A bike ride that began with 26 friends in 1977 is today New Zealand's premier cycling event. Covering a scenic course on 160 kilometres of sealed road around beautiful Lake Taupo, it caters for riders of all abilities. In 2007 it was named one of the best rides in the world by the International Cycling Union, and became part of the prestigious international UCI Golden Bike series. Whether people are riding for fun or competition, this book contains all the information they need to prepare for the event and have a great ride on the day - details of the course . . . suggestions for gear . . . training programmes for all levels . . . and much more.