The Gravel and Tar is back, bigger and better!

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 Gravel and Tar is back, bigger and better!

This is a quick ‘heads up’ to let you know that the Gravel and Tar is back for its sixth year – and it’s on the Wellington Anniversary Weekend, Saturday 23^rd January 2021.
For this edition, the Greasy Chain Charitable Trust is organising an entire weekend of cycling-related activities and events; the Manawatū Cycling Spree. To whet your appetite, the Manawatū Cycling Spree will include:

A Criterium (known as a ‘Crit’) will run on Friday afternoon/early evening (22^nd Jan). It will be run around the Railway Reserve, Palmerston North focusing on junior cyclists. During this time, there’ll also be a Mountain Bike event on the Reserve, so a lot to see in one place!
Saturday 23^rd sees Feilding welcome riders at the start of the professional men’s and women’s Gravel and Tar events, plus the amateurs in the Westpac Slicks and Stones. The Westpac Slicks and Stones in addition to the 100km category, is breaking new ground in 2021 with a “Lite” version of 46kms. Plus, there’s an e-bike division covering 46kms!
A Family Fun Ride takes place on Saturday morning along the Manawatū Riverbank cycleway from Linton to Memorial Park where Palmerston North City Council will host riders, spectators and the community in a music and food festival; “Over the Line”!
Further cycling activities on Sunday 24^th – first up will be a Retro Ride (antique bikes and perhaps even antique cyclists) through the city of Palmerston North, finishing with a celebration in George Street and the launch of a new book on the history of cycling by well-known local cyclist and author, Ian Gray. The Manawatū Mountain Bike Club will hold their annual Arapuke Mountain Bike Challenge, and then in another first for the Manawatū, the Nieuw Normal Mountain Bike Extreme exhibition takes place at the newly developed Greens Estate, Freeride/Slopestyle Training Compound.

The Manawatū Cycling Spree promises to be a great weekend for everyone, so please spread the word.
We can be found on Facebook and Instagram (please feel free to tag us, share, comment and like our content). We also have our website up and running for further details, check us out here!
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our many sponsors – whether you or your organisation has been helping us from the start, or you’re newly connected, your support has enabled the Greasy Chain Charitable Trust to achieve some great results for the Manawatū community, so thank you very much.
Planning is in full swing, with an excited board and an enthusiastic group of volunteers. If you want to get involved, please get in touch with us.
Bring on January 23^rd – we can’t wait!
Kind regards,
Bob Selden
Chair, Greasy Chain Charitable Trust

PS: For cyclists, entries for the Slicks and Stones open tomorrow – Saturday 26th September with a 48 hour Flash Sale.