1001 Ride Mountains to Sea to Windmills Ride – 22-23 February 2020

Despite the current ‘cost of living challenges’ facing all community events, Bike Manawatu is 100% committed to ensuring the 51st year of the Novice Tour – once again provides a safe, fun, competitive cycle racing event.

We will adopt a high-quality assured approach in implementing the Local Roading Authority’s/Cycling New Zealand’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) standards which ensure best practices and rider and spectator safety.

If the level of community funding secured is not sufficient to contract in external road management service providers with the ability to stop/go traffic, the Novice Tour will proceed on a ‘local club racing’ model, whereby our team of trained/experienced road marshals will, where necessary, pause racing in order to give way to traffic and ensure rider safety.

Although funding external road management services with the ability to stop/go traffic is ideal, if this is not feasible – we are confident that the event’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) will provide a competitive, fair, enjoyable and importantly safe racing environment.

Irrespective of which model of traffic management/racing is finalised, as with all CNZ/Bike Manawatu events, normal road rules will apply and a full rider briefing confirming the event rules will be provided to all riders prior to the start of each race.

1001 Ride Mountains to Sea to Windmills Ride – 22-23 February 2020

Ask anyone planning a sports event or an outdoor wedding – and they will all tell you that you can plan for almost anything – except the weather.

A week out from our Ohakune road trip and the forecasts weren’t looking that flash – but we were hoping that with 6-7 days to go, things could improve.

On Friday night the heavens opened in Palmerston North and it was still raining when we met at memorial park to load the bikes in to the Bike Barn van, and the bodies in to the bus to head to Ohakune. Enroute the weather cleared and we were hopeful of a dry ride.

We departed our accommodation for a loop around Raetihi and back, where some decided to go back to the accommodation and save their legs for day 2, while 14 or so hardy souls braved the elements and completed the climb through some roadworks up to Turoa ski field – striking some rain on the descent .

After cleaning ourselves up, we had drinks and nibbles at our accommodation before heading to the Powderkeg for dinner and maybe one or two more drinks

We had hoped the rain would pass overnight, but we woke to light rain. We headed off to Raetihi which was mostly dry, then struck some rain on the road to Pipiriki, before turning on to the River Road. The rain started to clear along this stretch of road and even though it remained overcast, we were all taken with the stunning views. We stopped in at Jerusalem and a few other photo spots and the closer we got to Whanganui the more dry road we noticed, both groups reunited briefly in Whanganui at the lunch stop.

We then left Whanganui via Durie Hill and Fordell, where we first noticed the blue sky, and headwind.

We soldered on through to Turakina, Marton, Feilding and back home – while we all agreed it was a tough day, it’s one that we all really enjoyed – whether it was for the distance, the views, to ride in some new roads or to just enjoy the organised ride, and group riding experience – a huge thanks to Rob Ryan for organising this event