This year's national penny-farthing championships will be even bigger, with organisers expecting about 100 entrants by including more modern bikes.
The championships, a major event for the Oamaru Victorian heritage celebrations, will be held around the historic Harbour and Tyne Sts on the weekend of November 21 and 22, coinciding with the Victorian Fete on the Sunday.
Organised by the Oamaru Ordinary Cycle Club, past championships have been restricted to penny-farthing and veteran bicycles.
But, this year, races for "human-powered vehicles" had been introduced for more modern bikes to compete, from Raleigh 20s to hi-tech mountain bikes, club captain David Wilson said yesterday.
The aim was to make the championships "a cycling event" and encourage cycling.
"So many people wanted to race, so we thought, why not? It will bring more cyclists and spectators," he said.
The penny-farthings will remain the big attraction, and strict rules are laid down for them.
Only "direct-drive" penny-farthings can compete in the main events, which include national championships, the "slow race" where the winner is the last to finish, slalom, sprints, biathlon, relay and miss'n'out, where the last rider in a five-lap race is eliminated.
There will also be the "Tyne Street Grunter", a competition to see who can get the furthermost up the steep section of Tyne St on a penny-farthing.
Other events include the Great Raleigh 20 race over two laps, super veterans and novice races for first-time penny-farthing riders.
Headquarters for the racing is at the Oamaru Ordinary Cycle Club House on Wansbeck St.
The club encourages all competitors to wear clothing "with the style of the 1880s".
"Modern lycra gear is to be avoided; we are dedicated to accurately recreating the Victorian era in Oamaru," the club said.
