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Written by John van Lienen

Created: 02 February 2017

I was lucky enough to commentate this year’s Bike Manawatu 'Gravel and Tar Classic' last weekend which brought top teams and riders from all over New Zealand and Australia to Palmerston North for our unique 100k Gravel and Tar race. Professional riders say they
love something different as a race and of course the prize money on offer and have said they'll be back next year which is a fantastic outcome. Race organiser Steve Stannard and his team worked tirelessly to make this second year a success and Mayor Grant Smith was in the square to welcome the riders and there support teams at the start.
The anticipation of who would win brought cycling enthusiasts to the Memorial Park finish line while the race organisers fed me by phone what was happening on the tough 100k windy course which I conveyed enthusiastically by microphone.
It was exciting with reports coming in of Robert Stannard, Alex West (Team Skoda) and Glenn Haden (Team Bike Box) making an early brake with the chase group of Sam Burston and Dylan Newbury (Möbius Future Racing-Australia), Roman van Uden (team Cyclista), Chris Denholm (Team Skoda), Luke Mudgeway, and Logan Griffin (Oliver's Real Food Racing) last year’s winner working hard to bridge the gap.

In the meantime, the Gravel and Tar 80k Gran Fondo riders were also finishing there event at the same time. First across the line in the Gran Fondo was Jason Sturzaker followed by young local rider Max Taylor and local masters rider Glen Kirk was third place. The women's first three placing saw Kirsten Hagen from Wellington win the event followed by local teenager Pieta Ranson in second with masters rider Carol Webb in third. To all riders well done and a fantastic effort in tough conditions. We hope you'll be back next year.

Meanwhile in the Gravel and Tar Classic elite race reports of a cat and mouse dual between Robert Stannard and Alex West had developed with 5km to go. Glen Haden had a puncture to deal with and was chasing hard to catch the two out in front while the chase group with top Australian and New Zealand riders were still unable to bridge the gap.
The class and effort of our two local riders was evident. With the home straight in sight Robert was on the wheel of Alex ready to pounce. The sprint and finish was exciting with Robert winning marginally over Alex (Team Skoda) Glenn Haden (Team BikeBox) in third place. Racing at its best.
For a full report go to the RoadCycling website.

Bike Manawatu we're proud to bring racing of this calibre to Palmerston North and we thank the valued Sponsors of Gravel and Tar Classic for there support.
AvantiPlus, The Lion Foundation, Hotel Coachman, Cyclista, Bayleys, Churchyard Physiotherapy, NZ Farm Source. Sport Manawatu.

Back to Cycling-2017

Tune in the Bike Manawatu calendar for upcoming events that you are interested in. There will be some changes to the calendar and we will update you as soon as possible.
Road, Track, Time Trails, social and upcoming events will keep you fit and keen while enjoying this amazing sport of cycling in 2017.

Bike Manawatu Happy Hour

When; 24th of February
Where; Lonestar on the Square
Time; 5.30pm
See you there...

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Written by John van Lienen

Created: 15 December 2016

On behalf of the Bike Manawatu Board we wish all members and your families a safe and happy Xmas and New Year with your loved ones. Enjoy the time together making more great memories which is what life is all about.

2016 has been a kind year for all weather cyclists and we trust you have achieved your cycling goals for the year. If you have, congratulations and maybe setting the bar a little higher for 2017 should be on your new goal list. If you have fallen short of your goal for 2016 be sure to reset the bar a little higher and give it the commitment it needs to achieve your goal in 2017.
Bike Manawatu endorse staying fit, healthy and safe while enjoying riding your bike and meeting as many other club members is the fun part of cycling. Our Bike Manawatu Sunday rides are a great way to do this along with over 300 other ride events Bike Manawatu organise for our members per year.
To our events organisers, volunteers and sponsors, words are not enough. Thank you from everyone associated to cycling within the club. A good holiday and a fresh look at better ways to share running events is the goal for 2017.
We would like to extend the invitation for all members to start your cycling year off with The Bike Manawatu "Gravel and Tar Granfondo" on the 29th of January that caters for all cyclist and is a great way to start your 2017 year off. It is close to home, not expensive, and you don't have to pay for accommodation and it will be fun. Check is out and enter now.. Keeping the legs ticking over and trying something new for 2017 is exciting.

Enter "Gravel and Tar Classic” that Caters for all Rider Abilities- January 29th.

Our own Manawatu " Gravel and Tar Classic" event on the 29th of January is designed to cater for cyclists of all abilities and to get your cycling year started on a positive note. Of course, the Flagship event is aimed at International and Elite NZ riders from U19 and older over 100k which will be a phenomenal race to watch with large prize money for individual and team classifications.
But there are also other tailored events to cater for our members and social riders to start your cycling year off over 80km at a cost of only $55 or $75 for teams.
For the ladies over the same 80km course we are running the "Gravel and Tar Le Femme" at only $55 and $75 for teams which we hope will attract keen interest from you girls. So, spread the word as only a women's network can do.
Remember this is a Bike Manawatu event here in Palmy, not expensive, you don't have to pay for accommodation and it is bound to be fun. The town will be a buzz and cafes full of lycra clad people sharing stories as we do on a summers day here in our region.
Other events outside of our region do cost significantly more to enter so we would love to see you support the Manawatu "Gravel and Tar Classic" by entering yourself and a friend now. With your help the club would like to build "Gravel and Tar" to become a must to ride on everyone calendar at the start of each year. This is a great way to promote our region and we all know riding in the Manawatu is awesome so let the world know by inviting your cycling friends to Palmy the weekend of the 29th of January.

Bike Manawatu Sunday for Xmas/New Year Period.

We hope everyone wanting to keep their legs ticking over are enjoying the great job Mike Keenan and his team are doing by organising our famous Sunday morning group rides. A wonderful way to improve your cycling, catchup with friends and meet new people especially over a coffee after the ride.
Our Christmas RIde has a free coffee on Bike Manawatu at Soskis
Jan,8th,15th,22, and so on....

Bike Manawatu Road Prize Giving

The club barbecue prize giving at the Hotel Coachman was enjoyed by members and family.
A highlight was the panel of speakers who shared their cycling year and experiences who have all enjoyed personal success at different levels which was a treat to listen to for everyone who attended.
We congratulate and thank; Pro Rider Genevieve Whitson, Enduro Rider Colin Anderson, Rising stars Chris Denholm and Carne Groube and Campbell Stewart and John Stewart.
Note; Due to not all series events being completed some trophies were unable to be awarded this year.

Club Trophy Road Winners

David Black Memorial-Rider of the Year- Robert Stannard
Woolworths Cup- Chris Pinkney
Essex Cup- Campbell Stewart
Cheltenham Cup Men - Chris Denholm -Women-Catriona Pirie
Sutton Cup- Mike Thomspon
Fowler Cup- Dylan Simpson
Bill Love Memorial Trophy- Connie Obrien
Croad Challenge Trophy- Rosie Obrien
Baker Family Trophy- Madi Hartley-Brown
PNMCC Trophy-Carne Groube
Ootman Cup Men-Glen Kirk; Women Carol Webb
Donaldson Cup- John Stewart
Thomas Collins Shield- Robert Stannard

Special Awards

Theo de Cuff Shield- Kim Anderson and Katherine Stannard
Best Enduro Rider of the Year-Steve Nagy
Murray Jensen Most improved ride Taupo-Chris Denholm
Jim Morrison Volunteer of the Year- John Arbuckle
Pedal Pushers Good Samaritan of the Year-Rob Ryan.

Bike Manawatu congratulate all the above winners. Well done.

WCNI Track Carnival Hard Fought.

At last Sundays WCNI Feilding Track Carnival big efforts produced exciting races and results across all disciplines.
Handicap racing is designed to give everyone an even playing field and for one family it matched dad master rider John Stewart against multiple junior world track champion and son Campbell Stewart. John takes away family bragging rights this year having won the handicap wheel race, and the main event with Cambell 2nd,closely followed by Carne Groube in 3rd.
Angus Claasen won the under 17 wheel race final beating second placed Kyle Hoskins from Ashhurst and Wellingtons Louis Hodgkinson in 3rd.
Finn Murphy won the under 15s beating out two local riders Fergus Lloyd in second and James Gardiner in third.
Under 17 Manawatu rider Natasha Pinkney was rider of the day.

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Written by John van Lienen

Created: 06 January 2017

2017 has arrived and to all Bike Manawatu members we trust you have enjoyed your Xmas and New Year with family and friends. The summer we all know is a fantastic time to enjoy riding your bike whether you are social or competitive. A sad reminder though is that winter comes around far too quickly so without question we recommend you get started on your cycling goals for 2017 if you haven't already.

Whatever cycling goals you have set for yourself there are plenty of events to target and enjoy training for. You yourself know setting the bar a little higher for 2017 should have been on your New Year’s goal list.
Bike Manawatu endorse members staying fit, healthy and safe while enjoying riding your bike and meeting as many other club members as you can is the fun part of cycling. Our Bike Manawatu Sunday rides are a great way to do this at any level.
If you are not a current Bike Manawatu member, our brilliant volunteers organise over 300 ride events per year for social and competitive members at a membership cost of only $45 per year. Also if you would like to put your hand up to help out with any events this year, we would treasure your help. Just touch base with Christine Christie. It is that easy and we would appreciate it.

The Bike Manawatu Board and members would like to once again thank our events organisers, volunteers and sponsors, words are not enough. THANK YOU.

Ride the First Manawatu Event of 2017

We would like to extend the invitation for all members to start your cycling year off with The Bike Manawatu "Gravel and Tar Granfondo" on the 29th of January that caters for all cyclist and is a great way to start your 2017 year off. It is close to home, not expensive, and you don't have to pay for accommodation unlike travelling away to ride other events. It will be fun. Check it out and enter today. Keeping the legs ticking over and trying something new for 2017 is exciting.

"Gravel and Tar Classic" for all Rider Abilities- January 29th.

The Bike Manawatu "Gravel and Tar Classic" event on the 29th of January is designed to cater for cyclists of all abilities and to get your cycling year started on a positive note.
Of course the Flagship event is aimed at International and Elite NZ riders from U19 and older over 100k which will be a phenomenal race to watch with large prize money for individual and team classifications.
But there are also other tailored events to cater for our members and social riders over 80km at a cost of only $55 or $75 for teams.
For the ladies over the same 80km course we are running, the "Gravel and Tar Le Femme" at only $55 and $75 for teams which we hope will attract keen interest from you girls. So spread the word as only a women's network can do.

Palmy will be a buzz with cafes full of lycra clad people sharing their summer stories.
With your help the club would like to build "Gravel and Tar" to become a must to ride on everyone's calendar at the start of each year. This is a great way to promote our region and we all know riding in the Manawatu is awesome. So let the world know by inviting your cycling friends to Palmy the weekend of the 29th of January. They and you will love the weekend together.

Details

Written by John van Lienen

Created: 08 December 2016

125 of the best young talent in New Zealand showed what a hard three stage event of racing and competition is all about at last weekends iconic 44 year old Manawatu Novice Tour. The Novice Tour is fearsome and exciting to watch riders compete in three different disciplines over two days and over the years has produced many Olympic and Professional cyclists to go on and represent New Zealand.

Stage1: Time Trial. Stage 2: The Hiwinui Loop circuit Road race:Stage 3; The Valley Road circuit road race.
Girls and Boys raced in age groups from under 13s through to under 19 year olds in great weather watched by enthusiastic supporters.Manawatu riders produced a number of top 10 finishes to confirm the future looks bright for the next new crop of Manawatu future stars.We congratulate race organisers and volunteers for a well run event and thank all of the riders for being part of The Novice Tour.

Local Bike Manawatu riders success can be checked out on Facebook Novice Tour of Manawatu.

Overall (three stage) general classification top 3 placing by local BM Riders:
Under 13 Girls;1st Georgia Simpson and 2nd Neriah Kaihe-Woolston. Under 19 Boys; Jacob Sievwright 2nd
Other special GC top 10 mentions:
Under 13 Boys: 4th Tyler Mumby 5th Riley Tunnicliffe
Under 15 Boys: 4th Aiden Jones,5th Adam Francis 6th Jack Pronk,7th Ben Irvine
Under 15 Girls: 8th Rosie Obrien. Under 17 Girls; 9th Peita Ranson
Under 17 Boys:8th Angus Clausen
Under 17 Girls:Peita Ranson
Under 19 Men:4th Madi Hartley-Brown.7th Adam Martin 10th Carlos Lopez-Lozano

Points table mentions;Sprints and King of the Mountain.
Under 15 Boys:3rd Aiden Jones.Under 15 Girls 1st Connie Obrien.Under 19 Men;3rd Jacob Sievwright.

To all local riders who competed congratulations and we look forward to you being back next year to improve on your result from this year.

Bike Manawatu Prize Giving

When; Sunday 11 December
Where; Hotel Coachman
Time; Now starts from 5pm onwards due to Track Carnival finishing at 5pm.
A special guest or two will help with the prize giving and maybe share some cycling memories.
This is a great social barbecue and drinks afternoon for all of our cycling friends followed by the Bike Manawatu prize giving to recognise our riders successes over the year. We recognise a wide variety of our talented riders from schools and masters events locally, national and Internationally. At only $15 per head and family discount this will be great afternoon.We,d love to see you join us.

Returning Bike Manawatu Trophies for this years Prize Giving
If all Trophy winners from last year could drop their Trophies back to Trophy Specialists 19/20 Taonui street Palmerston North please in preparation for this years prize giving.Thank you.

Upcoming events not to forget

Manfeild Criteruim;Tuesday from 6pm
Lockwood Road TT; Wednesday from 6pm
Road Sprint Competition: Saturday 10th from 1.30pm

Bike Manawatu Track Cycling Carnival
When;Sunday 11th December
Where;Feilding Track
Start: 1pm

Bike Manawatu Trust House Series team.

To put together a Bike Manawatu team of weekend warriors in the last minute to compete in the 5 Stage North Island Trust House Series held in the Wairarapa takes some commitment.We want to thank and congratulate those six team members and the support people for there effort and results.Most of the team had not experienced team racing before. However the feedback is they loved learning about team racing and strategies and proved to be very competitive.Thanks to John Stewart, Dean Wade,Dan Mckay,Cliff Hughes,Tane Humphries and Lee Yates for a great effort.Apparently a few quiet beers in the Eketahuna Pub on the way home confirmed they all enjoyed the experience.