NZ National Schools Road Championships – Last Weekend.

by James Denholm | Oct 5, 2017 | Board Chair's Blog

83 National schools and over a thousand people were in the Manawatu competing or supporting the best of New Zealand’s school cyclists last weekend over three days. Riders from (Intermediate ages) 7 and 8 students and (High School ages) year 9,10,11,12 and 13 were put to the test, “school versus school” and “rider versus rider” to win honours for their school. It was exciting and brilliant to watch for everyone involved.
Our Manawatu schools competed with so much heart over the three days, two of which produced reasonable weather until the final day when gale force winds put all riders and their supporters to the test. Tough racing conditions especially with tired legs after two days of racing.
Bike Manawatu want to acknowledge all riders, parents, supporters, teachers and coaches for a great three day spectacle of hard fought racing where our local schools performed brilliantly.

Day 1: Teams Time trials – Koputuroa School Levin
Day 2: Road Races – Colyton School.
Day 3: Criterium Points racing – Manfeild

Check out all results on Cycling New Zealand Schools Facebook page.
We acknowledge our Manawatu Top 10 placed road race riders at NZ Nationals in no particular age group race or order. Next time you see them give them a big congratulations.

1st: PNBHS Junior A, Madi Hartley-Brown x2, Holly McInnes,
2nd: PNINS Girls A, Rosie O’Brien
3rd: Josh Mulcahy, Luke Scott, Daniel Johnston, Jack Pronk, Holly McInnes, Chenuka Rajapakse
4th: Aiden Jones, Keegan Leask
5th: PNINS Boys A, Adam Francis, Rosie O’Brien, Ben Irvine
6th: PNBHS Senior A, Georgia Simpson, Chenuka Rajapakse
7th: Fergus Doolan, Connie O’Brien, Ewan Cousins, Michael Richmond
8th: Huntly Boys A, Huntly Girls A, PNBHS Junior B, Kylah Gunn, Adam Francis
9th: Hunter Gibson, Campbell Ware, Jack Overweel, Ewan Cousins
10th: Ben Irvine, Kyle Hoskin

A special congratulations to Madi Hartley-Brown who took out two titles, both the Road Race and Manfeild Criteruim. A huge result.
Next year the schools nationals heads to the South Island before returning to the North island the following year.

Big News- UCI International Race Awarded To Manawatu January 27th.

Being awarded a UCI (1.2 level) International race is a big deal says Steve Stannard founder of the Manawatu Gravel and Tar Classic which has been running for two years. It has been described in rugby terms like holding a Super 15 Rugby final here in the Manawatu year after year. It’s that big.
All I would like to say is I hope our members and the community embrace and support the beginning of something special for our region which involves an even bigger focus of people entering the Gravel and Tar 70k Gran Fondo and 30k recreational rides to make the weekend a success for everyone in the region. This big news will satisfy many after missing out to Cambridge on having a Velodrome built in the Manawatu a few years ago.
Bike Manawatu’s concept of a summer weekend “Festival of Cycling” on the 27th and 28th of January at the end of the school Holidays every year will be good for all cycling age groups and abilities. The economic benefit to the region over time will build every year but the first two years will be important. Our members support on and off the bike where possible along with spreading the word would be appreciated. Consider how the Lake Taupo Challenge got started all those years ago and where it is today.
On Sunday 28th of January our good friends the Manawatu Mountain Biking Club are hoping to support our weekends “Festival of Cycling” which will allow cyclists to ride the Gran Fondo on Saturday the 27th and then ride the Mountain Bike event on Sunday 28th. How good would that be.
The UCI Board awarded Bike Manawatu the Gravel and Tar Classic after a massive drive by the club and a team of dedicated people along with the support of many local identities, authorities, businesses and Cycling New Zealand.
Steve Stannard says on the 27th January 2018 cycling fans in mid-winter over in Europe will be glued to their computers and TV to see who is going to win our tough Manawatu Gravel and Tar 125k Classic and get UCI points.
The Gravel and Tar Classic is a bit like the down under version of the famous Paris Roubaix in Europe, where the best riders love to ride cobblestones and gravel versus normal sealed roads all the time. This will put Palmerston North and Manawatu on the International cycling Map.
Still to be finalised – The club are looking to create a festival atmosphere in George Street before and after the three rides where registrations will likely take place at Cyclista Cafe in George street. Neutralised starts from the square at a respectable early afternoon start time we hope will capture a crowd atmosphere. The finish line will be at Memorial Park with the usual UCI finish line structures and hoardings we see on TV at International races across the world. A nice way for all of the Gran Fondo 70k and 30k riders to finish.
It must be said that for this Festival of Cycling event to be an all-round, ongoing success we are hoping and encouraging all members to ride either the 70k Grand Fondo or the 30k on the new circuit designed for rider fun and safety you will really like. The 30k circuit will have very little gravel so that all can participate.
If your holiday plans can see you back in Palmy for the last weekend in January – You won’t want to miss the start of something great in our region. Why would you be anywhere else?

Three Day Big Easy to Hawkes Bay.

Recently club sponsor Garry Buys and the Bike Barn organised a brilliant three day Big Easy Ride which involved three separate groups of ten people (more or less) leaving Palmerston North via the Pahiatua Track to Havelock North in the beautiful Hawkes Bay where we stayed. If that doesn’t sound like a hike (174-200km between groups) the next day two groups headed off for either a (65km or 100km) ride taking in some of the most beautiful scenery the Bay has to offer.
Yes there were tired legs by this stage but after lunch on the second day “The Te Mata Peak Hill Challenge” won by Jeremy not so closely followed by Derek. Bruce,Steely and Darren followed with some well-earned refreshments afterwards back at the motel.
But No said Garry, the ritual of cleaning your bike had to take president first. Some couldn’t hold back on the refreshments and others had a power nap ready for the Big Easy traditional dinner night out.
Team leaders: Group 3-Steve Nagy (the turtles), Group 2 -Colin Anderson and Group 1-Rob Ryan all were asked to share how their teams performed on and off the bike to the whole party. Needless to say ” What goes on Tour Stays on Tour” is a great motto if you know what I mean. We all had an awesome night with good food and great company which is what these rides are all about.
At 7am the next morning (the third day), we headed off again in beautiful Hawkes Bay weather to negotiate the 180km journey home that served up some gusty winds as we reached the Manawatu side of Dannevirke, before being hailed on coming down the Pahiatua Track into Palmy for a another well-earned round of refreshments at the Hotel Coachman.
Everyone got home safe and well, and congratulations to everyone having conquered 450-500k on a bike in three days and loved it.
A big thank you to Garry Buys and the Bike Barn for once again, a brilliant Big Easy Weekend.

Upcoming club races – Check out Bike Manawatu Calendar for details
This Sunday 8th October: 2-up Time trial
Where: Pykes Road 16k Circuit
Time: Registrations at 2.30pm. Start at 3.00pm

Palmfeild Motors October 15th Recreational Ride

Kairanga Time Trail Series-
When: starts weekly from Wednesday 25th October
Where: from Horizons yard on Kairanga-Bunnythorpe road.
Time: From 6pm.
A flat 12Km course time trail points series run weekly. Approximately 50+ riders biking out to the course and registered from 5.45pm. A great way to improve and exercise before dinner.

Up Coming Club Road Races for Everyone.
When: Saturdays 21st October. We offer medium distance graded club races for all ages and abilities on this beautiful Manawatu countryside ride. Open to schools and master’s riders. Enjoy riding with your mates and finish off with a coffee or a real drink at the end.
Where: Pohangina Township
Time: 2.30pm Registration. Start 3.00pm

Feilding Track Riding- Have a go.
Saturday 14th Oct: Trial a track bike for free to see if you like it? If you like it, then you can hire a track bike from the club for a modest amount of money.
Where: Johnston Park Feilding
Track starts in October and then Tuesday after Xmas under the watchful eye of legend Ian Gray and his team. Fun.

Manfeild Criterium Series-
When: Starting on Tuesday’s 7th, 14th, 21st, 29th November
Time: 6pm. Safe off road fun graded riding for all ages. Last year people loved it and the improvement in their cycling was huge. Pencil this one in. Its contagious.