30-03-2009 13:59:09

With four weeks to go till the  2009 Pig & Whistle Singlespeed Mountain Bike Championship, entries are rolling in with a very strong field lining up to compete.
The race is on Anzac Day, Saturday April 25, on Rotorua's world-renowned Whakarewarewa Forest trail network.
"One geared mountain biking is tough, but most riders are here for a laugh and a few beers," says event organizer, Dean Watson, "However, at the sharp end it's very serious."
A lot of riders from the first event in 2009 are returning, including defending men's champion and Rotorua legend, Garth Weinberg, Mark "Cabin" Leishman (who was a close second in 2008 and shocked the big crowd of spectators, with his beige skin suit), Retro Riders women's champion, Rotorua's Sarah Beadel, and Old Buggers women's champion, Denise Thorne from Central Otago.
Also in the mix, top Kiwi mountain bikers, Brendan Sharratt and Brenda Clapp, who won the the first South Island Singlespeed Champs, last weekend. SISC Race organizers, Grind Bikes of Christchurch, are sponsoring air fares and accommodation to get the two hot shoes to Rotorua.

"The entries are coming in from all round the country and from Australia," says Graeme Simpson, another member of the event team. "Someone new to the event is Rotorua local, Anja McDonald, who  is the current UK Women's Singlespeed Champion. The women's race is brewing up to be a real beauty in more ways than one."
There are four places at the World Singlespeed Championships in Colorado in Durango, in September up for grabs.
"Durango is one of the very best mountain biking destinations in the USA and the world," continues Simpson. "When we asked for a couple of places at this year's Worlds, the organizers up there told me they loved Kiwis and would we like four."
Two of the places will go to the 2009 Men's and Women's Singlespeed champions.
"However, they have to accept the winner's official tattoo," says Watson. "No tattoo, no title."
The other two places will be random spot prizes.
New for 2009 is a best costume and/or decorated bike with a "big, sucker spot prize" from Bike Vegas in Rotorua.

"Some of us were in Napa in California for the 2008 World Championships," says Simpson. "There were a few riders in fancy dress at the New Zealand champs last year, but in Napa it seemed to be every second person or bike was pimped out. We'd like to see more of that sort of thing in Rotorua."

The Singlespeed Champs isn't just about the race. There will also be a movie night on Friday and an event village outside the Pig and Whistle on Saturday morning before the race.
"We're closing the road with help from local surveying outfit, Canmap Hawley and the support of local businesses, Lakes Care and Lakes Care Pharmacy, and the Rotorua High Court," says Simpson. "It's great to have their backing."
After the race there will be  a party on Saturday night. The weekend will wrap up with a Big Kiwi Breakfast on Sunday morning at the Pig & Whistle. For anyone who wants to enjoy the socializing, but not race, there is a Party Animal ticket available.

"We did similar things last year and people really enjoyed it," says Marcus Diprose, who will be setting a challenging and exciting event course that will remain secret till race start. "We also had a dawn ride to the Anzac Day service at Ohinemutu with a great turn out and we want to see that double this year."
It's a big four weeks for mountain biking in Rotorua. The 24 and 12 hours of Rotorua were on March 28 and 29 and were a big sucess on a magnificent late Summer weekend in the city.
The Highlander 75 kilometre MTB Marathon and annual Kid's Bike Jam are on Sunday April 5, the XTERRA off-road Triathlon  is on April 18 and  the eccentric world of singlespeeding returns to Rotorua a week later.
"All tastes catered for," says Singlespeed Championship sponsor, Gregg Brown of the Pig & Whistle. "It's a good sign of how healthy our mountain bike scene is and how important it is to Rotorua."


Last year the Singlespeed championships attracted over 250 entries from all over New Zealand and from Australia and the USA.

"We'd like to match that this year," says Rotorua Singlespeed Society President, Gary Sullivan. "Any profit from the event will go to the Society to put into trail building and maintenance and back to the riders."

Singlespeeding is a return to the roots of mountain biking with simple, one-geared bikes and people having fun.
"A pub and Speights brewery as our main sponsors, some of the best  mountain bike trails in the Southern Hemisphere and riders dressed as  fairies and pirates what''s not to like?" says Sullivan.