Christchurch - stuffy and conservative? Far from it! Radical educationalists, sex reformers, and peaceniks all have a proud place in our heritage.

Take a gentle ride around the central city, out to Wainoni, and return. Along the way, hear about some of the local characters who bucked social conventions and made life more interesting - and often more enlightened.

We will ride at an easy pace and you'll be supported by two Biketober guides, with expert commentary by Dr Rosemary Baird of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, as part of the Christchurch Heritage Festival 2023.

Your ticket price includes an informative map and bike-side snack.

This ride is sure to bring a smile to your face, but you do need to be OK riding on city streets and some mixed surfaces. As far as possible the route uses bike lanes and shared paths, including traffic-free parts of the Avon-Otakaro Red Zone. You must wear a cycle helmet approved by law. Your bicycle must be in good working order (check your brakes).

In the event of bad weather, Biketober may postpone the ride until the following Sunday (22 October) at the same time and place. We will let you know on the morning of the ride, and offer a refund to anyone who cannot make the new date.

Basic Covid precautions apply. That is, please do not attend if you are testing positive or are a close contact. In such cases, we will refund your ticket price if you alert us before the start of the ride.

The image shown is part of a postcard from the Christchurch City Libraries collection, Canterbury Stories (CCL-PH14-112). It depicts the Wainoni Park Pleasure Garden in the early 1900s. You'll hear more about that on the ride!