Mt Ruapehu cycling camp

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.

Twelve hardy Bike Manawatu riders are currently holed up at the Station Lodge in Ohakune on the second iteration of the Mt Ruapehu cycling camp.

Ably assisted by Denise Brown and Carol Roberts, and shepherded by Steve Stannard, some of Bike Manawatu’s finest started the week (Monday) riding from Palmy to Wanganui via Hunterville.

After an overnight at the Wanganui Top 10 Holiday Park, the group rode up to Ohakune enjoying some great climbs and sunny weather.

Yesterday (Wed) a quick ride up the mountain, if a 1km vertical ascent can ever be quick, and a ride in the afternoon saw yet another huge dinner and an early night. Today’s ride up Fields Track, one of the classic road rides in NZ, was followed by a copious lunch and lots of sleeping! Tomorrow we head down to Pipriki in the morning, the camp concluding on Saturday after another jaunt up the mountain.