The first Shweeb worlds
19 January 2013
It's a unique feature of the Rotorua cycling scene.
The Shweeb - pedal-powered pods hanging under monorails on a figure-8 course at adventure park, Agroventures.
Agroventures' Anna Rodgers said The Shweeb is the only one in the world so the lap records really are the best in the world.
We decided to create an event to find the fastest Shweeb racers around - and if we break another world record in the process ... that's just a bonus.
The Shweeb World Championships will be part of the first Rotorua Bike Festival on Saturday 9 February.
Agroventures identified the new festival as the perfect platform to launch the event.
The Shweeb was opened in 2007, and since then, the pods' limits have been tested over 60,000 rides. Redeveloped gearing, new pods, movable seats and HD GoPro cameras to record the action have all enhanced the rider's experience.
Ms Rodgers said the race records keep dropping lower and lower. The current women's record of 58 seconds flat was set in November 2012 by UK fast-five Netballer Rachel Dunn, while the men's record of 54.8 seconds was set around 18 months ago.
One thousand dollars is at stake for anyone who can break these records at the world championships.
In the past 6 months we have witnessed a few riders - not all cyclists - equal the race records, but not quite beat them, so is it an achievable goal? Absolutely, said Ms Rodgers.