by Bike Manawatu | Dec 24, 2025 | News
On behalf of the Board, our volunteers and sponsors, Best wishes and Merry Christmas and New Year to everyone, riders or not.
It’s been another busy year at Bike Manawatu with multiple changes and obstacles confronted and worked through.
This year saw the moving on from Secretary duties by Keryn Paekau who has done an incredible job for the club over the last seven years. We have seen her family grow as we witnessed Keryn grow herself into a remarkable human with a very high work ethic done with Military precision.
The club would not be in the strong position it is without her input over the years. Mike Craine finally passed the baton… Tim says he’ll do his best.
We welcomed Janina Gapper to be handed over the reigns and she too has already made an impact of her own to the club, we are extremely fortunate.
Cycling as a sport is changing all the time. As a club we listen to our members and also take note of the sign up for our racing. In previous years we have concentrated on many and smaller events which worked well, but with changing times needs a recheck.
As a club we have approached Wellington Masters Cycling Club (which is getting a rebrand and name at present) and Kapiti Cycling Club to join us in refreshing interclub racing. Our plan is to join with our other WCNI clubs and reinvigorate Road racing through the regions. Dates are pencilled in for the first 3 and will be published as soon as possible.
The focus at the start of the year will be supporting the CHB Junior Tour and Ramblers Tour end of January. The Junior Tour especially needs our support. Within our club Handicap races and ITTs leading into Interclub racing in March-May. Adding to that, the focus on supporting the Round the Mountain Classic and Bush Tour in March.
The winter will be close to town with Arena Criterium, flat track loop events and TTTs building into more challenging events preparing for the Kapiti Winter Series and Schools North Island Champs. Our own Road Race, Hill Climb and ITT Championships will follow interwound with Trust House and Taupo races.
Our Track team continues to run a great variety of events at the Feilding velodrome over the summer months as well as participating at carnivals in the Lower North Island. Earlier this year a very capable team of 11 riders competed at the Age Group Track Nationals in Invercargill, securing multiple medals across all age grades and events. Earlier this month we saw strong performances including two podiums at the Madison & Omnium Champs in Cambridge.
Late 2025 saw some amazing efforts on bikes from Sam Shaw with the FKT from Auckland to Wellington. Whanganui’s Glenn Haden with a one hour record at the Cambridge Velodrome, and topped off with Peter Eade’s 12 hours around the Feilding Velodrome. I had the privilege of riding with Peter for the last hour. A great effort by a guy who just wanted to do it to prove to himself that he could. That attitude runs strong through all sports and I’d like to think that’s what makes us all tick.
As a club we will give you the opportunity to compete and ride at your level. We welcome E bikes and all self-propelled cyclists at whatever level.
In 2026 Bike Manawatu will introduce a membership entrance to riders who would just like to be a member of Bike Manawatu without signing through CNZ. Of course there will be some who may upgrade with a National licence in time, but we see it as a barrier to riders joining and have changed our stance. We listened and have acted.
Our crew is having a few weeks off before getting stuck in again for 2026. Massive thanks to all of our Sponsors, Thank you to the Board members, and all of our club members and the volunteers.
by Vaughan Hunt | Dec 6, 2025 | News
This Sunday Vicky is putting on a morning tea as a memorial for Dave Cockburn. Dave was a regular at our Sunday rides and we want to remember all the rides together with him. This is taking place at Garry’s with a start time of 10:30.
So this weekends Sunday rides will start at the usual time and place but will finish at Garry’s. The route will likely be over to Lethbridge via Colyton and back via Sandon. Around (65km) with a longer option to go up Mt Biggs across to Mt Stewart, Penny, Waitohi, Tiapo Greens and home.(78km).
by Bike Manawatu | Nov 19, 2025 | News, Road Results
It was a great night for yesterday’s Manfeild Circuit Race! Thank you to Sam Richardson for running the timing, and many others for offering to help out.
The Handicap race was at hot pace! Gaps were worked out on 40,36 and 32 kph average over the three grades. However, it turns out 45, 42 and 37 is the new normal. The great thing is we now have lap times and data to get actual performance data for our individual riders. Great to see Toshi and Ash rocking up, with Ash smashing lots of personal bests. It was also fantastic to see the mentoring happening through the bunches.
Results can be found HERE
We are looking forward to the second Criterium at the CET Arena next Thursday 27th November. Registrations are now open: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=413794
by Bike Manawatu | Nov 14, 2025 | News, Road Results
It was a fantastic afternoon for our first Criterium event at the CET Arena yesterday, with 39 riders across the 4 events. We had a lot of positive feedback and are going to run a second criterium in a couple of week’s time, on Thursday 27th November, mark your calendars. Registrations will open shortly.
A shout-out to our volunteers Andy and Sam Richardson, Jo Coxon, Jonathon Hannon and Tim Lloyd, and to all those riders who have not participated in our events before and gave the criterium a go. We hope to see you again at our upcoming events.
Unfortunately the brief rain interfered with the Open Men’s race. In the future we may change the course layout depending on weather conditions. We are also going to split the Men’s event into two separate races, A grade and B grade, as long as registration numbers allow.
Next up, on Tuesday 18th November is the Manfeild Circuit Race. This will be run as a Handicap race. Please pre-register here, https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=409918, and remember to bring your race number if you have been issued one.
by Vaughan Hunt | Nov 6, 2025 | News
For all you riders who have ben out on Bike Manawatu Sunday rides, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mike for all the behind the scenes organising and route planning he has done on our behalf. Mike is handing over responsibility to Austin and Gary.
Mike writes:
The time has arrived where my time organising the BM Sunday Rides from Memorial Park has ceased as of last Sunday.
Over the past 10+ years I absorbed and enjoyed an immense amount of friendship being associated with BM Sunday Rides in the company of great people. First, as a cyclist was most fulfilling, and secondly, over the past 4 years just emailing weekly and about once a month meeting at Memorial Park on a Sunday to interact with the cyclists and announce that mornings notices and the cycling routes.
Over the past 2 – 3 weeks Garry Buys, Austin Smith and with assistance from Vaughan Hunt we have made plans for a seamless hand-over to Garry and Austin to carry on organising BM Sunday Rides from Memorial Park starting this Sunday. Austin has taken on responsibility for the weekly emails with Garry assisting with his many years experience.
Wishing only the best for everyone looking forward and see you for a last time when making the announcements on Sunday at Memorial Park.
