On behalf of the Bike Manawatu Board we wish all members and your families a safe and happy Xmas and New Year with your loved ones. Enjoy the time together making more great memories which is what life is all about.
2016 has been a kind year for all weather cyclists and we trust you have achieved your cycling goals for the year. If you have, congratulations and maybe setting the bar a little higher for 2017 should be on your new goal list. If you have fallen short of your goal for 2016 be sure to reset the bar a little higher and give it the commitment it needs to achieve your goal in 2017.
Bike Manawatu endorse staying fit, healthy and safe while enjoying riding your bike and meeting as many other club members is the fun part of cycling. Our Bike Manawatu Sunday rides are a great way to do this along with over 300 other ride events Bike Manawatu organise for our members per year.
To our events organisers, volunteers and sponsors, words are not enough. Thank you from everyone associated to cycling within the club. A good holiday and a fresh look at better ways to share running events is the goal for 2017.
We would like to extend the invitation for all members to start your cycling year off with The Bike Manawatu “Gravel and Tar Granfondo” on the 29th of January that caters for all cyclist and is a great way to start your 2017 year off. It is close to home, not expensive, and you don’t have to pay for accommodation and it will be fun. Check is out and enter now.. Keeping the legs ticking over and trying something new for 2017 is exciting.
Enter “Gravel and Tar Classic” that Caters for all Rider Abilities- January 29th.
Our own Manawatu ” Gravel and Tar Classic” event on the 29th of January is designed to cater for cyclists of all abilities and to get your cycling year started on a positive note. Of course, the Flagship event is aimed at International and Elite NZ riders from U19 and older over 100k which will be a phenomenal race to watch with large prize money for individual and team classifications.
But there are also other tailored events to cater for our members and social riders to start your cycling year off over 80km at a cost of only $55 or $75 for teams.
For the ladies over the same 80km course we are running the “Gravel and Tar Le Femme” at only $55 and $75 for teams which we hope will attract keen interest from you girls. So, spread the word as only a women’s network can do.
Remember this is a Bike Manawatu event here in Palmy, not expensive, you don’t have to pay for accommodation and it is bound to be fun. The town will be a buzz and cafes full of lycra clad people sharing stories as we do on a summers day here in our region.
Other events outside of our region do cost significantly more to enter so we would love to see you support the Manawatu “Gravel and Tar Classic” by entering yourself and a friend now. With your help the club would like to build “Gravel and Tar” to become a must to ride on everyone calendar at the start of each year. This is a great way to promote our region and we all know riding in the Manawatu is awesome so let the world know by inviting your cycling friends to Palmy the weekend of the 29th of January.
Bike Manawatu Sunday for Xmas/New Year Period.
We hope everyone wanting to keep their legs ticking over are enjoying the great job Mike Keenan and his team are doing by organising our famous Sunday morning group rides. A wonderful way to improve your cycling, catchup with friends and meet new people especially over a coffee after the ride.
Our Christmas RIde has a free coffee on Bike Manawatu at Soskis
Jan,8th,15th,22, and so on….
Bike Manawatu Road Prize Giving
The club barbecue prize giving at the Hotel Coachman was enjoyed by members and family.
A highlight was the panel of speakers who shared their cycling year and experiences who have all enjoyed personal success at different levels which was a treat to listen to for everyone who attended.
We congratulate and thank; Pro Rider Genevieve Whitson, Enduro Rider Colin Anderson, Rising stars Chris Denholm and Carne Groube and Campbell Stewart and John Stewart.
Note; Due to not all series events being completed some trophies were unable to be awarded this year.
Club Trophy Road Winners
David Black Memorial-Rider of the Year- Robert Stannard
Woolworths Cup- Chris Pinkney
Essex Cup- Campbell Stewart
Cheltenham Cup Men – Chris Denholm -Women-Catriona Pirie
Sutton Cup- Mike Thomspon
Fowler Cup- Dylan Simpson
Bill Love Memorial Trophy- Connie Obrien
Croad Challenge Trophy- Rosie Obrien
Baker Family Trophy- Madi Hartley-Brown
PNMCC Trophy-Carne Groube
Ootman Cup Men-Glen Kirk; Women Carol Webb
Donaldson Cup- John Stewart
Thomas Collins Shield- Robert Stannard
Special Awards
Theo de Cuff Shield- Kim Anderson and Katherine Stannard
Best Enduro Rider of the Year-Steve Nagy
Murray Jensen Most improved ride Taupo-Chris Denholm
Jim Morrison Volunteer of the Year- John Arbuckle
Pedal Pushers Good Samaritan of the Year-Rob Ryan.
Bike Manawatu congratulate all the above winners. Well done.
WCNI Track Carnival Hard Fought.
At last Sundays WCNI Feilding Track Carnival big efforts produced exciting races and results across all disciplines.
Handicap racing is designed to give everyone an even playing field and for one family it matched dad master rider John Stewart against multiple junior world track champion and son Campbell Stewart. John takes away family bragging rights this year having won the handicap wheel race, and the main event with Cambell 2nd,closely followed by Carne Groube in 3rd.
Angus Claasen won the under 17 wheel race final beating second placed Kyle Hoskins from Ashhurst and Wellingtons Louis Hodgkinson in 3rd.
Finn Murphy won the under 15s beating out two local riders Fergus Lloyd in second and James Gardiner in third.
Under 17 Manawatu rider Natasha Pinkney was rider of the day.