December training camp
- Created on Thursday, 12 December 2013 22:17
The Massey/Bike Manawatu December training camp has just wound up.
We have had 21 junior riders from all over NZ stay for four nights after the Novice Tour to ride the local roads and learn from the experts at Massey.
By all accounts, they had a great time and have asked when the next camp will be!
Iona McCarthy - Board member
- Created on Thursday, 12 December 2013 15:08
My involvement with Bike Manawatu started when our sons took up competitive cycling during their secondary school years. I have spent many hours anxiously waiting on roadsides in New Zealand and overseas, clutching bottles and spare clothes, chasing around the course to a good vantage point to watch the peloton flash past in a blur. When my husband, Peter, was Club Chairman we took responsibility for organisation of the local events and I have done my time with a stop watch and road signage!
By 2004 I was no longer needed for support person duty and Peter bought me a bike; but it took three years before I started riding it. He then had to suffer through very slow rides, pushing me up hills, helping me “click in and out” while I built up confidence. Now I am an enthusiastic social rider, heading out with the Velo Girls each Tuesday and Bike Manawatu on Sundays.
I do understand the differing needs of the competitive and social rider and our club caters well to both groups. We have an excellent group of talented competitive cyclists in the club and we have a very supportive group of experienced social riders.
End of year prizegiving 2013
- Created on Thursday, 12 December 2013 13:44
Don’t forget the end of year prizegiving will be held on Thursday 19th December at marist Clubrooms starting at 7 pm.
The bar will be open and everyone is asked to bring a plate for supper. 
Will there be a special guest this year? You will just have to wait and see. Entertaining – bound to be.
Thanks
Bike Manawatu Novice Tour is 40 years old and going stronger.
- Created on Thursday, 05 December 2013 15:45
This year is the 40th running of the Novice Tour an iconic event for budding young cyclists, introduced to the Manawatu by the visionary Ian Gray in 1973.
Remember 1973? I know I was still in school shorts and sandals, had long hair and was listening to Pink Floyd. The English rugby team beat the All Blacks 16-10 at Eden Park and Norm Kirk was the Prime Minister.
Cycling was not on my horizon back then but here in the mighty Manawatu there was a dedicated group ( as there are today) who had a vision around providing a multi stage event that would appeal to 15 and 16 years old boys.......a mini Dulux Tour of NZ! Many of our well known and highly successful cyclists have ridden this tour over the ensuing 40 years.
It has historically been run over the same weekend of the NZ Secondary School Champs an event also instigated locally. More recently the Tour has included an U17 girls division.
Christmas Raffle Tickets on Sale now
- Created on Wednesday, 04 December 2013 08:17
Tickets will be sold from the I site in the Square on Friday afternoon from 4pm to 5.30pm at Novice tour registration, then throughout the Novice tour.
Tickets will also be sold at each Bike Manawatu event up until the draw.
Heart of New Zealand Cycling
- Created on Sunday, 01 December 2013 15:54
Well Manawatu certainly does have some talented cyclists. But what is a cycle? It is anything with a wheel that can be used for transportation. There are pennyfarthing cycles, unicycles, bicycles, motorcycles.
I came across these group of lads at a local park sometime ago and thought it just goes to show that it takes all sorts. Great to see young people out enjoying their cycles and having fun.
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 12 December 2013 11:48
- Written by Vaughan Hunt
- Hits: 212
Photos thanks to Kirsty Kaihau
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 05 December 2013 15:45
- Written by Paul van Velthooven
- Hits: 600
This year is the 40th running of the Novice Tour an iconic event for budding young cyclists, introduced to the Manawatu by the visionary Ian Gray in 1973.
Remember 1973? I know I was still in school shorts and sandals, had long hair and was listening to Pink Floyd. The English rugby team beat the All Blacks 16-10 at Eden Park and Norm Kirk was the Prime Minister.
Cycling was not on my horizon back then but here in the mighty Manawatu there was a dedicated group ( as there are today) who had a vision around providing a multi stage event that would appeal to 15 and 16 years old boys.......a mini Dulux Tour of NZ! Many of our well known and highly successful cyclists have ridden this tour over the ensuing 40 years.
It has historically been run over the same weekend of the NZ Secondary School Champs an event also instigated locally. More recently the Tour has included an U17 girls division.
Read more: Bike Manawatu Novice Tour is 40 years old and going stronger.
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 26 November 2013 12:09
- Written by Jordan Castle
- Hits: 172
I flew down to Invercargill on Friday the 15th, and made my way to my accommodation, where I would be spending the next 3 nights with fellow WCNI rider Cassie Cameron, and travelling Scotsman Gus Gillies.
Saturday was day one of the UCI tier one event, which we started off with a 30 minute ride/crawl to the Velodrome. My Keirin was first up, however while racing I had a small mechanical. I still managed to finish a respectable third.
Later that night I competed in the scratch race but unfortunately the mechanical repeated itself, and I was forced to pull out. Due to this, I decided to enter the points race the next day. After lapping the field with a couple of NZ riders, and picking up a couple of sprints, I finished up 5th overall. I was very happy with this, as the points race is an endurance event and by nature I’m a sprinter. This 2 day event was a huge confidence boost, as I had proven to myself that I could kick it with the best of them.
Read more: Report from Jordan Castle on Invercargill Oceania track experience
- Details
- Published on Friday, 22 November 2013 19:59
- Written by Kate Stewart
- Hits: 155
I arrived in Invercargill on Friday to a surprisingly beautiful day, to join the Bike NZ under 19 Track team for a camp over the time of the Festival of speed and the Oceania track cycling championships. This camp is a huge learning experience on and off the bike, with a lot of racing and having to shop, budget and cook together within our teams, which for me is the girls sprint team.
The Festival of speed is a Tier one UCI event, which attracted riders from six nations. There weren’t many races for us under 19’s over this Saturday and Sunday of racing, which meant we had a lot of time to watch and learn from the elites racing. On the Sunday afternoon session of the festival we pulled on our black skin suits with the white fern across our back and rode a 7.5km scratch race. My teammates raced an aggressive race, with many attacks throughout the 20 laps. In a lunge to the line I finished fourth, behind my teammates Olivia and Nina, and Auckland’s Bryony Botha.
Read more: Festival of speed and Oceania Championship’s update