Hastings Sunday Ride (5th February)

Leaving outside Rebel Sport Heretaunga St Hastings 8:00 am

Long Ride - Camp David , Kahuranakei Havelock North (90km)
Short Ride - Camp David return (50km)

Saturday Racing: 4th February 2012

This is a new course.
Circuit: Crownthorpe Settlement/Otamauri
Venue: Matapiro Hall
Race start time: from 2pm
Race Starter: Ken Mackenzie
Race Day Emergency Phone: 027 426 6895

You must swipe your transponder at the race trailer before each Saturday race.
Remember you must be a fully paid up member for 2012 in order to be in the race-start database, and of course to be eligible for a race result

RCC Drink Bottles for RCC Members

All those who have joined/rejoined Ramblers and have paid fees by January 31st will receive a Ramblers-branded Drink Bottle. These will be distributed in February.
Only those members who have completed the membership application process in FULL will be added to the timing database. Payment of subs does not constitute a complete membership application. ALL members (new and returning) need to complete, sign and submit a paper membership form OR accept the BikeNZ declaration when they apply online through BikeNZ.
The quickest way to ensure your membership is processed is to post your completed forms with payment in to PO Box 8548, Havelock North 4157 or to enter online.
If you hand your forms or payment to a committee member or other club official, there may be delays in processing.
Once your fully paid membership (including details and signature) has been confirmed, not only will you receive a classy drink bottle, your transponder will also be entered into the 2012 database

RCC Members from CHB Cycling

As a potential Ramblers member from CHB (and already affiliated through CHB Cycling), you may believe you have done all the paperwork required. This is a reminder that if you also wish to belong to RCC in order to race with us, you still need to fill in the membership application form. This is so we have your full details (such as email for eNews or emergency contact for race days). Please post to PO Box 8548, Havelock North 4157.

6th February: Philip Burns Memorial Criterium Waitangi Day

ALL Ramblers members are invited to the Phillip Burns Memorial Criterion at Otane on Monday 6th Feb. Join grades from A-G to race the Otane Circuit (Whites Road, Dees Street, Bell Street, Knorp Street). Start from 1pm with prize-giving afterwards at the Otane Hotel.

This is a great social day out with a good view of the whole race from the paddock in the middle. It's usually hot bring the beach chairs and an umbrella. - (Ed who hopes to be there at the finish)

Thursday Night Ride: 9th February

Meet on Crystal Road for the second Mutiny Road ITT of the series.

Club Uniform Available

Club uniforms have arrived and some orders have already been distributed.
To arrange collection of your order, please email Helen ramblersgirl@gmail.com
We still have a limited stock of some surplus uniform items available and these will be sold to the first people who email info@ramblers.co.nz stating the item/s and size/s wanted. Payment can be made by cheque or internet banking.
Leg warmers - $40 (1x small, 2x medium, 1x large)
Vests $85 (2x small, 1x medium, 1x large, 1x XXL)
Womens Bib Shorts $75 (1x small)
Shoe Covers $30
Caps $20

HUB EMC Tour Bits

We are missing one flashing light from the cars. If you have this lurking in your vehicle, please contact Ivan ivan.jo@clear.net.nz
During the tour, Wally was handed a chain-breaker – if this is yours please email wally.woods@xtra.co.nz

Much at stake for riders in RaboDirect NZ Track Cycling Championships

There’s plenty at stake for New Zealand’s leading track cyclists at the RaboDirect New Zealand Track Cycling Championships in Invercargill this weekend.

The championships, starting at the Cycling Southland Velodrome on Saturday, form another important part of the season’s programme ultimately leading through to the London Olympics.

The BikeNZ selectors face a daunting task and some tough decisions as they fine-tune teams initially for this month’s World Cup in London, the world championships in Melbourne in April and finally the Olympics.

“There are some selections still to be made for the World Cup and of course long term we have to work around the IOC limitations on team numbers for London which is quite complex,” said BikeNZ High Performance Director, Mark Elliott.

“In between that is an important world championship in Melbourne in April – doubly important because it is very rare to have this event in the southern hemisphere.

“It will be an important litmus test for our Olympic preparations. Importantly it has a full schedule of events including non-Olympic disciplines and is a gilt-edged opportunity for us to take a full squad of riders with an eye to the future.

“That’s something we have been unable to contemplate when the championships are in Europe.

“It is a world championship in its own right and hopefully it can spark not only really important success for our riders but spark the sport, very much in the same way it did for rowing last year.”

The key squad of sprinters will all be competing at the championships with a further chance for the women’s pair of Natasha Hansen and Katie Schofield to impress for inclusion in the London World Cup as they keep alive their late bid for Olympic selection.

The men will resume their battles and hope to press their Olympic claims to include all four leading lights in Simon van Velthooven (Palmerston North), Eddie Dawkins (Invercargill) and Sam Webster and Ethan Mitchell (both Auckland).

Some of the BikeNZ endurance squad riders won’t be racing with Jesse Sergent having joined his RadioShack Nissan Trek World Tour team while omnium rider Shane Archbold is competing in Europe as a lead-in to the London World Cup.

Sergent’s spot for the London World Cup is up for grabs along with significant opportunities for riders to push claims for wider selection to April’s World Championships and on to the Olympics. The depth in the endurance group is significant including Beijing Olympic medallist Westley Gough, fellow squad member Peter Latham and under-23 tyro Myron Simpson.

There will also be interest in the form of Southland’s Tom Scully, recently resigned in Chipolte First Solar, the under-23 development team of World Tour team Garmin Barracuda. Scully has worked his way back from major career-threatening injuries after a crash during The RAS Tour of Ireland in 2010 which cost him a spot in the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

The favoured women’s endurance trio of Alison Shanks, Lauren Ellis and Jaime Nielsen will be in camp but not competing, while three members of the men’s team pursuit squad - Sam Bewley, Aaron Gate and Marc Ryan - will bypass the pursuit but will compete in a range of other events.

There will be as-live coverage on Cycling Southland’s site www.cyclingsouth.co.nz and full wraps and results on www.bikenz.org.nz.

For further information contact:

IAN HEPENSTALL
Media Liaison, BikeNZ High Performance
Sports Media NZ Ltd

BikeNZ coach heads to new cycling role with world body

BikeNZ national coach Tim Carswell is to take up a new position after the London Olympics based at the home of the sport’s ruling body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

Carswell will coach at the UCI World Cycling Centre at its headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland, becoming the first New Zealander to earn a paid role with the organisation.

The BikeNZ men’s track coach said he and his family will move to Switzerland following the Olympics in August, with the early announcement of his departure timed to ensure it is not a distraction to the New Zealand team during the important months ahead.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity and we are certainly looking forward to it.” said Carswell. “At the same time right now all my attention is on our preparations for the world championship and the Olympic campaigns.”

The UCI established the World Cycling Centre in 2002 with the aim of detecting and training the most promising athletes so that they reach international level, along with coaches.

As well as providing direction for developing cycling nations as an Olympic training centre, it has also provides an ideal base for nurturing the skills of outstanding cycling prospects.

“We have used the centre for a number of our Olympic and World Championship medallists, with Jesse Sergent, Westley Gough, Shane Archbold, Rushlee Buchanan and Lauren Ellis all going through the Centre as young riders,” said Carswell.

More recently the BikeNZ senior and junior squads have trained in Aigle, as have the national BMX squad.

Carswell’s elevation is seen as recognition of the development programme of both riders and coaches within BikeNZ.

“We are thrilled for Tim. He has been a key component of our success over the last five years,” said BikeNZ High Performance Director, Mark Elliott.

“Tim has played a vital role in our development of world class riders. He has also played a significant role in growing and developing our young staff to ensure we have the skills across the track programme to continue our success into the next Olympic cycle.

“BikeNZ have been able to utilise the UCI facility for several years and they have no doubt seen Tim in action close at hand and also been impressed with the success he has enjoyed with the development of our track programme from such a small nation so far from the cycling stronghold of Europe.”

Carswell said the time was right for him to move on.

“I came in to the role in 2007 and this is my second Olympic campaign. We have come a long way in that time, not only with the development of our riders but also the number of excellent support staff we now have.

“So I know there’s an excellent succession programme in place and some great people ready to take more responsibility.

Carswell, 40, is a two-time Commonwealth Games medallist as a rider with half of New Zealand’s four Olympic track medals earned under his guidance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His wife Fiona is also a former Olympian.

In the meantime it is work as usual for Carswell who is at Invercargill for the national track championships before a training camp for the BikeNZ team heading to this month’s London World Cup.

For further information contact:
IAN HEPENSTALL
Media Manager, Ironman NZ
Sports Media NZ Ltd

Ramblin’On Magazine: A Message from Dave (Ed.)

To all past contributors and future contributors. The deadline for articles etc for the next magazine will be Monday 27 Feb. By all means beat the deadline. Your contributions are appreciated. Please email to davemarett@paradise.net.nz

BikeNZ: The Bike Plan

The national plan involves the whole cycling community, across all levels and all codes, whether you are a rider, parent, coach or commissaire. It addresses the needs and challenges faced from the grassroots right up to our elite athletes to ensure that there is a unified approach to cycling development to really turn NZ into a nation embracing cycling.
To see the plan, please copy and paste this link into your browser http://www.bikenz.org.nz/Resource.aspx?ID=7666

The BikeNZ team will be travelling around the country in March 2012 as a ‘road show’ to share the Bike Plan, talk about what it means for you and listen to your ideas. They will be in Napier on Wednesday 21st March. To register for this road show (or another in another part of the country) use this linkhttps://sitedesq.imgstg.com/eventsregform/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_event_detail&EventID=11539&OrgID=5678

February: Bike Wise Challenge (All month)

Grab at least five workmates, log at least five bike trips each during February and go in the draw to win $100 Avanti vouchers, spot prizes, bragging rights and even lunch at Clearview Winery. Find out more http://govt.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8e6a0a1a7c092a0f6e7c3170c&id=c1b557304d&e=db47c2251

5th February: Big Bike Fix Up
Bring your bike to the Clock Tower in Hastings between 10am and 11.30am for a free check up by our top team of mechanics.

18th February: Art Deco Bicycle Belles
Meet the Bicycle Belles at the SoundShell at 9.30am and take part in Napier's Art Deco Weekend. Gold Coin donation for the Art Deco Trust.
Everyone (male, female, any age) is welcome to join this ride.

24th February: Hastings Go By Bike Breakfast
Bike to work, school or for fun past the Hawke's Bay Opera House between 7am and 8.30am and stop in at the Hastings Opera House for a free breakfast of bacon butties, coffee and warm muffins all sponsored by iWay. Be there to win a new bike and other spot prizes.

25th February: Hawke's Bay Regional Council Puketapu Domain Trail Ride
Meet at the Pettigrew Green Arena, Taradale, by 9.30am and ride eight kilometres alongside the stopbank to the new park at Puketapu Domain where there will be an official launch of the Water Ride. Children can enjoy the bouncy castle and flying fox and a free BBQ will be provided for all.

WPOB Time Trial Champs: 24th March

Ramblers have been invited to participate in the WPOB TT Champs, run at club national distances. These are hosted by the Forestland Wheelers / WPOB centre, at Te Aroha.
A national licence is required and there will be medals for visitors.
For further details please email gabell@xtra.co.nz

Upcoming Events

4th-6th February: Rabodirect Elite Track National Championship (includes Madison and U19 Omnium), Invercargill
6th February: Philip Burns Memorial Criterium, Otane
11th- 12th February: Bev May Tour
12th-18th February: Wellington to Auckland 7 day Cycle Challenge
18th February: Art Deco Bicycle Belles Ride
18th February: The Rev, Hamilton
18th February: Moonshine Trail, Southland
22-24 February: "To Walk and Cycle" Conference, Hastings
22-26th February: NZCT Women’s Tour, Manawatu
25th February: Churchyard Physiotherapy le Femme Fun Ride, Palmerston North
28-29th February: WCNI Open Track Champs, Wanganui
29th February - 3rd March: Rabodirect Age Group Track National Championship, Invercargill
3rd March: Karapoti Classic, Wellington
11th March: Tremain Coorporate Triathalon, Napier
11th March: Kawhata Challenge, Waikato
11th March: Bush Cycle Challenge, Magatinoka
15th-18th March: BDO 4 day Tour, Northland
16th – 18th March: Oceania Road Championships, Southland
17th-18th March: Ultimo Cycling CHB Junior Tour
18-25th March: Perth Bike Week, Australia (includes UCI Qualifier ITT and RR)
24th March: WPOB Time Trial Championships, Te Aroha
24th March: Grape Ride, Malborough
7th-9th April: TeA Junior Tour, Te Awamutu
14th-15th April: CRI Junior and Women’s Tour
14th-21st April: Tour of New Zealand, Cape Reinga to Wellington OR Bluff to Wellington
3rd-6th May: RaboDirect Road National Championship, Hastings
20th May: Laskey Cycles Manfield 6 hour challenge