“Rescue Helicopter” lucky draw

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.

On Thursday the 9th of October we met Lance at the Feildair hanger where the helicopter is kept and after a safety briefing we (with brother Adam) boarded the chopper and flew out.

Our flight took us round Longburn and over Linton military base then along the hills as we got an aerial view of the windmills that dotted the ranges. The helicopter then flew round the front of the gorge and headed back over Ashhurst towards Palmerston North to land at the airport where Lance demonstrated the hovering abilities of the chopper as he landed back on the platform from which we had taken off from only 20min earlier.

Flying in a chopper is quite different to flying in a plane, the noise, movement and ability to go any direction you want. This 20 minute helicopter flight was the first time I had flown in a helicopter and I would rate it up there as one of the best things I have done.

Big thanks must go to Bike Manawatu and the Rescue Helicopter Trust for providing me with this opportunity to take the helicopter flight.

David Martin