Taupo Cycle Challenge Produces Success for Most.

A safe ride, your goal achieved and a fun weekend with fellow cycling buddies is what the annual Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is about for most people. The hope of reasonable weather with no rain and wind after months of training is everyone's wish but never plays out how we would like it to.
Anxiety is one thing people talk about before the start to this iconic event but once the starter says Go, it's all concentration to do the best you can until the finish line. And then the stories begin...
From the first timers to those who have been around ninety times this event is hard. Bike Manawatu want to congratulate all of our members who were involved in the Taupo Challenge and to those who achieved there goal well done. Those who had mechanicals, a fall or didn't complete your events, Bugger! and we hope you are ok. Next year is only 358 days away.

A Special Mention to some of our Taupo Riders.

A special mention to a cross section of our members. A big congratulations to Colin Anderson( inset) for his 8 laps of the mighty Lake. Now 90 laps in total for our club icon. Team Endurables lead by Janette Flipp (inset)who road two laps in memory of friend and club member Averil Sheehan. An incredible result and well done to Chris Denholm(inset) for a closely fought out 4th place sprint finish in the Elite Holden Men's Classic in a scorching time of 3.40.12. This year’s winner Olympian Aaron Gate winning in a record time of 3.39.38 confirming how good Chris rode. Michaela Drummond (inset)for her hard fought 2nd place in the closest of sprint finishes in the Woman's 100km Classic in a time of 2.41.03.Michaela another one of our clubs future stars. Kimboltons Charlotte Gillespie for 3rd and Feildings Ludwig Kiesslet 4th in the 40km.
Check out all results on resultstaupocyclechallenge.com

Endurables

Chris Denholm

 

Colin Anderson

Michaela Drummond

 

"Novice Tour" Showcases Best NZ Talent This Weekend.

Some of the best young talent in New Zealand will be on show this weekend here in the Manawatu chasing honours in the iconic Manawatu Novice Tour.This event is fearsome and exciting to watch riders compete in three different disciplines over two days starting with Stage 1: Time Trial from Colyton school at 8.30am this Saturday the 3rd.Then in the afternoon Stage 2: the Hiwinui Loop circuit and on Sunday the 4th Stage 3; The Valley Road circuit from 10am.
Good luck to all of our local riders from under 13s to Under 19.

"BM Xmas Happy Hour" Next week

Bike Manawatu "Xmas Happy Hour"
When; Friday 2nd of December
Where: Lonestar (on the Square)
Time; From 5.30pm
The last of this years "BM Happy Hours" will be a good time for you and your bike buddies to come along and share some good membership hospitality and maybe dress up and go out for dinner afterwards for some. Our "Happy Hour" is normally the last Friday of the month but as we catered for the Taupo Cycling Challenge riders last weekend we put the "Happy Hour" back one week.Be sure to be there.

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 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 "Xmas Happy Hour"

When; Friday 2nd of December
Where: Lonestar (on the Square)
Time; From 5.30pm
The last of this years "BM Happy Hours" will be a good time for you and your bike buddies to come along and share some good membership hospitality and maybe dress up and go out for dinner afterwards for some. Our "Happy Hour" is normally the last Friday of the month but to cater for the Taupo Cycling Challenge riders we have put the "Happy Hour" back one week.Be sure to be there.

Bike Manawatu Prize Giving

When; Sunday 11 December
Where; Hotel Coachman
Time; 3pm onwards.
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.

New Bike Manawatu volunteers Rotational Roster List for 2017

Bike Manawatu have an amazing variety of rides and events to cater for everyone who rides a bike.Road,Track,Time Trials,Criterium,Social, masters and schools.These events are run by a select and very valued few great people doing a great job.
If you would like to be involved in helping the clubs event organisers, we would really appreciate your support.Putting your name forward might involve being called on a rotational roster list of helpers to help out with events you like doing. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Christine Christie on 0274422521 to put your name on the roster list.

Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge 2016

As we write this weeks NewsLetter our own Colin Anderson has started his eight lap enduro ride of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. Incredible is the only word for it. All the best to Colin. To all club members who will be riding the event enjoy a safe and rewarding ride and weekend.

Busy Events Calendar:

Tuesday's: Manfeild Criteruim
Wednesday:Kairanga Time Trial
Novice Tour; 3rd and 4th of Dec
Saturday 10th Dec;Road Sprint Competition
Sunday 11Dec; Track Carnival
Gravel and Tar: January 29th
Note; Keep an eye out on all events and rides by checking our Bike Manawatu website and Facebook

New All Time Club Record Set at TT

This week Glenn Kirk set a new "all time"club 12km time trial record for men's 40-44 years at 16.16min held previously by Steve Stannard in 16.19.  Congratulations to Glenn for an outstanding ride.  The Kairanga TT is held on Wednesday from 6pm and is a great event to practice riding sustained pace.

Cycling NZ will send a big team to next month’s Oceania Track Championships in Melbourne that will include a number of our local Manawatu rising stars and Olympian Simon van Velthooven. Former Boys High riders Luke Mudgeway and Jordan Castle and Bike Manawatu riders Michaela Drummond, Emily Shearman and Libby Arbuckle have all been selected to represent NZ. A proud time for these riders, their supporters, family, friends and our BM Cycling members. Let’s follow and support our sporting stars.

Bike Manawatu Thank Volunteers and Event Organisers

As cyclists we mostly ride weekly to stay fit and or train for events.The fact that Bike Manawatu is a non profit organisation run by volunteers and organise over 300 rides and race events per year is a credit to the club and everyone involved.Cycling people giving up their time to give something back to our sport and this club is valued by everyone. For only $45 per year and less for families, your BM membership is needed for the club to operate while you benefit from rides,events and being protected by NZ Cycling when riding events.Club membership is now made easier by registering on www.bikemanawatu.co.nz

We would like to acknowledge some of those amazing club people doing great things:
Saturday morning Ride:Stu McKenzie
BM Sunday Rides: Mike Keenan and his team
Wednesday Ride; Ken Young and Murray Boase
Velo Girls ; Christine Christie and Iona McCathy
Feilding Track; Ian Gray,and his team
WCNI Track; Kim Anderson
Manfeild Criteruim Series; Brett Tivers and Mike Craine
Wednesday TT; John Arbuckle, Steve Stannard, Mike Groube and Tom Pirie.
The Winter Road Series; John Arbuckle and Mike Groube
The Summer Road Series; John Arbuckle and Mike Groube
Feilding Festival of Cycling; Austin Smith and his team
Manfeild 6 Hour Challenge; Mike and Christine Christie
The Novice Tour; Steve Stannard and Brendon Hapeta and Team.
Gravel and Tar; Steve Stannard
Manawatu School Cycling and their full annual Calendar of training and racing; Mike Simpson and an amazing group of parents, coaches and school representatives and volunteers.
And there are many more valued people..

Behind each of these rides or events are people that work tirelessly to make sure events run smoothly all year round. A commitment that involves planning, sponsors, marketing, volunteer help, traffic management, timing, medics, race organising, registrations, results, race reports and much much more.
People we must thank behind the scenes are Peter Robson and Mike Groube - Traffic management, Kate Stewart -Track marketing and support for most BM events, Vaughan Hunt - BM Website, Catherine Stannard and Kim Anderson- event Timing, Christine Christie-BM Secretary and those volunteers who support these valued people.

Criterium Series Fun for Everyone

Father Daughter
The beaming smiles of father John Stewart and daughter Kate is testament they both enjoyed this weeks Manfeild Criterium series on Tuesday between 6pm and 8pm.Young and old are really loving the safe well organised BM 6 week series which is free. All Bike Manawatu ask is for you to register as club member by going to the website. Racing as a club members is fundamental protection for you under New Zealand Cycling.

Tour de Manawatu

Thank you to the Fitzherbert Lions Club for yet again another fantastic event for the region. A great day had by all.

Congratulations on the men and woman's winners:114k Chris Denholm and Emily Shearman,78k Max Taylor and Connie O'Brien,43k Kyle Hoskins and Rosie Obrien 20k, Karl Gibbs and Gorgina Ross. Also, congratulation on the Local Taupo Endurable's who completed two laps of the 114k Tour de Manawatu starting at 2am.

The Endurables

Cyclists Promoting Road Safety to each other.

The rainy weather around the Manawatu and New Zealand at the moment requires patience for all road users. To cyclist who ride or race regularly and need to train this requires an even more patient approach. Road safety day and night in wet conditions is to be respected where unexpected road works or slips are encountered. Please continually share with other riders the safest roads to ride warring visible clothing and bike lights. Our sport requires us all to be conscious of safety at all times while share the roads

Bike Manawatu Xmas Happy Hour

When; Friday 2nd of December
Where: Lonestar (on the Square)
Time; From 5.30pm
The last of this years "BM Happy Hours" will be a good time to come along and share some good membership hospitality and maybe dress up and go out for dinner afterwards for some. Our "Happy Hour" is normally the last Friday of the month but to cater for the Taupo Cycling Challenge riders we have put the "Happy Hour" back one week.

Bike Manawatu Prize Giving

When; Sunday 11 December
Where; Hotel Coachman
Time; 3pm-6pm
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 clubs successes over the year for a wide variety of schools and masters events locally, national and Internationally. We would love to see you join us.

Returning Bike Manawatu Trophies for this year’s Prize Giving

If all Trophy winners from last year could please drop their Trophies back to Trophy Specialists 19/20 Taonui street Palmerston North please in preparation for this year’s prize giving.

Round 4 Trust House North Island Series

TrustHouse1

Positive reports that Manawatu riders had a great weekend of racing resulted in two teams, Skoda and BikeBox Rentals profiting greatly from a gusty early break and staying in front for over 100km.
In the early eight man move two riders from team Skoda including Joel Yates who was recovering from his Tour of Southland, and two other local Bike Box Rentals riders Sam Gardner and Glenn Haden.
The groups lead got up to seven minutes when Carlos Lopez blistering attack in the hills would only see Joel Yates go with him. Joel timing his finishing sprint to perfection to claim the days victory over Carlos has catapulted him into the under 23 leaders jersey. Sam and Glenn finished a very respectable 3rd and 4th.Between the two teams they have had 8 Manawatu Riders on the podiums in total which is a huge result for the region.
A special mention to Bike Manawatu masters rider Wayne Butcher for 3rd place in the Te Wharau Hill Climb and all other local Bike Manawatu Riders who are performing well in this highly recognised calendar event.

Bike Manawatu Events

It is a busy time of year for all Bike a Manawatu event organisers and volunteers. We have an amazing variety of events to cater for everyone that are run by select and very valued few doing a great job. Checkout our website for event updates and results as them come and go to keep yourself up with what's happening. At the same time if you can roster yourself onto an event you would like to be involved in to help the club and the event organisers we would really appreciate your support. Go to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Christine Christie on 0274422521 to help.

It appears for all ages their is something exciting about racing on a wide safe off road track like Manfeild. The first night of the 6 weeks Criterium Series was about learning how to safely ride a Criterium event and have some fun. Race organisers Brett Tivers and Mike Craine had B and D grade racing independently on the track at the same time and grade A and C did the same. The racing was spectator friendly and great to watch.Rider feedback has been positive albeit a bit nervy for first timers.Next week we will all be better for the experience.

The firsts nights registrations set us back 30 minutes but once race briefing and the racing got under way people loved the experience and are looking forward to next Tuesday nights 2nd race of the series.
Event teething problems and rider safety are all always part of educating people and we have had constructive feedback which is valuable for everyone going forward.
One mishap on the last lap of the C grade race resulted in an accident bringing down a few riders who were quickly dealt with by medic Rob Gardner for minor cuts and abrasions.Never nice but Unfortunately is part of riding a bike.

Congratulations to event Managers Brett Tivers and Mike Craine who together with their team of volunteers did a great job.Also a big thank you to the 93 riders who registered and a special mention to the Ng Tawa Girls ,Wanganui Collegiate and the Levin Cycling Club for being part of this Series which is designed for all cyclists for fitness and fun.

IMG 0115 IMG 0129 

IMG 0146 IMG 0149

 

North Island Trust House Series.

Keep your eye out for local Bike Manawatu riders doing well in the North Island Trust House Series. Masters rider John Stewart has quietly gone unnoticed but when you look at last weekends points after stage 3 John is sitting high up in the overall standings in the Master 2 Grade and Chris Denholm is charging up the under 23 standings.Check out www.cyclingseriesnz.co.nz

Good luck for Tour de Manawatu

Always a great event to be part of the Tour de Manawatu provides all levels of cyclists to take part and challenge themselves and their fitness. For some this is good preparation for other upcoming events such as the Taupo Challenge. The most important message we would like to send to all riders is to enjoy yourself and to concentrate on riding etiquette and safety.Especially at the start to Ashhurst and up the Colyton road Hill and later when you are tiring trying to stay with groups or race people across the finish line.Remember to keep a straight line and communicate your moves to others which will minimise the risk for everyone.

Barry Webb

All the best wishes from Bike Manawatu and our members to Barry Webb who recently had a cycling accident and is thankfully on the mend.  Look forward to seeing you back on the bike Barry.

Bike Manawatu Xmas Happy Hour

Book this in everyone;
When;Friday 25th of November
Where; Lonestar on the Square
Time; 5.30pm to 7.30pm