Kingborough bike treasure hunt to kick off on Sunday

Kids of all ages are encouraged to take part in the annual Kingborough Treasure Hunt at Huntingfield on Sunday. Bring a bike and a sense of fun.

Allan Halyk and his son Tom, 12, will participate in this weekend's family bicycle treasure hunt at Huntingfield. Picture: PATRICK GEE

WHEELS will be set in motion today for day one of Tasmanian Bike Week, as the annual Kingborough Treasure Hunt gears up.

The family-friendly event, now in its eleventh year, sees riders of all ages pedalling through a network of dirt trails at Huntingfield’s Peter Murrell Reserve as they solve clues in the search for hidden treasure.

MORE NEWS:

TASSIE BOXER CAUGHT UP IN FATAL SHOOTING

HOBART HOTTER THAN ALICE SPRINGS, AS TEMPS HIT NEW RECORD

ALERT DOWNGRADED FOR ORIELTON, ON HOBART OUTSKIRTS

OUT AND ABOUT

Event organiser Richard Langman said the free event is a fun way to promote the health benefits of cycling.

“The kids come back year after year because they enjoy themselves,” Mr Langman said.

“Riding a bike is good exercise. It’s a good thing to do.

“A lot of the things that you see about sport is about the top players in the field, but this event is about ordinary people getting out and enjoying being active in the outdoors.”

Mary McParland, Allan Halyk and their son Tom Halyk, 12, will participate in this weekend's family bicycle treasure hunt at Kingston. Picture: PATRICK GEE

This year, cyclists have 30 checkpoints to tick off the mapped routes with separate courses for both younger and more confident riders.

One of the main appeals of the popular social ride is that it takes place on off-road trails.

Mary McParland, executive officer at Cycling South said while the hunt follows orienteering principles it’s non competitive.

“It’s not a race,” she said. “There isn’t a winner and you ride at your own pace.”

Ms McParland and her husband Allan Halyk hope to instil a love of riding ahead of a planned three-week cycling trip across the Netherlands later this year.

Other social rides on during bike week are a Pipeline Track bike ride, a Women on Wheels Orielton Lagoon ride, and the Super Tuesday bike count.

The Kingborough Treasure Hunt kicks off at 2.30pm today, with registrations open from 2pm.

Tasmanian Bike Week runs from March 3-10.

[e-mail]