TRACK CHIT CHAT 28 Oct 2018

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.

TRACK CHIT CHAT

From Ian Gray.

The Opening Track Meeting is upon us this Sunday 28 October at 3pm.Warmup at 2 30pm.Come early as you need to register & obtain you’re seasons racing number. We all need to be patient as this is an ” orientation ” meeting and we have lot of new keen riders (which have really impressed me with their initial skills & fitness at bike fits and at orientation .We need to emphasize rules and safety,not only to the rookie riders but also to those returning to the velodrome.The first event is a special 2 lap time trial over 800 M,so new riders can get confidence riding competitively. As we have no track records over that this distance it will be run under record conditions with riders on each side of the track 3 watches on each rider.Winning riders in each grade will establish a record for the 2lap distance. Next we will have scratch races in each grade to help establish handicaps for future events on the program. Look forward to seeing you all at Fielding on Sunday.
PS. Road bikes on track start at 1 30 pm.