Happy Tuesday everyone and yes January is nearly done and dusted so it looks like another speedy year ahead - bit like our Elite and U19 riders who have started winging their way to the Avantidrome in Cambridge for the Track Nationals that start on Thursday and run until Sunday. A huge good luck to everyone, from competitors to the support crew and all who have travelled to support – we hope you all go outstandingly well and look forward to following the results.
Our resident news gatherer for the event on local terms will be Julie Knipe and she will hopefully be putting up our own local posts here with some live commentary Our fabulous happy snapper Dianne Manson will also be uploading some of her stunning action shots from the event, which will be appearing on Facebook and the link above also – Thanks team. Good luck to you all travellers and we hope it goes smoothly for our key overseers manager Dave Beadle and coach Sid Cumming – you’ve all put in the huge hours so it’s time to make them count! Good luck and even more good luck from us all!
2015 Licensing and Membership
Another reminder that licensing and memberships for 2014 ceased on 31 December so you have to renew – no one can race on either the road or track without a minimum Ride Club or Race Youth or Senior licence and current Cycling Southland membership. These can be arranged directly online through Cycling New Zealand or through me at the office. Contact me [email protected] if you have any queries at all
Junior and Senior Race Nights
Tonight’s senior racing will be an informal roll, due to so many riders being away for Track Nats. If numbers allow some racing can be casually set up by those at the track. Thank you
Junior Racing will now continue every Friday night from 6pm to 8pm so get on down to the track.
Saturday Road Racing Restarts
Remember to head on out to next Saturday’s (February 7) first race in the Summer Road Race Series for the Waianiwa-Drummond-Isla Bank 48km Graded race Register here now or by midday Friday 6 Feb at the latest. Don’t forget to check the programme for your marshalling or management duties and organise your own swaps or replacements if unable to fulfil your duties please. Check out the summer programme here
Also don’t forget Cycle Surgery’s Wednesday Worlds every week, meet at Tisbury School at 6pm for 6.30pm start. $5 rider
Vital Signs Tour de Lakes
Entries are now open for this popular annual Easter Tour around Central, Lakes District and Fiordland being held Friday 3 to Monday 6 April. Download your form here
Bike Wise Month – Vote for your favourite place to ride
Next month is Bike Wise month again, which is New Zealand’s national programme of activities which promote cycling as a fun, healthy and safe way to travel. In conjunction with this year’s campaign they are running a competition to vote for your favourite place to cycle with a free bike up for grabs - .so click here read all about it and let’s get Southland on the map for cycling
Bike Mechanics Course - Cromwell
Otago Polytech are starting up a bike mechanics course this year at the Cromwell campus, which may be of interest to a few younger ‘school leaving’ age members. The course is based in Cromwell and will involve three days a week (9am-3pm) learning on campus over a 22-week term, leaving plenty of time for part-time work or (more importantly) training around the course work. It will be an ideal qualification for those who hope to make a start and continue on to a career in the cycle industry. Find out more here
Well it’s short and sweet today, so bring on the Track Nats – go fast Southland because our Points Shield just headed for Cambridge for official presentation time in March.
Have a super duper week!