From the Board Chair

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.

Club individual time trial (ITT) championships

The club ITT champs were postponed on Sunday due to the inclement weather. We had to make a call early in the morning to put the signage out, so a decision was made at 7 am when it was raining very hard and blustery. Unfortunately, the weather started clearing around 8 am and by 9 am it was a great day! Murphy’s Law… We will reschedule the ITT champs, so stay tuned for that announcement.

Club clothing

If you put a deposit on some Bike Manawatu cycling clothing then please contact Christine Christie to pay the remainder and collect your clothing. We ordered a bit more kit than was ordered to cater for those who might need clothing but had not ordered it. There are limited numbers of sizes, but talk to Christine to see if we have something that fits. Remember, if you are riding the National Road Champs, you need to wear a BM jersey and BM shorts (or plain black).

Board elections

As per the BM constitution, at the first meeting following the AGM, the Board convenes to elect a Chair and a Deputy Chair. Steve Stannard was elected as the Chair and Kelly Johnson was elected Deputy Chair. The Board welcomed new members Chris Sanson, Michael Groube, and Austin Smith. Please feel free to chat with the Board members out on ride with any ideas or concerns you have that they might take to the next Board meeting. It’s great that the Board is made up of a good mix of people with different areas of professional expertise, but who all love cycling and want to see BM progress.