by Vaughan Hunt | Mar 25, 2016 | Board Chair's Blog
It’s great to see that yet another Bike Manawatu rider has been named in a National team going to a World Championships. Emily Shearman will be accompanying seasoned internationals Campbell Stewart and Michaela Drummond to the World Junior Track Cycling Champs later this year. When about 20% of a World’s team is from the one small club, then something good is happening there! Really, the genesis of our junior and senior successes in competition starts with the parents, and their encouragement and commitment in getting their kids onto bicycles. Often that is simply that the kids follow their parents lead and ride because their parents do or have. After that, it’s the activities of school-level cycling which give the kids their opportunities to compete and socialise with their peers. But it is then the responsibility of the club to nurture the young riders’ skills and provide the next level of competition so that they can complete their cycling “apprenticeship”. This really happens when the youngsters can race against older, more experienced riders, some of who (myself included) must seem ancient to the kids. At our track and road racing competitions, including the time trial series, we encourage participation from young and old and participation together. For me, a highlight of racing is seeing a bunch of riders of all ages battling it out, maybe helping one another stay away from a chasing group, or sprinting against each other at the line. So may this continue, but to do that, we need all ages to turn up to events. The oldies will often learn something too!
The next big event on the local calendar is the Manfeild 6 hr challenge in early May. If you haven’t organised a team and entered, do it soon. It’s a great event, lots of fun, and safe to boot. Best part about it is that you don’t have to ride for the whole 6 hours (unless of course you want to!).
National Club Road Championships are in a few weeks, and a good contingent of BM riders will be heading down to Central Otago for the racing. If you are going and would like to be the BM team manager, please give me a call. Let’s hope for lots of green jersey’s on the podium.
Daylight saving ends soon. Apart from the recognition that shorter days are coming, it means that you’ll need some good lights in the later afternoons and early evenings. I like to see riders with two rear back (red) lights, one on the bike and one on the person. Of course you need a decent light on the front of your bike to see where you’re going, but also to warn other road users you are coming. Better still if you have some reflective clothing on so that you can be seen by car headlights and streetlights. Really, there is no excuse for not being highly visible.
This will be my last Chairman’s Blog, as I will be stepping down from the Board at the AGM on the 5th. I will write a Chairman’s report looking back on the year, but also looking forward. I hope to see you all there at the AGM to support the running of the club and also to celebrate the track riders at their prize giving, which is on the same night at the Marist Clubrooms. Come along at 6:30 pm for a 7 pm start, and bring a plate of food to share.
Safe riding,
Steve.
by Vaughan Hunt | Mar 17, 2016 | Notices
This Saturday’s club race at Akers Rd, number 4 of the Autumn series, a graded road race, has been postponed until the 2nd of April. This is because there is a clash with the School’s Cycling Camp which is also occurring over this coming weekend. The race on the 2nd will be just before the last race on the following morning at Linton Army Camp on Sunday 3rd. The presentations for the series will be held at the Army Camp after the final race.
by Vaughan Hunt | Mar 17, 2016 | Event Reports
Race 3 of the Autumn Road Race series was run under blue skies and an easterly wind at Halcombe last Saturday. With a better handle on the current ability of participating riders, it was a very close race in the end. A sizeable scratch bunch was split into two with the late arrival of Winston Briggs and James Denholm. 90 seconds between the two groups wasn’t enough though for them to get together a become a “train” which began mowing the earlier starters down. A start of 6:30 to block (second last group to start) was not enough to keep scratch at bay, with a big group of riders forming on the downwind section on Makino Rd on the second lap. Speeds of nearly 60 km saw some riders spun off the back. The group started to catch the earlier starting groups on the ups and downs along Tokorangi Rd, and attacks from some of the A grade riders saw George Roberts, Steve Stannard, and Alex West get away with only a few limit riders still in front. In the end, Alex managed a last ditch effort to catch Joe Caldwell right on the finish line to win the handicap, with Steve a few seconds back in third. A very gutsy ride from Dra’s Caldwell saw him finish fifth just behind George Roberts. Other notable rides were from Tom Pirie and Tom Stannard. Ewan Cousins continues to impress by mixing it with the “big boys” (and girls) and holding his own very well. In the one lap race for the young riders, Josh Mulchay was first across the line.
Thanks to Megan Blatchford-Peck for managing the race on the day, and also to the other helpers.
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by Vaughan Hunt | Mar 17, 2016 | Notices
Palmerston North City Council is investigating options for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Manawatū River to connect the city to Massey University and the Linton Army Camp.
The Bridge will connect the City to a 6.6 kilometre shared pathway (called He Ara Kotahi) for cyclists and pedestrians on the left bank of the Manawatū River that will link the City, Massey University, Fitzherbert Science Centre, and the Linton Military Camp.
BikeManawatu encourages you to give feedback via an online survey
by Vaughan Hunt | Mar 17, 2016 | Notices
If you have competed in the BikeManawatu Club 12km Time Trial on the Lockwood Road circuit you may have set an “age group record” for the current season, or in past years for your age category (see below).
Our current record holders can be seen here
– 2015/2016 season
– All time
So, if you have ridden, email me your date of birth and I will do my best to compile the records from the results that are on the BikeManawatu website.
AGE GROUP CATEOGORIES – (Male & Female are separate)
Under 13 – 12 years & below
Under 15 – 13-14 years
Under 17 – 15-16 years
Under 19 – 17-18 years
Under 23 – 19-22 years (Male Only)
Senior 23-34 years (Male) 19-34 years (Female)
Master 1 – 35-39 years
Master 2 – 40-44 years
Master 3 – 45-49 years
Master 4 – 50-54 years
Master 5 – 55-59 years
Master 6 – 60-64 years
Master 7 – 65-69 years
Master 8 – 70+ years
