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- Written by John van Lienen
Under the experienced supervision of John Arbuckle and Mike Groube the BM Winter Racing Series is underway. If you haven't tested yourself, come along by yourself or with a group of rider friends and enjoy the afternoon the outing.
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- Written by Christine Christie
This weeks racing:
22 May 2016
Schools is having a race on the Hiwinui circuit on this day, and have kindly invited bike manawatu members. There is no charge for racing as part of the invitation.
Note please, the compulsory requirement for a rear flashing red light on all bikes.
Road Race: Hiwinui school
Registration - 8:30am
Race Start - 9am
A grade - 2 laps
B grade - 2 laps
C grade - 1 lap
Self select your grade preference.
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- Written by Steve Stannard
Riding in the rain is something that we need to be good at here in NZ, otherwise we wouldn’t ride on many occasions! Don’t be scared of riding when it’s wet; you just have to be prepared.
If it’s fine and not cold when you start out, but you think it might rain, pack a light but waterproof shower jacket. You can get these for not very much money at the bike shop or online. Mostly these are made of non-breathable material like nylon but that’s fine as they are for emergencies only. Make sure you get a bright colour, don’t get black! So long as you have appropriate clothing underneath your jacket (thermals, arm warmers), then you’ll already have some heat in your body when it rains. A nylon jacket won’t keep you warm.
If it’s raining at the start of your ride you need to begin with sturdier rain-resistant clothing otherwise you’ll just get wet straight away and not warm up. There are many good options available, but they will cost money as they will be made of Gortex or a similar fabric. It’s well worth buying one of these though, and if you look after it it will last many years. In this situation you might like to protect your shoes with some shoe covers as well. Woollen socks are a good option as they keep your feet warm even if they get wet. Especially important in winter. Again, you should have already dressed in your thermals, warmers on your arms and maybe even your legs.
Another useful tip when riding in the rain is to wear a cycling cap under your helmet. That helps shield your eyes from some of the falling rain. It can also help keep your head a little warmer too.
Remember, if you get wet you can get cold, especially if you’re just starting your ride, intensity is low, or the air temperature drops dramatically. Sometimes the latter can occur here in NZ if a southerly hits, and that can be dangerous.
Lastly, one of the best things you can do for for wet weather riding is to have some mud-guards. A rear guard is especially useful as it stops your back side getting wet. Makes it much easier for your riding companions to sit on your wheel as well! You can buy clip on/off guards from your bike shop or online that fit most racing bikes.
Good riding, Steve S.
- Details
- Written by Christine Christie
Rides will be once a month, around the same time and mostly all off road. Cancellations will be posted on Facebook – Bike Manawatu by 8.15am prior to ride
Once every three months we will plan a bigger day trip excursion
Anyone interested in being a trail ride coordinator, or can suggest possible rides around the region and beyond please contact the ride organisers:
Megan Blatchford This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Christine Christie This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.