On behalf of the Board, our volunteers and sponsors, Best wishes and Merry Christmas and New Year to everyone, riders or not.
It’s been another busy year at Bike Manawatu with multiple changes and obstacles confronted and worked through.
This year saw the moving on from Secretary duties by Keryn Paekau who has done an incredible job for the club over the last seven years. We have seen her family grow as we witnessed Keryn grow herself into a remarkable human with a very high work ethic done with Military precision.
The club would not be in the strong position it is without her input over the years. Mike Craine finally passed the baton… Tim says he’ll do his best.
We welcomed Janina Gapper to be handed over the reigns and she too has already made an impact of her own to the club, we are extremely fortunate.
Cycling as a sport is changing all the time. As a club we listen to our members and also take note of the sign up for our racing. In previous years we have concentrated on many and smaller events which worked well, but with changing times needs a recheck.
As a club we have approached Wellington Masters Cycling Club (which is getting a rebrand and name at present) and Kapiti Cycling Club to join us in refreshing interclub racing. Our plan is to join with our other WCNI clubs and reinvigorate Road racing through the regions. Dates are pencilled in for the first 3 and will be published as soon as possible.
The focus at the start of the year will be supporting the CHB Junior Tour and Ramblers Tour end of January. The Junior Tour especially needs our support. Within our club Handicap races and ITTs leading into Interclub racing in March-May. Adding to that, the focus on supporting the Round the Mountain Classic and Bush Tour in March.
The winter will be close to town with Arena Criterium, flat track loop events and TTTs building into more challenging events preparing for the Kapiti Winter Series and Schools North Island Champs. Our own Road Race, Hill Climb and ITT Championships will follow interwound with Trust House and Taupo races.
Our Track team continues to run a great variety of events at the Feilding velodrome over the summer months as well as participating at carnivals in the Lower North Island. Earlier this year a very capable team of 11 riders competed at the Age Group Track Nationals in Invercargill, securing multiple medals across all age grades and events. Earlier this month we saw strong performances including two podiums at the Madison & Omnium Champs in Cambridge.
Late 2025 saw some amazing efforts on bikes from Sam Shaw with the FKT from Auckland to Wellington. Whanganui’s Glenn Haden with a one hour record at the Cambridge Velodrome, and topped off with Peter Eade’s 12 hours around the Feilding Velodrome. I had the privilege of riding with Peter for the last hour. A great effort by a guy who just wanted to do it to prove to himself that he could. That attitude runs strong through all sports and I’d like to think that’s what makes us all tick.
As a club we will give you the opportunity to compete and ride at your level. We welcome E bikes and all self-propelled cyclists at whatever level.
In 2026 Bike Manawatu will introduce a membership entrance to riders who would just like to be a member of Bike Manawatu without signing through CNZ. Of course there will be some who may upgrade with a National licence in time, but we see it as a barrier to riders joining and have changed our stance. We listened and have acted.
Our crew is having a few weeks off before getting stuck in again for 2026. Massive thanks to all of our Sponsors, Thank you to the Board members, and all of our club members and the volunteers.
Tim