Fitness commitment leads to new cycling community
Selwyn District Council media release: 23rd February 2026
Proud to be Me is a series of stories on people living in Selwyn. February is Bike to Work Month and Coen Lammers speaks to Wayne Smart about the cycling group he founded in an attempt to get fit.
Wayne Smart had no idea his Facebook post five years ago would result in a large cycling community who go for rides each Sunday, and some Wednesdays over summer.
“I posted that I wanted to get fit and was looking for people to go riding with. I ate too much over Christmas and New Year and never stopped. Sadly, it was Christmas 2001,” he wrote in January 2021.
The post attracted dozens of comments and before long the inaugural group was on the road to Lincoln.
“Initially, I could just do 20km. My first ride was to Lincoln and back and when I got home I fell asleep on the couch and could hardly walk the rest of the day,” said Smart who lives in Rolleston.
Pedal Pushers is now an established, but very casual, social group of cyclists of all abilities, named after the restaurant where members meet each Sunday, before riding around the district.
After that initial gut-busting ride, Smart persevered and has since lost about 35kg, through cycling and other exercise.
He said cycling was the perfect way to start getting fit because of the low impact on the joints.
“Once I got a bit fitter I could try other things as well, like swimming and fitness boot camps.”
Pedal Pushers includes riders of varying ages and abilities, but the group adapts its pace so everyone can keep up.
“We go out for 40-80km rides on a Sunday and for people like me it is the main ride of the week, while for others it is a recovery ride from bigger rides they also do,” said Smart who considers himself one of the slower riders in the group.
“But the stronger riders help out the others, so when they see that you are getting a bit tired, they take the lead into the wind, so others can take a breather in their slipstream.”
From that initial Facebook post, more than 40 riders are now part of Pedal Pushers. Cyclists dip in and out depending on other commitments, injuries and the weather forecast, so the size of the peloton varies from week to week.
“Last week we had 19 riders in the bunch, which was the biggest group we ever had on the road,” Smart said.
Aside from battling the bulge, former police officer Smart, enjoys the social aspect of the group.
“That’s what I enjoy the most, so the coffee along the way is as important to me as the ride itself.”
After 13 years in the police, Smart left and began working in the insurance industry.
“My two children are now working within the police force and they are loving it,” says Smart.
Smart said the long, straight roads in Selwyn are ideal for cycling.
“We tend to pick the backroads and stay away from the busy stretches to avoid traffic.”
He credits Murray Amtman and David Lewes as the driving force behind the group, often choosing routes and managing communications.
Aware cyclists can sometimes have a poor reputation among motorists, Smart said safety is a key focus for the group.
“We only ride two abreast, but when we hear cars coming, we slot into single file. In a large group though it is often safer to ride two abreast and easier for cars to pass than a long string of single cyclists.
“It doesn’t matter how unfit you are. You just need to start, even just a ride around the block. You may be surprised how quickly you will be able to do longer stretches.”