Upcoming Time Trials

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.

A time trial is a good test of a cyclist’s ability. It is you racing the clock. No hiding in a bunch, no sharing the work to get to the finish. It is an honest event where very often success is measured by personal bests rather than winning events.
A 40 km time trial is a kind of gold standard for time trialists. The distance is a genuine challenge and riding close to or under an hour is a significant achievement for most riders.
Upcoming time trials within reasonable driving distance that I am aware over the summer months are listed below. Most of the 40km time trials are run by the Wellington Veterans Cycling Club, but I note that BikeManawatu has snuck one in as well. The events attract a small entry fee. Several riders from the Manawatu ride the Wellington events each season.
The time trials programmed for this year are:

Sunday 15 January 2012: 40 km TT at Kahutara School near Martinborough about 2 hours from PN. WVCC – Guests of all ages welcome.

Sunday 5 February 2012: 40 km TT at Kahutara School. WVCC – Guests of all ages welcome.

Saturday 11 February 2012: 40 km TT at Rongotea. Bike Manawatu – Guests welcome.

Saturday 3 March 2012: BikeManawatu Time Trial Champs – Guests welcome

Sunday 11 March 2012: 40 km TT at Kahutara School. This is an open event for all masters’ riders with age group medals. Guests welcome.

Sunday 1 April 2012: 80 km TT around Lake Wairarapa. Reasonably flat, think of it as 2 x 40km  This event is open to all ages.

You can check out the details and enter at www.bikemanawatu.co.nz and www.wvcc.org.nz.
Barry Gilliland