When: Friday 1st December
Where: Lonestar on the Square
Time: from 5.30pm
End of the year celebrations are important and to catch up with your cycling buddies for the drink is what our “Bike Manawatu Happy Hour” is all about. This club initiative enjoys a small group of regulars who take advantage of this once a month. We would love to see more members. The merrier makes for a better time for everyone. Supporting the atmosphere of a club sponsors with a Bar/Restaurant is giving back. We’d love to see you Friday the 1st of December.
The Pilgrimage of Taupo Cycle Challenge
I hope the training is complete, the bike is serviced, the accommodation is booked and the head space is saying “Taupo hear I come”. The pilgrimage of riders and supporters descending on the Taupo Cycle Challenge year after year is phenomenal. Road and Mountain bike enthusiasts putting themselves to the test for the experience or maybe a better time than last year. We congratulate you all and wish our Bike Manawatu Club members a safe and successful ride.
Taupo will be a buzz before, during and after the events so be sure to enjoy yourselves, whatever the outcome.
Sadly I will not be able to partake this year as I will be attending the funeral of a local family friend. However I will be thinking of you all and wish you all the very best for a great weekend.
Oceania Track Championships -Cambridge
Sweet club success has been a highlight for our rising stars at the Oceania Track Championships in Cambridge this week.
Michaela Drummond was on the New Zealand women’s team that won the 4000m team pursuit beating Australia by 14 seconds which is huge. Campbell Stewart continued with his individual brilliance finishing second in the men’s 30km points race behind Josh Harrison of South Africa. Jordan Castle was part of the NZ sprint team that finished second behind the top NZ Olympic and Commonwealth team of Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins. Young Angus Claasen was in the under 19 team that finished second in the men’s sprint team behind Australia.
Brilliant and proud results for our riders, their families, coaches and supporter. Congratulations from all Bike Manawatu members. ALso on the night of this publishing we have seen Jordan Castle take an amazing victory in the elite mens keirin as well as an epic finale from Campbell Stewart & Tom Sexton taking out the elite mens madison. Awesome results.
Check out full results on Cycling New Zealand website
Joel Yates wins Abel Tasman Challenge 2017
Newly elevated elite cyclist Joel Yates has won this years 155km Abel Tasman Challenge in 3.53.56.Last year Olympic Games rowing champion Hamish Bond won the event. Well done to Joel, his support team and family. A great result after a very good Tour of Southland.
Sutton Cup Handicap Results
Overall a small field braved blustery conditions over the 41km Halcombe circuit to contest this years Sutton Cup. This is a long standing club event and we thank and congratulate those riders who rode the race. For lots of roadies, racing is where it’s at and the club put on club races for our members to challenge yourself, to improve and enjoy the camaraderie of cycling people. We want to encourage all club members, all ages and abilities to come to the next club road race the Woolworths Cup. Running such events takes a lots of resources , planning and volunteers for the club and it would be more value for everyone having more people ride these events.
Sutton Cup Results
1st Sam Gardner 1.13.03 (scratch),2nd Ethan Craine 1.13.06 (scratch)3rd Ian Eagles ST(scratch) 4th Dra,s Caldwell 1.13.46 (limit) 5th Chenuka Rajapaske 1.14.35 (limit)6th Joe Caldwell ST ( limit) 7th Pete Thomas 1.16.36 (limit)8th Nigel Doyle 1.18.18 (break) 9th Toshi 1.18.21 (break)10th Lizzy Stannard 1.18.22 ( break)11th Phil Devlin ST. ( break)12th Jack Pronk 1.21.37 (scratch)13th Aiden Jones ST (scratch) 14th Tom Stannard ST ( scratch)
Check out bike manawatu Facebook for more information.
Club Kairanga Time Trail 8 Race Series
When: Wednesday’s
Where; At Horizons yard on Kairanga-Bunnythorpe road.
Registrations from ;5.45pm and will close of at 6.15pm.
Start Times from : 6.30pm:
On Wednesdays the Club Kairanga Time Trail 8 week series is attracting great numbers to ride the flat 12Km country time trail course to record points for the series or just have a good hit out for fitness and training for other events.
Trying to better your time and improve your fitness, strength,speed and bike handling skills gives our riders massive reward which most come to try and achieve.Stepping outside of your comfort zone is proving rewarding for those who are trying these new events.
For you to volunteer your help at any club event is appreciated by the club and fellow riders. The club put out a mayday call and asked if Time Trail riders over 18 years old would put there name forward to Organiser Mike Craine ( register with secretary@bikemanawatu.co.nz) to go on a volunteer rosters list that would require you to stand down for one time trial week only to help out for one night.For you being on the rosters and helping out for the one night you will receive 2 points towards the series.We hope you see that as fair and a great way of giving back to club events by sharing the work load which the club really appreciates. We thank those people who willingly put their name forward to help which takes pressure off those few people who volunteer week after week.
The popular Kairanga time trial has always been well supported and is always run by a small group of dedicated club members who simply are unable to sustain this year after year. Your help is really valued and its never to late to put your name forward.
Checkout results on Bikemanawatu Facebook or by clicking here
Manfeild Criterium- Last Night.
When; Tuesday 29th November
Gates open: 5.30pm Registrations close at 6pm
Start Time: 6pm.This is a popular and safe off road graded event for all ages.Its never to late to try this contagious fun ride. The feedback is riders love it.
Over 100 riders registered for the first of the four race points series. Sprint laps are signalled by the whistle and the final lap by the bell. Points will be awarded to the first four in each sprint.
6pm- D and B Grade
D Grade 25 minutes plus 1 lap
B Grade 35 minutes plus.1 lap
6.45pm C and A Grade
C Grade 30 minutes plus 1 lap
A Grade 45 Minutes plus 1 lap
Watching and supporting your cycling buddies and catching up together is part of the fun.Its all over by 7.30 too.
Once again another great club event and one where volunteers to register riders or call the four four placing over the line are needed.Contact race Organiser Mike Craine secretary@bikemanawatu.co.nz
Check out points on Facebookbikemanawatu or here
WCNI Track Carnival
Check out results on BikeManawatu Facebook
There were 18 exciting races to watch.
Manawatu -The Novice Tour
When : 9th and 10th of December
Two days and four stages:44 years of history and bringing most of the best young riders in New Zealand to the Manawatu to compete in this iconic four stage tour over two days.This is a tough tour and brilliant spectacle Manawatu are proud of.Some of New Zealand’s former and current stars have ridden this tour and speak highly of how important the Manawatu Novice Tour was in their development.
Manawatu Festival of Cycling -January 27th.
1) UCI 130km Manawatu Gravel and Tar Classic-International teams.
2) The 70km Gran Fondo- All ages and abilities
3) The 30km Riverpath Challenge- All ages and abilities.
Enter now at gravelandtar.com
Being awarded a UCI (1.2 level) International race is a big deal for New Zealand and the Manawatu.The Manawatu Gravel and Tar Classic has been running for two years and to get UCI accreditation has been described in rugby terms like holding a Super 15 Rugby final here in the Manawatu year after year.Its that big.
Bike Manawatu are hoping our members and the community will 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 for all ages and abilities.
The 130km UCI International race along with the recreational rides will set the stage for us to build year after year on creating our own “Manawatu Weekend Festival of Cycling” for everyone in the region and beyond.
Bike Manawatu’s concept of a summer weekend ” Manawatu 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.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 a Mountain Biking Club are hoping to support our weekend “Manawatu 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.
On the 27th of 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.
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.Neutralise starts from the square at a respectable 1pm start time we hope will capture a crowd atmosphere to give the event a Kiwi/European Vibe.
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 Riverpath Challenge riders to finish.
We welcome Bike Manawatu Memberships
Bike Manawatu welcomes all new members and value all of our current members who turn out week after week to ride a bike.Our annual memberships cost of only $45 for adults ,youths under 19 years old at $25 and family memberships with three or more at only $80 represent great value compared to most other sports.
What is important to know is that your club membership covers public liability insurance which is a valuable benefit. With over 300 Bike Manawatu organised rides per year and loads of great people and friendships you make, what could be better for bike enthusiasts than joining our club.
With your membership contribution we hope you try out as many local events as possible.
Equally we extend a request for more members to help out with our annual calendar of club events during at events from time to time.
Standing down riding an event every now to help out would help provide an even spread of helpers versus the small few who put there hand up regularly.
Contact Keryn our club secretary on secretary@bikemanawatu.co.nz to find out how easy it is to get your membership started or renewed or to be on our list of volunteers to call on every now and then.
Other Notices:
A massive thanks to Phil Rydder for donating a pair of shoes and cleats for Mohammad.
To top it off Pat Edwards has lent Mohammad a road bike so he is now all set to enjoy the awesome cycling roads we have in our region.
Thanks to everyone who has assisted in welcoming Mohammad to the Bike Manawatu community.