Ready, Set, Ride!

Smokefree Manager Hayley Cooper and her family have been swapping four wheels for two and having plenty of fun along the way as they take part in Aotearoa Bike Challenge month.

The challenge, which runs through February, is free and involves individuals and organisations across New Zealand competing to see who can get the most people riding a bike. Participants can ride anywhere, anytime and just a 10-minute ride is enough to take part.

Hayley has been doing the Bike Challenge with her family – husband Aaron and their children Charlie, aged four (who only stopped using training wheels last month) and Georgia aged six.

“We are loving biking to and from school/kindy/the beach, rather than getting in the car for everything and even the kids’ grandma (aged 76) is joining us. I bike to work when I can which is awesome ‘bang for buck’ time-wise in terms of getting exercise in when you have a young family.

“I find I arrive more refreshed for my office day than when driving, and quite often I pass cars stuck in queue, which is very satisfying. Another benefit is we’ve definitely noticed the decrease in visits to the petrol station!” Hayley says.

There is more information on the Aotearoa Bike Challenge on the Love to Ride website here