Record Set at 40km Time Trial

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.

Last year I rode a 40km time trial at Kahutara and participants said it was the windiest day they had ever experienced. On Sunday I rode a time trial on the same course and regular riders said it was the windiest day they had ever experienced, including last year! If last year was a record, this the crosswind this year broke it!

I usually take pride in the fact that I can ride the aerobars in cross winds when others don’t. Not on Sunday! The wind was so strong in some places that it caused the shallow Zipp 303 to skip across the road toward the gutter. It was a matter of sitting up and leaning as much weight on the front wheel as much as possible on exposed parts of the course.

There were 37 entries, 9 of these didn’t start and 3 pulled out as they rode back past the school into the bottom section the course. I considered stopping at the school, but remembered that the course was more sheltered in the southern section. I was wrong!

The fair-weather time trialists may think that not riding was a good option. Certainly riding a good time was out of the question in those conditions, but there is a certain satisfaction in finding out what the limits of riding the TT bike in crosswinds are.

No-one broke the hour. The best time was 60:34min. The results for Manawatu riders were: Barry Gilliland second at 61:09min, Andrew Ward fourth at 61:54min, Michael Bradley sixth at 65:15min, Tom Pirie eighth at 65:38min, and Mike Burt ninth at 66:24min.

I doubt those times reflect who was strongest, just who handled the wind better.

The next 40 km time trial is on the same course on 20 February. Windless conditions guaranteed…hopefully!