APPROXIMATELY 150 recreational cyclists are expected to give the region an economic boost of $500,000 while taking in the beauty of its landscapes and waterways.
Bike SA has chosen the Riverland for its 2025 annual tour, which starts at Waikerie on Saturday, and involves the cyclists travelling through Morgan, Cadell, Overland Corner, Barmera, Loxton, Kingston-On-Murray, Berri, Lyrup, Paringa, Murtho and Renmark.
The participants will be mostly from interstate, but some South Australians, and a few from overseas will also feature.
The event wraps up on September 28, in Renmark, with this being the first time it has started at Waikerie.
Bike SA events manager Russell Miatke said cyclists will camp at the Waikerie Football Oval, while they are exploring the Riverland West area, and have hired the facilities of the Waikerie Riverfront Community Hub.
He said cycle tourism was a growing genre of travel.
“It is probably a bit undervalued in some respects, in what it does contribute to local communities,” Mr Miatke said.
He said each year Bike SA selects a different region of the state for the cycling tour.
“It is an ideal way of giving people the opportunity to explore different parts of South Australia,” Mr Miatke said. 
Bike SA last held its annual tour in the Riverland in 2014.
“It is nice to showcase what the region has to offer all the way to Renmark, there is beautiful countryside there,” Mr Miatke said.
He said 11 years ago, when the event also featured the Riverland, cyclists started their journey from Adelaide, going through the Murraylands into the region.
“This year we decided to focus just on the Riverland itself, just to give people the chance to stop and smell the roses,” Mr Miatke said.
He said the cycling event was a recreational ride for keen cyclists.
“It is about cycling for enjoyment and enjoying the environment of the Riverland,” Mr Miatke said. 
“It is purely a recreational tour ride, it enables people to explore on their bicycles in a supported manner.”
He said those taking part included some people in their 30s, but they were mostly in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, with the oldest in his 80s. 
Mr Miatke said councils in the Riverland had provided in-kind support towards the event. 
He said the cyclists will mostly travel on the quieter backroads, but some short sections of the Sturt Highway could not be avoided.
“Cyclists will spend a little bit of time out on the Goyder Highway towards Morgan, thankfully the traffic volumes out there are not quite as busy as the Sturt Highway,” Mr Miatke said. 
He is requesting motorists to be aware that cyclists will be on roads around the region from this weekend, until September 28.
“We will have cautionary signage out along the route each day, advising that there are cyclists ahead,” Mr Miatke said.
“We ask that they take care, be patient and pass with caution and stay well clear of the cyclists.”