Organisers are revved up for this year’s Five Forks Trail Ride next month.

After last year’s ride drew 650 bikers - the biggest crowd in its two-decade history, organising committee member Jane Smith said they were “pretty excited” to be operating without restrictions on the weekend of March 4-5.

“It keeps it very streamlined.”

The 45km track had been changed slightly from last year, with a Pee Wee track, and alternatives for beginner riders through to the more advanced, Jane said. 

“We’re a very family-friendly event, so we really want to build kids’ or new riders’ confidence and also still offer something pretty exciting for those sort of endurance/extreme riders as well. So I think we’re catering for everyone really.”

Work on the track had been carried out by the farmers who owned the land it was on, school families and community volunteers.

“So there’s probably hundreds of hours goes into marking the track and making it safe, and finding the best way - safest way, but also the most fun way - to move around the tracks as well,” Jane said.

Base camp was at 46 Raupo Creek Rd, at Fuschia Creek, and the track travelled through about 15 farms in the district, up to Mt Dasher Station. 

Support from the farmers, who had opened up their farms, had been great, giving riders access to views and land they would never normally see, she said.

“So we hope that people don’t just race around it - they take their time to look at the view, and you know, see the whole of North Otago right round to Katiki Straight and then right up through the Waitaki Valley too . . . it’s really amazing.”

Sponsorship had been “amazing” and funds raised at the event always gave the school and community a “really great boost”, she said.

A variety of projects in Five Forks benefited, including resources for school learning, the school pool and playground - both of which were used a lot by the wider community - and the community hall as well.

Safety was paramount for organisers. Due to dry conditions all motorbikes were required to have a spark arrestor, and North Otago Land Search and Rescue had a communications truck, with all track marshalls live GPS-tracked at all times.

“It just means if there is an incident, or something we need to address, we can get to them straight away. So we’re really proud of what we do there. We have St John’s on site and we can get them out on the track within minutes.”

Riders from as far afield as Nelson and the West Coast had shown interest in this year’s ride, and last year there were people from the North Island, Jane said.

They were hoping for the same number of riders as last year, or even more - and with such an extensive track, space was not an issue.

“There’s so much room, and everyone’s going on different parts of the track at one time, so it’s very safe to have however many people turn up, it’s great.

“Our catering team have got some really great food and combo packages this year, and we’re just really excited to show people this country really.”

More information could be found at www.fiveforkstrailride.co.nz, on the Facebook page, or by phoning Jane on 027 3841 424.