Summer and Play in the Bay's Bike Month is the perfect time for everyone to discover or re-discover the joy of cycling.

Sport BOP recreation advisor Jen Riley is encouraging people to give cycling a go in February. Photo: Supplied.

So Sport Bay of Plenty is urging people to dust off their bike and get cycling with more than 30 cycling related activities and events happening during February.

And whether you're into road cycling, mountain biking, recreational cycling or a complete beginner there's something for everyone in the Bike Month calendar.

Western Bay recreation advisor Jen Riley says nothing beats cycling for a fun and healthy activity that is great for the whole family. As well as this it's an easy way to commute to work or school or to beat the traffic.

'Here in Tauranga we are really lucky as there are heaps of off road paths that link up lots of the different parks and reserves all around the city.”

During Bike Month people can learn all about these different trails with the BOP Community Trails Trust who are leading weekly Wednesday and Sunday rides around all the different urban off road trails around Tauranga.

As well as all the activities in the calendar there is a number of other cycling related initiatives happening such as the Tour de Bay corporate cycling challenge.

In teams of three the mission is to get cycling and clock up as many kilometres as possible over the month of February.

Kilometres are collated each week and inputted into a virtual map of the Bay.

'I encourage workplaces to enter as many teams as possible - you could even create your own inter-workplace challenge or challenge another workplace to take part.

'As well as an overall prize there will be weekly prizes for the teams with the most kilometres cycled, the most teams entered from a workplace, and the most improved team.”

Everyone is encouraged to leave the car at home on February 11 for the nationwide Go By Bike Day, with prizes and refreshments on offer at seven pit stops around town.

A bike month scavenger hunt is also happening during February where the aim is to answer four questions associated with some of the urban cycle trails around Tauranga.

'Grab the family, get on your bikes, explore some of your local trails, get the questions correct and go into the draw to win a $100 voucher from RideBikes Tauranga.”

A new initiative for bike month is Ride Leader workshops.

Sport BOP and Travel Safe are on the lookout for those who are passionate about cycling and are keen to share this passion with others through becoming a Ride Leader volunteer for their community.

Through this free Cycling NZ workshop you will learn how to lead a group of cyclists, cycle skills, cycle road sense and safety and local on/off road cycle routes. This workshop is open to all types and levels of cyclists.

For more information about bike month and to download the calendar go to www.sportbop.co.nz/februarybikemonth or pick up the calendar from your local community centre or library.

Alternatively contact Jen – 07 578 0016 or 027 419 0067 / jenr@sportbop.co.nz