Historical archive
The Big Easy Cycling Event — Hawke’s Bay Archive
The Big Easy was an Easter leisure ride through Hawke’s Bay, first held in 2013. In October 2021 Hawke’s Bay Tourism announced it would be replaced by a year-round cycling tourism initiative. This archive keeps the routes, timings and answers people still look for.
Illustration created for this archive. Not an event photo.
The Big Easy
Advertised for Saturday 3 April 2021
A ~37 km loop from Church Road Winery via Taradale, plus a ~28 km Family Start from Clive, finishing with a concert.
The Little Easy
Advertised for Friday 2 April 2021
A ~12 km family ride from Russell Park, Waipukurau, along the Tukituki River in Central Hawke’s Bay.
Timeline
2013
The Big Easy begins as an Easter leisure ride on the Hawke’s Bay Trails.
2014
The site adds a longer Not So Easy option and a photo gallery.
2017
An advertised ~42 km ride from Havelock North to Church Road Winery, with The Easy Riders at the finish.
2020
The homepage promotes the 2020 event while route details are still being prepared.
2021
The last event plan we have read: The Big Easy on 3 April and The Little Easy on 2 April.
Oct 2021
Hawke’s Bay Tourism announces a year-round cycling tourism initiative to replace the one-day event.
Riding in Hawke’s Bay today
The trails the event used are still open to ride. Read how the event used Hawke’s Bay Trails, then check Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s official trails resource for current maps and conditions.
Sources: archived 2021 homepage · Hawke’s Bay Tourism media releases