The Time Trial NZ Idea

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.

There is a new concept in time trialling currently being trialled and tested around NZ. It is based on having a number of 15km TT courses that cyclist’s can ride whenever they choose and post their times on a website.

This would be be categorised by gender, age group categories with a tandem and 2-up rider option.

The benefits being, it provides a training and competitive option over winter as many clubs don’t run events and would be a non-threatening pathway to encourage people to get into cycling.

The idea has started to gain interest and support with a website set up http://timetrial.co.nz/

To date, two courses have been set up to trial this idea, one in Palmerston North and Otaki ,with more being added around the country in coming weeks.

One of the criteria for a course was that it didn’t use a regular cycling club TT course as this is concept is intended to compliment rather than compete with existing cycling club courses.

If anyone is interested in riding a course, check out the following links.

Palmerston North http://timetrial.co.nz/ride-cou/ride-time-trial-nz-course/palmerston-north/

Otaki – http://timetrial.co.nz/ride-cou/ride-time-trial-nz-course/te-horo/