The best of New Zealand’s school cyclists are in the Manawatu to compete for their school over three days from September 30th to October 2nd at the National Road Championships. Over a thousand people will be based in the region to witness schools racing at its best. Riders from (Intermediate ages) 7 and 8 students and (High School ages)year 9,10,11,12 and 13 will be busy racing hard out over three days.
Hotel, motels, cafes, restaurants and retailers in the Manawatu will also benefit massively from our this iconic annual cycling event as parents, supporters, teachers and coaches line the roads to support their riders. Starting daily at 9am with the younger age racers through to late morning and afternoons for the schools more senior age group racers.
Day 1 – Saturday 30th: Teams Time Trial – Koputuroa School Levin
Day 2 – Sunday 1st: Road Race – Colyton School
Day 3 – Monday 2nd: Criterium – Manfeild
If you have not experienced racing at top level yet be sure to make some time to watch New Zealands future stars competing head to head here in our region. Our brilliant Manawatu schools riders have been training hard for this event to take out honours across all disciplines.
I have found the Manfeild Criterium on the last day Monday the 2 October is always passionately contested by all schools as it all comes down to the final points races after three days to decide the top three schools in NZ. The Road races on the Sunday at Colyton school will be exciting to watch and the Koputuroa teams time trail is always intense amongst the teams teams.
Be sure to watch out for and support our Manawatu schools cyclists if you can make it. Palmerston North Boys High and Girls High teams and individual Cyclists have won NZ titles on numerous occasions and then there’s Palmerston North Intermediate Normal school who also have a proud history of titles.
Good luck to all involved.
Bike Manawatu Happy Hour
When: Friday 29th September
Where: Lonestar on the Square
Time: from 5.30pm
It’s time to engage yourself and your cycling buddies by supporting our sponsors the Lonestar and join us for this months “Happy Hour”. Spring has arrived and cycling mates always enjoy time together especially over a drink when you give each other a little bit of friendly advice or stick which ever suits at the time. See you there.
Upcoming School Events
Novice Tour of Manawatu- December 9th-10th. A proud forty four year old multi-stage Manawatu Tour highlighting some of New Zealand’s best rising stars racing for individual and club honours. We will keep you up to date.
Palmfeilds Motors October 15th Recreational Ride
Check out upcoming Bike Manawatu Events Calendar
Spring is the start of many club events for cyclists. If you own a bike and want to experience something new and different and get fitter, be sure to check out the clubs ride calendar online and try something different.
The club and event organisers would love to see you give different events a go this year. Cyclists can do anything and many masters riders tried different club events last year which resulted in their feedback being positive and are the same cyclist keen to return this year. How fantastic is that.
Check out other cycling interests:
Kairanga Time Trail Series-
From Horizons yard on Kairanga-Bunnythorpe road in October on Wednesdays from 6pm this flat 12Km weekly time trail points series has been a huge success with approximately 50 riders biking out to the course and registered from 5.45pm. A great way to exercise before dinner.
Club Road Races for Everyone-
On Saturdays in October we have medium distance graded club races for all ages and abilities on different courses in our beautiful manawatu countryside. Open to everyone and masters riders can enjoy riding with your mates and finish of with a coffee or a real drink at the end which is great fun and whom many enjoyed at our recent Bike Manawatu Tui Brewery ride for there first outing.
Feilding Track Riding-
Hire a track bike from the club for a modest amount of money from November and have fun racing different events on a Sunday in October and Tuesday after Xmas at the Johnston Park cycling track in Feilding under the watchful eye of legend Ian Gray and his team. Fun.
Manfeild Criterium-
On Tuesday’s starting at 6pm for the Month of November the popular Criterium series is on again.Safe off road fun graded riding for all ages.Last year people loved it and the improvement in their cycling was huge.Pencil this one in.Its contagious.
Weekend Festival of Cycling- Saturday January 27th and 28th 2018-
Gravel and Tar Classic- 27th of January- This is an incredible coup by Bike Manawatu and event founder Steve Stannard to bring elite International Racing Teams to Palmerston North to race a physically and technically very difficult road and gravel 125km race. The Elite riders love this tough and very different event and our scenic region. Having them in Palmy is the start of something special for the region.
Gravel and Tar Gran Fondo- Saturday 27 January- This event has been designed for all recreational riders of all ages and abilities to give people a taste of something different and to feel party of the regions weekends festival of cycling.The Gran Fondo will offer two distances in 2018 1) the 70km Gravel and Tar course and the 2) 30km course.There is something for everyone young and mature,male,female rider. Give it a go and support our Weekend Festival of cycling which will grow in our region.
Manawatu Mountain Bike Club Entertaining supporting Weekend Festival of Cycling-
Bike Manawatu and our good friends the Manawatu Mountain Bike club are considering supporting the Manawatu Festival of Cycling Weekend with possibly running the Kahuterawa Challenge mountain bike ride on Sunday the 28th of January. Wouldn’t that be mouthwatering for all cyclist riding The Gran Fondo in the Saturday and the Kahuterawa Challenge on the Sunday.We will keep you informed.
Valued Sponsors of Bike Manawatu
Glenn Kirk-Oral Surgeon
Glenn is a committed cyclist who supports and sponsors many of our Bike Manawatu club Events. This tall, lean and quiet Oral Surgeon rides a bike with ease and races events all over the country with passion in a sport he loves. If you need an Oral surgeon next time call Glenn, he would be welcome to help you.
FMG
Advice and insurance for Rural,Residential, lifestyle, commercial and travel plus more means FMG have got New Zealand and the Manawatu covered. FMG are building the largest new office undertaken in the Palmerston North CBD for some 25 years showing their commitment to the Manawatu. As well they have sponsored Bike Manawatu which we appreciate. Thank you FMG.