Member Profile – Austin Smith

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.

Hi, I’m Austin Smith and have recently become a member of the Bike Manawatu Board. I have been a keen social cyclist for the last 15 years and a member of the club since 2005. I ride regularly with mid week groups, Saturday rides and the BM rides on Sunday. I try to ride the locally organised rides each year and enjoy the social aspect of the rides in Palmerston North.

Please feel free to talk to me on rides about any concerns or ideas you have for the future of cycling and the direction of club. For the club to prosper and improve we must all work together to support competitive, social, and beginning riders. While each group has differing needs as a team we can build upon the sound foundation that the past membership and committee has built for Bike Manawatu.