We are delighted to announce the results of our first-ever bike gang challenge at Open Streets on Sunday. First, we have to say how blown away we were by the turnout. 28 gangs, large and small, showed up to register! And the range of riders was amazing – young and old, sporty and casual, funny and serious, lycra and lace… you were all there with bells on.
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm, and for showing Auckland all the kinds of people there are on bikes. Were you there? Check out the bike gang photo album over on Facebook. And the photo booth album is up, too. What a gorgeous bunch you all are.
And without further ado…
The biggest gang… with 40 members, was Hot Cycles! Congrats, you win the $500 voucher to spend at any of the Hip Group restaurants. Send us pics of your party! (If you’re curious, the second biggest was Frocks on Bikes with 29, and then the aptly named “The Bike Gang” with 18)
The youngest member, at minus 6 days and counting (!), belongs to Sarah. She wins a Polisport Guppy baby helmet, thanks to Bike Barn. That’s her in the white T-shirt at the front, with the tidy bump. Best wishes for a safe delivery, Sarah!
The oldest team member (who actually registered for the category! if we missed anyone older, then make sure to register next time we run this thing) was Barbara Grace, biking strong at 72. In a frog onesie, no less. We reckon the Monkeylectric bike lights from Bells & Whistles will make it easy being green.
Best dressed team was Meals on Wheels. What a fruity bunch! You can spend the $150 New World Victoria Park voucher on yourselves and make a bike-gang-themed picnic. Shopping list: one carrot, one bunch of grapes, one donut, one packet of Sunmaid raisins (make that a six-pack!), one corn cob, one strawberry, one banana, and one hot chill pepper!
(A shout-out here to all the other well-dressed teams, especially Frocks on Bikes and their Japan-themed ensembles, and the Black Shadows whose team colour and team spirit was mighty strong.)
Best team spirit: a prize we dreamed up on the day when we saw the entries pouring in, and a very hard call, as you were all so full of spirit. This year’s winner: Triple Teez, who trekked in from Mangere to be there by 10 a.m., and who get a $100 voucher from our mates at Bike Barn.
Most original custom bike: This cool scooter bike, which belongs to Marije. She wins a set of rechargeable Cat Eye Volt front and back lights from the lovely people at AvantiPlus. (Hmm, where to attach the back light on this one?)
Lightest adult bike went to Heath, who likewise also wins a set of Cat Eye front and back lights from AvantiPlus.
The furthest travelled: M T Garnett, who rode all the way from Whangaparaoa. He wins the Saiko bike lock from our pals at Blend.
(NB you had to actually enter specifically for this one; our apologies to any uber-riders whose odometers would have had them in to win on the day, but who didn’t manage to register.)
And the two ultra-fancy glow-in-the-dark Volta reflective jackets (again from the very generous AvantiPlus!) went to Marei Chaney, who signed up on the day, and Linda Maruariki who won the Facebook tag draw. Safe and happy night-biking, you two.
Congratulations to everyone! You know you’re all winners in our hearts. We’ll be contacting the prizewinners directly, but if you’re listed as a winner above and don’t hear from us, please get in touch. The judges’ decision is final – forgive us any slips, and thank you so much for being great sports and lending your energy to the day. Thanks too, to all our lovely sponsors for the excellent prizes.
Next time, we’ll dream up even more categories to give prizes in, and we’ll be old hands with the registration process, so it’ll be smoother and bigger and better.
Not bad for a first outing, Auckland Bike Gangs! Two thumbs up!
