Board Chair’s update

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.

NEXT FRIDAY; 27 May; “Bike Manawatu Happy Hour”
WHERE; Hotel Coachman
TIME ; 5.30 to 7pm
Come along and Join your fellow cyclists and volunteers for some good old fashion banter across all ages for fun.See you there.

Cycling Falls- Ouch!
When you start out cycling, fellow cyclists say, “it’s just a matter of time before you will fall off your bike” which is a scary thought and one you think will never happen to you. Yeh Right. For those of you who have come off your bike and hurt yourself I am now in your exclusive club after four years of cycling.First hand, it is not a nice experience but it is part of our wonderful sport.Like all sporting injuries they are not nice and some are worse than others.Think about gruesome rugby or snow skiing injuries.Your passion for cycling,fellow cyclists and riding picturesque Manawatu will help you recover and get back on your bike.Believe me.

Before my fall recently, I had always taken an interest in listening to other fellow cyclists who had fallen and injured themselves sharing their gruesome stories in horror.Then some time later we would see them reappear in a group ride looking very tentative and worried about yet another fall.Not long after they were back cycling stronger and better then ever.Thats what determination looks like.

If there is a moral to this story it can only be “concentrate” the whole time your are riding and always stick to good cycling protocols to minimise the risk of causing an accident in a group or falling off yourself. Falling off in cycling is not pleasant. Many have fallen before and many will fall in the future but this great sport is worth getting back on your bike for. Remember to empathise for the returning cyclist who needs you to ride along side them with care.