Greetings to all those who have paid their deposit and secured a place on this year's 3 day tour.

Planning is well advanced for the upcoming OTB Tour de Manawatu 13–15 October. We have

67 people registered.

To recap, we will be based at Hotel Coachman in Palmerston North. We have changed Friday’s

ride as with the Manawatu Gorge closed the planned route was too busy and dangerous.

Instead we are doing a ride in the Paihiatua area on quiet country roads. The remaining 2 days

remain the same, a loop to Hunterville, and from Ashurst to Apiti and back. The total distance is

approximately 330 km. This year’s tour has a lot of undulating terrain, but no large hills.

Saturday is the longest day, but there is an option to reduce the distance for those who feel it is

too far for them. The ride is relatively flat however. Given the large number of riders this year,

ride groups will be sorted on pace as with the OTB Sunday rides. This should keep the five or

six groups together over the hilly profiles of this year’s route.

We won't be racing and Group leaders will set a pace to keep the group together and flowing

safely. Drivers of the support vehicles will be drawn from the participating riders either by folks

volunteering or rostered from the groups. ie a group will be assigned to provide a driver for a

particular leg.

We start in Paihiatua on the Friday. You should have had lunch and be ready to depart from the

area by the war memorial in the centre of town by 1pm.

Friday’s afternoon tea at the The Bridge Cafe is included.

Friday’s dinner is at Nero Restaurant and your $400 includes drinks.

Saturday’s lunch is filled rolls organised by the Coachman.

Saturday’s dinner is at the Coachman and starts with pre-dinner canapes. There will be a cash

bar.

Sunday lunch will be at the Apiti Tavern and Eatery .

There is a full breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning at the Coachman. If you have any

specific dietary requirements please ensure you make these known to the organisers.

You will appreciate we make no promises for the weather, so you might get wet

or, worse case, if the weather is really terrible we might have to shorten, re-route or cancel some

or all of the Tour, in which case you will lose the cost of the accommodation and any

fixed commitment, but we will refund what we can. If you withdraw, there will be

no refund unless we can fill your slot. It is expected that you will partake in all 3 day’s riding and

wear the OTB kit at least on day 2 (Saturday).

We have some people who need a ride to and from Manawatu. Please let [email protected]

know if you can take someone with you on a cost-sharing basis and we’ll pair you up.

It is now time to pay the balance of the cost, which is $200. That brings the total cost to $400,

which now includes lunches Saturday and Sunday, afternoon tea at The Bridge Cafe and drinks

at the dinner at Nero.

Please pay the remaining $200 to the account nots on your email by 13 September. . Please make it

clear who the payment is from. Note that we’re due to pay the balance on the accommodation

by 15 September - so please be on time with your payment.

The Politburo