From the Board Chair, March 2017

by Vaughan Hunt | Mar 31, 2017 | Board Chair's Blog

Bike Manawatu Happy Hour

When; This Friday 31 March
Where; Lonestar on the Square (Sponsors of our Club)
Time; 5.30pm onwards.
Let’s make the effort to get to your club’s happy hour and support the sponsors who make things happen and catch up with other club members for a drink.

Club Road Time Trial Championships.

When: This Saturday 1st of April ( the sun will be shinning)
Where; Rongotea ( A great country township)
Time: registrations 1pm.
Schools and Masters time trialing over distances from 17.6km through to 26.6km

Check out the Bike Manawatu Calendar for further details of this and the other coming racing on 9th April (WCNI Road Championships-Hawera) and 22 April the Bike Manawatu Road championships at Colyton.
Selected schools Sunday race days on their Schools calendar are also now available to all masters riders which provides for more race time on the bike for all of those masters who would value racing. Check out Facebook

Bike Manawatu Membership renewals

The easiest way to renew your membership is to log onto cyclingnewzealand.nz membership. Your annual fees for ride and race events in New Zealand when you affiliate with Bike Manawatu covers you for comprehensive liability insurance. The cost for your annual subscription is $75 for your Cycling NZ licence and $45 for Bike Manawatu licence. An affordable and important membership for your safety and wellbeing that protects you in the sport you love.
The local alternative is to call into our trusted local sponsor Palmfeild Motors and see Rob Ryan.

Bike Manawatu Membership Culture Shift.

Club events going forward. To conduct our Bike Manawatu annual event calendar successfully is going to require a club membership culture shift where each member would form part of a club volunteer roster list to help out at an event during the course of the year. The benefit to our club and yourself will be more well organised local events for riders, more people riding and less pressure on a select few race event organisers who get burnt out continually organising events for riders.

The club have an excellent rider base of schools and master’s riders, riding and competing in the Manawatu, across New Zealand and Internationally we can be proud of. As club members, we hope you agree with this concept. To all help out on a rotational basis is a small sacrifice to give back to your sport and your club.
It can take up to five or six people volunteers per event. The value of giving back is rewarding and extremely needed.

Those members who have volunteered their names by email to us the club really really appreciate and thank you. Unfortunately, this small number of people are not enough volunteers to conduct one event.
Your feedback would be valuable and we trust you understand and support this important initiative.
Register your interest and feedback with secretary@bikemanawatu.co.nz

Bike Manawatu AGM -11 April

All members are invited to this year’s Bike Manawatu AGM which involves acknowledgements and prizes as well as the clubs year ending report and overview.
When; Tuesday 11 April
Where; Marist Club Rooms
Time; from 6pm the bar will be open.
Please bring a plate and let’s have some fun.

Taupo Flyer Success for Our Members

The tough 100k Taupo flyer is for many a fearsome fast and gruelling annual race to ride. Last weekend was no acceptation with a couple of new hills to negotiate. We congratulate all members who rode and got home safe.
As special congratulations to some of our club members for their outstanding rides and results.
Michelle Turner for her 1st placing in her female age group and 4th placing overall in the women’s category. Well done Michelle who showed good form and has also entered into the upcoming WCNI Road Championships in Hawera on the 9th of April.
Carol Web was 2nd in her female race category and who also rode very well.
Young star Carne Groube was placed a close 6th place in the Elite Men’s Race which wasn’t for the faint hearted and Derek McNabb 3rd in his men’s solo age category and 7th overall. Both fantastic efforts and well done boys.

Thank you to Christine Christie Club Secretary

This week popular and fun loving Christine Christie steps down as our club secretary to pursue more time with her grandchildren and family. Christine and been a valuable asset to the club and a key person at the interface between members, cycling NZ sponsors, trusts and the board and has done a fantastic job. Christine will still be an active club member and involved in running events like The Manfeild 6 hour Challenge and Gravel and Tar to name a couple plus continue with her Velo girls culture of riding and having fun.
Bike Manawatu have employed recruitment agency Adecco to manage the process on the clubs behalf to employ a new secretary. They will advertise and if you are interested in the position please apply. We welcome your interest. In the meantime over the next three months the club has appointed a temporary secretary to fulfil the role. We look forward to your support of the club and we will keep you informed.