Pedal Pushers-Thunder Valley mountain biking on 18 August

In an effort to revive interest and stimulate a growth in mountain biking, the ‘Pedal Pushers’ in collaboration with ‘Thunder Valley’ will host a mountain biking event on 18 August which will also coincide with the Pedal Pushers’ seventh year anniversary.

‘Thunder Valley’ is Sri Lanka’s first professionally built motor cross track and closed circuit off road vehicle racing facility. Owned and managed by Haren Yatawaka, a racer himself, this vast extent of 10 acres is located in Hanwella, a one-hour drive from Colombo. Thunder Valley’s racing tracks have been used over the years by national and international racers for practice sessions, multiple racing championships and now for the first time in Sri Lanka, for mountain biking.

This event promises to be a fun day of biking, camaraderie and friendship for all those MTB enthusiasts, families and their children who would like to explore the world of mountain biking. It aims to bring the cycling community together and create a renewed interest in the sport. There will be multiple track events categorised for adults and children who will enjoy the opportunity to race on a professional motor cross track for the first time, numerous stalls featuring top-end MTB brands, music, networking and a fellow BBQ lunch. The stage will be set for a fun filled mountain biking gathering for those passionate about the sport. Although there has been a growth in the number of cyclists, people have increasingly adopted urban cycling for convenience to satisfy an exercise endurance routine, a hobby and for some an adventure. Multiple cycling groups have originated since, road routes identified and you would not fail to see a group of road riders at any given time. Mountain biking on the other hand which differs technically from road cycling has reduced in popularity due to many of the ‘once available and more accessible’ trail routes in the city disappearing with land development. The MTB community in itself has shrunk as a result although there is tremendous potential for its growth with the island’s terrain being so diverse and well suited for this type of cycling.

What started out as a fun and healthy thing to do on a random evening in 2011 led to the formation of the Pedal Pushers. It seemed to be the most ideal name considering their inherent love for cycling and how a bike ride between two friends set things in motion. Little did Lalanthi Rajapakse and Dharshini Ariyaratne the founders of the group realise how addictive cycling would become and the community they would create over the years. Fast forward to today, the ‘Pedal Pushers’ are a 300+ member group of all ages, nationalities, ethnicities and professions who come together frequently for the same passion – to ride their bicycles. 

The goal was to persuade more people to discover the outdoors and explore Sri Lanka on a bicycle while adopting a healthier lifestyle. The first 25km fun ride in 2012 drew large numbers that kept growing with every gathering. Increased female participation which was strongly encouraged gave rise to the ‘Mud Bunnies’ a group of women bikers who were always ready for a riding adventure. Since then there have been long distance road rides, mountain biking expeditions in the country side, off road adventures, international events, cycling camps, skills workshops, fun competitions, safety initiatives such as ‘Share the road with Cyclists’ in 2016 and numerous rides for charity to help and support multiple causes in Sri Lanka. The ‘1333 Bikeathon’ taking place in August 2019 for the sixth consecutive year will bring together once again, a group of dedicated cyclists who will ride 1,333 km around the island to raise awareness for the 1333 helpline to give many a vital source of help and a new lease on life. The growth of the cycling community and the positivity the sport has brought to people is what the Pedal Pushers hope to keep nurturing.

For more information on the event register via the Pedal Pushers Facebook site.