LAKE TAUPO TRAINING RIDES – NOVEMBER LONG DISTANCES

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.

Bike Manawatu’s Sunday Morning Ride Planning Group have scheduled bunch training rides on Sundays 11^th and 18^th November in prep for The Lake Taupo Challenge.

The rides will start from Memorial Park, Palm Nth, departure time 7.00 AM. After the Tour De Manawatu on Sunday 4^th November these rides will top off your training for Taupo.

Meet at 6.55AM both dates at Memorial Park Palm Nth for the briefing, sorting bunches (depending on numbers more than 1 bunch may be necessary). Come prepared with the needs for such a ride, i.e. suitable clothing for the day, spare tube(s), rain jackets, food, drink supplements, cash/credit card, cell phones etc.

Bunch guide lines will apply, i.e. normal road safety rules apply, ride together, 1^st up hill climbs wait at top and re-group, wait/assist for mechanicals and punctures. Pedal Pushers Lucky Draw will apply to Bike Manawatu current financial members.

SUNDAY 11 November 2012, 7 AM – 130 plus kms

The route and profiles can be viewed at http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/344616

This circuit starts from Memorial Park, PN – Feilding – Mt Biggs – Kakariki – SH1 to Hunterville (where there will be a Café break) – SH1 turn onto Hunterville/Cheltenham Rd – Vinegar Hill – Rewa Hill – Rewa – Waituna West – to Makino Road – Feilding – Palm Nth, approx 130 km plus to set you up for 2 weeks ahead.

Ken Young will co-ordinate, be prepared for 5-1/2 to 6-1/2 hours round trip.

SUNDAY 18 November 2012, 7 AM – 120 kms

The route and profiles can be viewed at http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/140900673

This is an Out & Back course, starting from Memorial Park, PN – Feilding – Makino Rd – Waituna West – Rewa – Rewa Hill – down to Rangitikei River (stop for break, no Café here) and return by same route to Palm Nth, approx 120 km plus.

Malcolm Rees will co-ordinate, be prepared for 5 to 6 hours round trip to top you off for Taupo on 24^th November.