Bike NZ Runs a Level 1 Coaching Course in Palmerston North

Despite the current ‘cost of living challenges’ facing all community events, Bike Manawatu is 100% committed to ensuring the 51st year of the Novice Tour – once again provides a safe, fun, competitive cycle racing event.

We will adopt a high-quality assured approach in implementing the Local Roading Authority’s/Cycling New Zealand’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) standards which ensure best practices and rider and spectator safety.

If the level of community funding secured is not sufficient to contract in external road management service providers with the ability to stop/go traffic, the Novice Tour will proceed on a ‘local club racing’ model, whereby our team of trained/experienced road marshals will, where necessary, pause racing in order to give way to traffic and ensure rider safety.

Although funding external road management services with the ability to stop/go traffic is ideal, if this is not feasible – we are confident that the event’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) will provide a competitive, fair, enjoyable and importantly safe racing environment.

Irrespective of which model of traffic management/racing is finalised, as with all CNZ/Bike Manawatu events, normal road rules will apply and a full rider briefing confirming the event rules will be provided to all riders prior to the start of each race.

Bike NZ recently ran a level 1 coaching course over Waitangi weekend in which a number of Bike Manawatu people attended. The course aims to give basics skills and advice to participants so they can coach road cyclist. In order to achieve accreditation, potential coaches must complete some practical coaching sessions and observe well experienced coaches, not necessarily from a cycling discipline.

The course run in Palmerston North was at the request of Bike Manawatu and links to the clubs desire to develop an internal coaching capacity for members of the club.

The club is certainly well on the road now in terms of increasing the numbers of aspiring coaches and it would be the clubs intention to identify those who have recently done the course and those who have attained accreditation. With the numbers of junior riders coming through, there should be sufficient opportunities to marry riders up with a coach.

Megan Blatchford-Peck, who recently completed the course is now looking for riders to work with so she can develop her skills and competence. There will also be other new coaches looking for experience as well. Some thought is been given to how we link riders to coaches but if you want to make enquiries contact Glenys at Bike Manawatu.