Notes from the mountain…

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.

Elizabeth on State Hwy 4 I write this sitting in a large kitchen in the Station Lodge and Guesthouse in Ohakune, just having filled my belly with poached eggs and banana on toast. We’ve just come back from riding up the mountain; a pretty hard climb if you’re not familiar with it, but the view from the top is well worth the effort.

Today is day three of our summer training camp. On the first day (Tue 18^th) we rode from Palmerston North to Wanganui via Hunterville. We completed about 140 km that day, and climbed a total of 1200m. Next day we road up State Hwy 4 to Ohakune (105 km) which meant another 1500m of climbing. Needless to say, there were a few tired legs last night.

Denise Brown and Carol Roberts are accompanying nine riders, providing much needed encouragement, logistics, and nutritional support (read: great meals!).

The Station Lodge
The camp concludes in Saturday, so that some of us can get back to enjoy Simon’s BBQ. Tomorrow we are going to do a loop back towards Wanganui, then back via Field’s Track. Then, on Saturday morning, we might head over to National Park and do the climb to Whakapapa. We should all have better climbing form when we get back.

Lunchtime at Kakatahi School
All the riders are enjoying themselves and there’s already talk about what we’ll do next year.

Those on the camp include: George Roberts, Luuk van Wagtendonk, Elizabeth Stannard, Nate Levin, Josh Kendall, Carne Groube, Robert Stannard, Graeme Bull, myself, Denise, and Carol.

Nate at Turoa

We’ do a short recovery ride later this afternoon, but meanwhile I’m off for a well-earned nap!

Steve.