November 2007 Update
By Mark Ireland
Hi All,
Been sometime since we had an update
on things cycling in Tauranga, so here it is!
Great Lake Cycle Challenge
This is at the forefront of everyones
minds at the moment. Good luck and safe riding to any of you who are
riding around Taupo this Saturday. Hopefully the good weather will
hold. I've been talking with the team from Taupo and it is shaping up
to be another fantastic weekend of cycling - they really do a great job
and its good knowing that any profit goes to worthwhile causes in the
Taupo community, not into an individuals back pocket.
Speaking of worthy fund raising, Ian
Leslie from Tauranga is doing the 640km around Taupo this weekend, and
doing a great job of fundraising for Heart Children. He's included an
account of a work colleague's son, who was born with heart
complications, on the website http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/ianleslie/
To do 640km is just beyond my
comprehension really, so I do hope that some of you support Ian in his
great fundraising ride.
Tuesday Rides
I have missed most of these this
year, due to work, but I hear they have been going pretty well.
Remember, you must be a club member to ride these, so if you spot
people without a club helmet sticker, direct them to the website for a
membership form - www.taurangacyclingclub.co.nz Reason for this
is that the club carries the public liability insurance, we laise with
Council and Police to allow the rides, we take any complaints from the
public and we need to be able to contact people to advise of issues or
hazards that come up from time to time, like this........
This afternoon, another part of
Oceanbeach Road was resealed - from Girven Rd to the Arataki shops, so
expect plenty of loose stones through that 200 metre section. No hot
mix, unlike the piece outside the shops themselves. Also a few strips
of new seal on Papamoa Beach Road, between Domain Rd and Parton Rd.
Take care!
Thursday Rides
Road works are also in progress on
Kaituna Road, so our normal triangular circuit is out of action. So our
race is now down Young Rd (past the Kiwi 360), along SH2 towards
Whakatane, up Wilson Rd North, over the hill by Little Waihi, down
through Maketu and back to the Maketu / Te Tumu Rd intersection. Quite
a nice little course, about 25 km still. Start is unchanged, meet on Te
Tumu Rd for a 6.15 start as usual
Saturday Morning Rides
Steve Cames Saturday rides continue,
aimed at the riders who like a longer, faster paced training ride. Meet
at 6.30am, at Koops Cycles, cnr Cameron Rd and 17th Ave.
Sunday Training Rides
Getting big numbers to this at the
moment. However, the pace of this ride has got a little out of control.
No problem with the fast ride through the hills. The problem is the
"core" part of the ride, from the end of Welcome Bay Road, back through
Papamoa to around about the start of Marine Parade - we've have a few
complaints and my own experience recently was that it was getting
faster than it should be. Speed should be in the low 30's for this
section. We have the "sprint" point, being the first speed hump at the
Marine Parade / Banks Ave corner. Once we get to the speed humps,
please button right off - there have been some very close calls though
this section, with cars desperate to find a park and quite a few
pedestrians. The Hot Pools roundabout is also an accident waiting to
happen, so just easy through there as well.
There are 3 other club rides you can
do "at pace", Sunday should be something a bit easier.
Memberships
2008 Memberships were due 1st
November. We've got about 2/3rds of your new memberships in. If you
still have a red helmet sticker, not the current green one, you can
download the form off the club website
www.taurangacyclingclub.co.nz ,it does take a little while to do
that, but it is working. You can also now pay by direct credit, details
on the form.
Club Champs
A reminder again about our club
champs on Saturday 1st December. If you have not participated in a club
champs before it is a really fun day. A short time trial, a road race
for your level of riding and a hill climb. Lunch is provided after
racing. Koops cycles has generously donated some serious spot prizes
for participants. There are medals for A, B, C & D grades. The Club
AGM is held after lunch.
Regards
Mark Ireland
Club Captain
Tauranga Road Cycling Club