Pahiatua Track and Saddle Roads

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.

The ongoing inclement weather continues to make the task of clearing the slip and stabilising the hillside in the Manawatu Gorge extremely difficult. The continuing slips have stretched out the task well beyond the council and contractors original estimates. Our message to cyclist remains in place. For personal safety reasons we are still recommending and encouraging cyclists to avoid using the Pahiatua Track and Saddle Roads as a training route. You will be aware that the men and women’s cycle tour planned for the region in the New Year has been forced to change its route as a result.

For those who regularly read the Manawatu Evening Standard, I noted a one page plea from Fonterra also asking cyclists to avoid using these routes. To me such requests makes a lot of sense when the road offers a negligible verge and it seems pointless increasing the levels of risk to individuals when it’s totally unnecessary. Choose alternative routes and live to ride.