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.
For those of you who missed out on Taupo this year, I have got to say, you missed a really good one. Fantastic weather, a beautiful sunny day, slight wind from the north east [felt a bit stronger than that when I was riding – Ed.] 
and some fantastic times. We had club members doing their first challenge, others doing 2 laps and a couple of Pamly riders having a crack at the 8 lap enduro.
To top it all off, we were able to share the Massey University marquee after the event. So from about 11 am til 4 pm a continuous…
barbeque fed the incoming riders and complementary electrolyte drinks and water were also available. Come 5 pm more formal catering turned up just in time for the later arrivals. A stack of spot prizes were drawn on the hour, every hour until 5 pm and many walked away with something to remember the day. This is the first time Massey have attended the Challenge in any coordinated way and the mix of staff and cyclists from Palmerston North helped to make the whole thing a vibrant well run continuous function.
Rumour has it the same will be offered next year so watch this space. What a perfect spot is was right in front of the prize giving stage.
If you want to give some feed back feel free to jump on to the Bike Manawatu forum and have your say.
See you in Taupo next year.
and some fantastic times. We had club members doing their first challenge, others doing 2 laps and a couple of Pamly riders having a crack at the 8 lap enduro.
