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Written by Greasy Chain Charitable Trust

Created: 25 September 2020

The Gravel and Tar is back, bigger and better!

This is a quick ‘heads up’ to let you know that the Gravel and Tar is back for its sixth year – and it’s on the Wellington Anniversary Weekend, Saturday 23^rd January 2021.
For this edition, the Greasy Chain Charitable Trust is organising an entire weekend of cycling-related activities and events; the Manawatū Cycling Spree. To whet your appetite, the Manawatū Cycling Spree will include:

• A Criterium (known as a ‘Crit’) will run on Friday afternoon/early evening (22^nd Jan). It will be run around the Railway Reserve, Palmerston North focusing on junior cyclists. During this time, there’ll also be a Mountain Bike event on the Reserve, so a lot to see in one place!
• Saturday 23^rd sees Feilding welcome riders at the start of the professional men’s and women’s Gravel and Tar events, plus the amateurs in the Westpac Slicks and Stones. The Westpac Slicks and Stones in addition to the 100km category, is breaking new ground in 2021 with a “Lite” version of 46kms. Plus, there’s an e-bike division covering 46kms!
• A Family Fun Ride takes place on Saturday morning along the Manawatū Riverbank cycleway from Linton to Memorial Park where Palmerston North City Council will host riders, spectators and the community in a music and food festival; “Over the Line”!
• Further cycling activities on Sunday 24^th – first up will be a Retro Ride (antique bikes and perhaps even antique cyclists) through the city of Palmerston North, finishing with a celebration in George Street and the launch of a new book on the history of cycling by well-known local cyclist and author, Ian Gray. The Manawatū Mountain Bike Club will hold their annual Arapuke Mountain Bike Challenge, and then in another first for the Manawatū, the Nieuw Normal Mountain Bike Extreme exhibition takes place at the newly developed Greens Estate, Freeride/Slopestyle Training Compound.

The Manawatū Cycling Spree promises to be a great weekend for everyone, so please spread the word.
We can be found on Facebook and Instagram (please feel free to tag us, share, comment and like our content). We also have our website up and running for further details, check us out here!  
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our many sponsors – whether you or your organisation has been helping us from the start, or you’re newly connected, your support has enabled the Greasy Chain Charitable Trust to achieve some great results for the Manawatū community, so thank you very much.
Planning is in full swing, with an excited board and an enthusiastic group of volunteers. If you want to get involved, please get in touch with us.
Bring on January 23^rd – we can’t wait!
Kind regards,
Bob Selden
Chair, Greasy Chain Charitable Trust

PS: For cyclists, entries for the Slicks and Stones open tomorrow - Saturday 26th September with a 48 hour Flash Sale.

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Written by Bike Manawatu

Created: 21 September 2020

Up & Coming Events for week ending 25th September 2020

Please click here to view Cycling New Zealand’s information on COVID-19
Please keep an eye on our Facebook page and events registrations for updates on postponements and cancellations

Sunday 27th September
Trust House 1
BikeManawatu Sunday Recreational Ride
Track - Have a Go Day 2-4pm Feilding Velodrome

Tuesday 29th September 2020
Track - Bike Hire & Fit Day 2-4pm Feilding Velodrome

Wednesday 30th September
Wednesday Recreational Ride

Thursday 1st October 2020
Track - Bike Hire & Fit Day 2-4pm Feilding Velodrome

Friday 2nd October
Yunca Junior Tour of Southland 2020

Saturday 3rd October
Yunca Junior Tour of Southland 2020
Track - Bike Hire & Fit Day 2-4pm Feilding Velodrome

Sunday 4th October
Yunca Junior Tour of Southland 2020
Trust House 2
BikeManawatu Sunday Recreational Ride
Track - Have a Go Day 2-4pm Feilding Velodrome

Tuesday 6th October
Schools National Track Championships, Invercargill

Wednesday 7th October
Schools National Track Championships, Invercargill
Kairanga ITT – Register Here
Wednesday Recreational Ride

Thursday 8th October 2020
Track - Bike Hire & Fit Day   2-4pm Feilding Velodrome

Saturday 10th October 2020
Wonder Women on Wheels 10am - 12pm Feilding Velodrome

Sunday 11th October
BikeManawatu Sunday Recreational Ride
Track Orientation Day 1   2-4pm Feilding Velodrome

Wednesday 14th October
Kairanga ITT – Register Here
Wednesday Recreational Ride

Saturday 17th October 2020
Masters Track Workshop 1 11am - 2pm Feilding Velodrome
Track Orientation Day 2   2-4pm Feilding Velodrome

Sunday 18th October
Dynamo Race 2 - Tokoroa
Bike Manawatu Hill Climb Champs – Click Here to Register
BikeManawatu Sunday Recreational Ride
Track Orientation Day 3   2-4pm Feilding Velodrome

Wednesday 21st October 2020
Kairanga ITT – Register Here
Wednesday Recreational Ride

Saturday 24th October 2020
Masters Track Workshop 2   11am - 2pm Feilding Velodrome

Sunday 25th October 2020
CNP Round the Mountain
BikeManawatu Sunday Recreational Ride
Opening Day Track Meet & 2019/2020 Season Prize Giving  12pm - 6pm Feilding Velodrome

Wednesday 28th October
Kairanga ITT – Register Here
Wednesday Recreational Ride

Thursday 29th October
Track Meeting  6-8pm Feilding Velodrome

Friday 30th October
Novice Tour Registrations

Other Important Dates
Saturday 31st October
Novice Tour 2020 If you are available to help volunteer at Novice Tour, we’d love to hear from you (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) Click Here to register

Sunday 1st November
Novice Tour 2020 - Click Here to register

Other Dates Coming Up:
Manfeild Points Races

Thank you to all of our Bike Manawatu Sponsors, Grant Funders and Volunteers – We appreciate you all
Together Everyone Achieves More

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Written by Bike Manawatu

Created: 24 September 2020

Calling all volunteers...

We have our Novice Tour of Manawatu event is back on the calendar and as you may have seen we are super proud to be part of the National Road Series.

In preparation for this event we are looking for some amazing volunteers to help us run another successful event
If you are available and interested in helping us out, please fill in this form.
Saturday 31st October & Sunday 1st November 2020
Volunteers are the heart of our community, we appreciate you all. Thank You

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Written by Bike Manawatu

Created: 17 September 2020

Bike Manawatu Track Cycling – Have a go day

When: Sunday 27th September 2020 & Sunday 4th October 2020
Where: Feilding Velodrome, Johnston Park
Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
*Free Track Bikes Provided for our Have a Go Days*

27.09.2020
Good Morning All,
Due to the weather, we have had to cancel our Have A Go Day today. We apologise for any inconvenience. With all the water around, this will make the track unsafe to ride on. Sincerest apologies

Track Cycling is

• Fun
• Competitive
• Safe
• Social
• For all ages
• & we have Bikes available to hire

We provide for novices to world champions!

Come along and find out more about Track Cycling.
Track Is a good mix of competitive and fun racing in a very social, off road environment. We encourage any new riders to come along to our ‘have a go day’

If you really want to improve your cycling fitness and skills why not give track cycling a go at the Feilding Velodrome.
We run a great variety of races for all ages and abilities and fun events in a very supportive environment.

Please bring your helmet, pedals and cycling shoes. If you don’t have cycling shoes and pedals just bring your helmet and sports shoes, as we will also have bikes with pedals on them for you to ride.

Track is raced on the following years licence E.g. 2021
Juniors Grade is based on your age as at the 31st December 2021
Under 13 = 12 or younger at 31 December 2021
Under 15 = 14 or younger at 31 December 2021
Under 17 = 16 or younger at 31 December 2021
Under 19 = 18 or younger at 31 December 2021

Would You like to win more road races?
The track is one of the best places to develop that power sprint by riding a fixed gear track bike!

We especially encourage new riders by taking part in a development program, as you ride in grades of your ability and many races are handicapped

• We have Track bikes for hire at an affordable cost
• Qualified coaches will set your position up correctly
• Orientation days for new riders

Stay out of the traffic and ride on the safety of a track

Equipment Required: Track bike is necessary
Entry Fees: $30 for the whole season – October 2020 – April 2021
Membership & Licensing: Riders planning to race on the track require at least a BikeManawatu Membership (additional to fees)
Adults $45
Juniors (U19) $25
Family of 3 of more living at the same address $80
*If you wish to be able to formally race at any level (not including "fun" rides) then you should register as a Bike Manawatu member through the Cycling NZ Membership portal
This does incur an additional West Coast North Island Centre fee plus CNZ fee – please see more here however this also comes with the added bonus of Personal Liability insurance cover via Cycling New Zealand. 

New riders who are racing with us for their first season must attend one of the three orientation days
Sunday 11th October 2020 - 2:00pm -4:00pm
Saturday 17th October 2020 - 2:00pm -4:00pm
Sunday 18th October 2020 - 2:00pm -4:00pm

Bike Manawatu has Track Bikes available for hire:

Bike Hire = $80.00
Bike Bond = $60.00  (refundable at the end of season T's & C's apply)
If you are interested in hiring a Track Bike this season we have set days available where we will size / fit you to an appropriate bike
Tuesday 29th September 2020 Track - Bike Hire & Fit Day 2-4pm Feilding Velodrome
Thursday 1st October 2020 Track - Bike Hire & Fit Day 2-4pm Feilding Velodrome
Saturday 3rd October 2020 Track - Bike Hire & Fit Day 2-4pm Feilding Velodrome
Thursday 8th October 2020 Track - Bike Hire & Fit Day   2-4pm Feilding Velodrome
Please book a time and day with Ian Gray and his helpful team
Ring or Text Ian Gray 021 120 5751 for a booking.
Each Bike Hire & Fit takes approx. 45 Minutes

TRACK CYCLING – WORDS OF WISDOM
Track racing on a “fixy” is exciting cycling in its own right, and is also a great spectator sport.

What are the real benefits of riding track?
How does track racing benefit road cycling?
We can guarantee that track racing greatly improves a riders’ confidence, their ability to make rapid decisions, improve bike handling skills, and pedalling technique. It also dramatically improves a riders sprinting ability.
All these skills learnt on the track produce huge improvements in road cycling, especially criteriums raced on short road circuits.

A special tip on the benefits of riding a “fixy”:
If you set up a track bike or an old road frame with a single gear (on a low gear – 70” to 72”) for training on the road, this is excellent training. (Remember to put single brake on the bike) It is a far better investment than spending mega dollars on light weight road accessories / special light weight wheels to improve your road cycling.

Read more: Bike Manawatu Track Cycling–Have a go days 2020-2021 Season