BikeManawatu linking up with MSC.

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.

It’s been great to have the opportunity for our “older” members to go racing with Manawatu Schools Cycling.(BMSC)

This is the second year that BMSC has invited BM members to come along and have a go, and the feedback has been terrific.

We had an ITT at the challenging Colyton course a few weeks ago and last weekend there was a Team Time Trial at Kairanga. There was a number of seniors that formed teams and competed for, what was for some ,their first TTT . Plenty of banter before, during and after the event with smiles all round.

This Sunday there is another TTT at Rongotea with the last one a week later. These TTT’s are a core element in Schools cycling so this time of the year the kids get hammered with them…..Sign up on the Facebook post before Saturday 12.00 and next week there will be more details on the new website.

BM Chairman Mike Craine and his loyal group of parents and local school teachers run a fantastic series of events over terms 2 and 3 all building up to CNZ Schools Championships.

CNZ Schools run the North Island Championships around the Lake Karapiro area in the first weekend of the July school holidays, so in two weeks time students from years 7-13 migrate to the Cambridge district for this annual event.

Then New Zealand Championships are historically held in Horowhenua and Manawatu but, this year, they are being held in Canterbury.

Schools cycling is the breeding ground for all kids to grasp the enjoyment and benefits that cycling has to offer. Many parents have taken up cycling as a direct result of their offspring doing schools cycling and everlasting friendships have been formed…such is the great activity we participate in