New A2O manager clips in

Introducing Robyn Hyde, the A2O Cycle Trail's new manager.

A tireless advocate for all things biking and a keen cyclist who is passionate about cycle tourism, Robyn has just moved to Oamaru from Christchurch where she worked in transport planning. Robyn has cycled most of the ‘great rides’ (a family highlight was doing the Otago Rail Trail when her kids were 6, 8 and 10) and continues to take on new places in the South Island twice yearly with her social riding group the ‘Lycra Loonies’.

“Being on my bike is my happy place,” she says. “You can be having the worst day - get on your bike and feel like a completely different person.”

“I just love being in the outdoors, exploring the country, and I want to make that achievable for everybody. Access is all about confidence, even if you haven’t been on a bike for a while, it’s all about giving it a go, breaking it off into small chunks. Cycling is an opportunity to see the landscape differently. You need to get out there to understand what you miss from a car. It’s a totally different perspective from a bike seat.”

The lifestyle here in Waitaki was one of her main motivations to move, and now she’s started in her new role it’s all about meeting the people, engaging with the community. A champion of the health and wellbeing benefits of cycling, she believes a great trail is one that serves the needs of all ages and abilities: families, young people … and she will be working in tandem with Waitaki and Mackenzie councils to extol the virtues of our own great ride.

A warm welcome to Waitaki, we wish we were half as fit!