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The Forrest Graperide was another great day out in 2009 with a full house of 2500 Graperiders. The event just keeps on keeping on from its success when it won the New Zealand Event Professionals "Best Established Event" for 2008.
Check out the 2009 Forrest Graperide videos by clicking here for the music version and here for the Kinetic Sport commentary version.
2010 will again be limited to a field of 2,500 riders to ensure quality and that special "X" factor for you, the rider. As at the 21st of April 2009 Graperide had accepted 110 entries having opened the online entry system on the 19th of April! Please don't leave your entry to the last couple of months as you may miss out! Enter online
For those that are new to The Forrest Grape Ride the course traverses a 101km circuit through some of the most stunning scenery New Zealand has to offer. From the Forrest Estate Winery stone wall in the capital of the New Zealand wine industry, Renwick, it’s a flat route to Blenheim. Riders then head north and gently climb into Picton with an exhilarating descent into the centre of the town. Climbing out of Picton, the route follows the picturesque Queen Charlotte Drive around the head of Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds, literally a ride through nature’s photo album. The stunning scenery of Ngakuta and Momorangi Bays passes as the ride winds and twists to The Grove.
A flat ride to Linkwater leads onto Mahakipawa hill and more breathtaking scenery, followed by a descent to the outskirts of the mussel capital, Havelock. Left turn onto SH 6 and it’s homeward bound across gently rolling terrain, hopefully with the prevailing breeze at your back (we hope) and home to Renwick. Off the bike and you’re in the grapes with our celebrity guests, treading grapes for processing into an exclusive Forrest Estate vintage for next year’s event.
The "100 Virgin Grape Crush" will see another 100 female riders from the event chosen to join the Grape Gonzo and Steve "The Goon" Gurney in the traditional crushing of 3 tonne of Forrest Wines premium pinot grapes. You will also have the chance to rub shoulders with the sports top cyclists as they challenge for placings in the National Points Series which the Graperide is part of for 2010.
Do you still need a memory of your 2009 experience? Hurry now before your chance has gone, click on the button below. To view the socks click here.
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