The sunny days of spring will bring large numbers of cyclists back to the Clutha Gold Trail, and the fine weather will allow contractors in to repair ''a major slip'' near Beaumont along the trail, Clutha Gold Trail chairman Rod Peirce says.
The slip, Athenaeum Rd, happened in midwinter during heavy rain and repairs were due shortly.
Over the winter, cyclists were forced to detour around the slip along the edge of the highway, he said.
''We're just sort of holding off for the weather,'' Mr Peirce said.
''We're poised ready ... but we want a spell of good weather to really start on the job.''
He said the ground around the rock slip was relatively wet and had prevented contractors from working at the site.
Once started, the job would likely take about a week.
Though not the first slip along the 73km cycle trail - a slip had occurred near Millers Flat - it was the first ''major slip'' since the trail opened in October 2013.
''It is in an area of rock face that was always known to be a potential problem, even during construction,'' Mr Peirce said.
''Hopefully, the repair of this will resolve it for a long time.''
From November to May about 10,000 trail users were logged at Roxburgh and Lawrence.
Cyclists had already begun to use the trail more regularly with the coming of spring.
Mr Peirce said he expected the trail's user numbers to continue to grow in this, the trail's third year.
