the Volunteer Fire Brigade, whose members are in radio contact along the route and who also accompany the sweep crew.
All proceeds generated from the ride will be put back into the community, with next year’s event focusing on the Martinborough Town Hall restoration project.
The date for the next adventure has been set for Saturday 22nd February 2014. If you’re keen to take part as a rider or to support what is a unique Martinborough event, contact Bill Biber or Iona Gibbs on 06 306 9868.
Rachel McCahon
