Sunday Rides

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 most Sundays there will be 3 rides.

Sunday-Rides

This is to provide riders with a wider range of options and to suit a wide range of abilities.

The rides will generally be as follows:

Long Rides – covering 75-85km
Medium Rides – covering 55-65km
Short Rides – covering 30-40km

We understand that there will be times when slower riders may wish to do the Long Ride, especially leading up to the fun ride season. Please advise the Ride Organiser for the day, there may be others who would like to join you.

Before each ride leaves the starting point it will be split into bunches of 10-12 riders. The size and number of bunches will vary each week depending on who and how many turn up but generally bunches for each ride will generally be as follows:

Fast Bunch – 29kph
Slow-fast Bunch – 27kph
Fast-slow Bunch – 25kph
Slow Bunch – 23kph

Remember weather conditions, terrain and the composition of the bunch will determine the final average speed and time taken.

BikeManawatu members will take an active role in creating the bunches at the start and controlling their bunch during the ride and at various times will ask others to assist.

Your bunch for the day may not be the bunch you intended to ride in but assisting others to improve their riding by leading them in a bunch is one of our important club principles.

if you choose a ride that’s too slow or a ride that’s too short, put up with it and choose differently next week
if you choose a ride that’s too long or a bunch that’s too fast be prepared to drop off or take a short cut home.

BikeManawatu rides are open to all comers. Members and non members alike. However if you are riding regularaly, we do encourage you to join BikeManawatu and support our club.