Message from Chris Mildon
The 2011 NZ MTB Cup and Mountainbike National Championships are in final tweaking and planning stages for another great summer of competitive MTB racing. All the relevant information, on-line or postal entry and associated bits and pieces can be accessed on the MTBNZ website, and more specifically the NZ MTB Cup and Mountainbike National Championships links.
I would add that anyone can enter any of these races, you can even register on the day by getting a day license.
I would add that anyone can enter any of these races, you can even register on the day by getting a day license.
Awesome news!
(from Groundeffect newsletter) Heaphy Opens May 2011
Hot off the press... the NZ Conservation Authority has just approved the Kahurangi National Park Management Plan. That means mountain biking is to be trialed on the Heaphy, Flora Saddle to Barron Flat and the (full) Kill Devil tracks. The season on the Heaphy is May through September. Flora Saddle and Kill Devil are year round. Yippee.
It's fifteen long years since Kahurangi became a National Park and the Heaphy was off-limits to mountain bikes. Many have patiently battled to regain access to NZ’s premier multiday singletrack mountain bike ride:
> Bryce Buckland (and Tony Lilleby) from Nelson kicked off the crusade back in 1995. In recent years Bryce often mused that progress was so slow that his body might not last the distance.
> Kevin Hague researched, authored and presented Mountain Bike NZ’s weighty submission to the pivotal Draft General Policy National Parks. It was a persuasive document as the Policy was subsequently changed in 2006 to allow for mountain bikes on selected tracks. Kevin is now a Green MP, campaigning for all things cycling.
> At Ground Effect we have lived and breathed the Heaphy for longer than we dare admit.
> Sean Barnett, along with Federated Mountain Clubs’ Executive, was instrumental in determining the opinion of their membership, and subsequently supporting seasonal access for bikes on the Heaphy.
> Nelson MP and former Minister of Conservation Nick Smith has publicly lobbied for bikes on the Heaphy since the late 90’s.
> Brian Nathan from White Fox and Jones provided legal advice that helped establish the validity of MTBNZ’s position.
> The staff at Nelson/Marlborough DOC who were always open to the notion, and thus allowed for science and pragmatism to prevail.
> And of course 1100 of you made submissions to the General Policy and the Kahurangi National Park Management Plan.
There are plenty out there keen to see the three-year trial fail. Let’s follow the rules and prove them wrong:
> Stick to the winter season - so cool your heels until May next year. Don’t forget Flora Saddle is also an excellent ride that is open right now.
> It’s amazing country and sublime riding so take your time. Fit parties need a couple of days at 6-9 hours riding each day. Overnight at Mackay or Saxon Huts. Hut bookings are essential at bookings.doc.govt.nz
> Don't hunt in packs - maximum group size is six.
> Avoid heavy rain - DOC may close the track from time to time.
> Keep to the track - no exploring (on bikes).
> No night riding.
> Keep the huts and verandahs bike-free.
Hot off the press... the NZ Conservation Authority has just approved the Kahurangi National Park Management Plan. That means mountain biking is to be trialed on the Heaphy, Flora Saddle to Barron Flat and the (full) Kill Devil tracks. The season on the Heaphy is May through September. Flora Saddle and Kill Devil are year round. Yippee.
It's fifteen long years since Kahurangi became a National Park and the Heaphy was off-limits to mountain bikes. Many have patiently battled to regain access to NZ’s premier multiday singletrack mountain bike ride:
> Bryce Buckland (and Tony Lilleby) from Nelson kicked off the crusade back in 1995. In recent years Bryce often mused that progress was so slow that his body might not last the distance.
> Kevin Hague researched, authored and presented Mountain Bike NZ’s weighty submission to the pivotal Draft General Policy National Parks. It was a persuasive document as the Policy was subsequently changed in 2006 to allow for mountain bikes on selected tracks. Kevin is now a Green MP, campaigning for all things cycling.
> At Ground Effect we have lived and breathed the Heaphy for longer than we dare admit.
> Sean Barnett, along with Federated Mountain Clubs’ Executive, was instrumental in determining the opinion of their membership, and subsequently supporting seasonal access for bikes on the Heaphy.
> Nelson MP and former Minister of Conservation Nick Smith has publicly lobbied for bikes on the Heaphy since the late 90’s.
> Brian Nathan from White Fox and Jones provided legal advice that helped establish the validity of MTBNZ’s position.
> The staff at Nelson/Marlborough DOC who were always open to the notion, and thus allowed for science and pragmatism to prevail.
> And of course 1100 of you made submissions to the General Policy and the Kahurangi National Park Management Plan.
There are plenty out there keen to see the three-year trial fail. Let’s follow the rules and prove them wrong:
> Stick to the winter season - so cool your heels until May next year. Don’t forget Flora Saddle is also an excellent ride that is open right now.
> It’s amazing country and sublime riding so take your time. Fit parties need a couple of days at 6-9 hours riding each day. Overnight at Mackay or Saxon Huts. Hut bookings are essential at bookings.doc.govt.nz
> Don't hunt in packs - maximum group size is six.
> Avoid heavy rain - DOC may close the track from time to time.
> Keep to the track - no exploring (on bikes).
> No night riding.
> Keep the huts and verandahs bike-free.
TOTS Canaan loop race
keep up the good work!
Hot off the press, News!
Local Nelson dude George Bennett has just landed himself a spot on Lance Armstrongs US team trek livestrong for 2011. Awesome! Way to go George!
Article from Cycling news...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/trek-livestrong-rebuilds-with-new-talent-in-2011
check out Georges blog here...
http://georgebennettcycling.blogspot.com/
and check out his new team here!
http://www.treklivestrongu23.com/
Article from Cycling news...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/trek-livestrong-rebuilds-with-new-talent-in-2011
check out Georges blog here...
http://georgebennettcycling.blogspot.com/
and check out his new team here!
http://www.treklivestrongu23.com/
Marble Mountain challenge date change!
Marble mountain challenge (Takaka Hill climb) is now on Sunday 28th November and its only 5 bucks to enter!....get involved!
http://www.cyclingnelson.co.nz/
http://www.cyclingnelson.co.nz/
Big in Poland and Latvia!
Hello Poland, hello Latvia! and thanks for looking at our blog, come on over and ride our tracks!
Just a quick look at some blog stats shows that yes, we are big in Eastern Europe!!!
Here's the top ten table of page views from around the world......
(boo hiss Australia!)
Just a quick look at some blog stats shows that yes, we are big in Eastern Europe!!!
Here's the top ten table of page views from around the world......
(boo hiss Australia!)
|
Goldfields Club Ride including Special quiz....
Only four made it to the club ride today at the Goldfields. But we had a fast and furious (for me) ride from the Boots, up the 4WD track to the top then down thru the Duck camp and on to the dam and then down the very fast wide track to the bottom. Great fun. Took under 2 hours, but a nice work out at about 17 km.
We went for coffee at the Court House and met all 4 riders from the Frocks on Bikes that Victoria arranged.
I have put some interesting pictures of the club ride on the Blog, one of them I want suggestions for what was said or what the problem is....
We went for coffee at the Court House and met all 4 riders from the Frocks on Bikes that Victoria arranged.
 |
| What has he broken now???? |
 |
| See, club rides are such fun.... |
 |
| Caption quiz- What was said or what happened here? |
Goodbye Dafydd and good luck!
...and incase you missed it....
Apocalypse now and then, and the Sundance kid from Robin Dawson on Vimeo.
Apocalypse now and then, and the Sundance kid from Robin Dawson on Vimeo.