Counties Manukau welcomes all riders to join the club, click here to download an application form or alternatively contact Karen McIntosh on 624 4047.

Counties Manukau Cycling Background Club History
We are a racing club organising weekly Saturday road races from late March until early October. Over the summer CMC is involved in running track racing at the Manukau Velodrome.

CMC is an amalgamation of several other clubs over the last 30 years to become Auckland and New Zealand's largest road and track cycling club. Clubs that have contributed to today's CMC include Southern Districts, Manukau, Northern, Auckland League of Wheelmen. CMC's origins date back to before the Second World War.

Club Road Race Season Format
Our road racing season starts with shorter races in March and April varying in distance between 10 kms for Under 15 year olds up to around 40 kms for the senior riders. During the season racing is steadily increased in length to about 25 kms for the U15s up to 80 kms for the A graders by September. Racing is held in several grades, so that riders - both male and female - of similar ability are racing against one another. These are massed start events with riders starting in a bunch together. Newcomers are not expected to pit themselves against the fastest elite men! Occasionally we hold handicap events where the slowest riders start first and the fastest riders are last away.

For massed start races CMC usually runs 4 or 5 grades from A grade down to D or E grade. A graders are the fastest men. The top women compete in B grade along with the best masters riders and U17 boys. C, D and E grade are a mixture of all ages, depending on ability and speed. We also have a social grade for those riders who don't train as much and like to race over a shorter distance. If you continue to win too much in a grade you will be elevated to the next
highest grade. Likewise if you continually struggle you can drop down a grade. The club wants you to enjoy your racing and keep coming to events.

Championship Races
Along with the other Auckland clubs we take turns to host Auckland Championships, with time trials (just you against the clock) and half distance road championships (as its name suggest, half the full championship distance) earlier in the season. The full distance road titles are usually decided in late September or early October. These lead into the National Championships for most grades normally held over Labour weekend. The national titles for elite men and women are held in January.

Open Races at other clubs
Apart from the weekly Saturday club racing, there are numerous "open" races hosted by other clubs. These are held around the country throughout the year and usually have prize money. Some are specifically for certain age groups, while others are open to anybody with the appropriate National License. Entries for these events have to be sent away at least a week before hand. Counties run three Open Races a season.

Racing Venues
Our weekly racing is held at a variety of venues in the Franklin area on country roads. Racing starts at 2pm, with registration from about 1.15pm at a local hall. Each week you should enter for the following week(s) races as the club needs to know how many riders to cater for, especially if it is a handicap event. We do not have entries on the day - apart from newcomers who are joining us for the first time. After racing there afternoon tea available and prize giving which acknowledges our sponsors and pays out small amounts of prize money.

License Types
Depending on what type of racing you want to do you will need a different license.

• A National license allows you to race in any event throughout New Zealand.
• A centre license allows you to race in any event in the greater Auckland area.
• A club license only allows you to race in events run by CMC.
  

Rider Etiquette
All riders are expected to contribute to races, sharing the pace making by taking short "laps" at the front of bunches before peeling off and allowing somebody else to take over. As the roads are open to traffic we only race two abreast so as not to upset motorists. Crossing the centre line onto the wrong side of the road is not allowed and will result in disqualification.

Young Riders
Younger riders can start from around the age of 12 -13 in the Under 15 class. Remember all riders must have a knowledge of the road code and are expected to conduct themselves like any motorist on the road. If younger children wish to do some competitive cycling they can gain excellent bike handling skills for road cycling by participating in BMX or mountain biking away from other traffic.

Training Rides
As the club has members spread all over the greater Auckland area we don't meet for training rides. Our members make use of the many different bunch rides that happen on Sundays and during the week. Enquire at your local bike shop about bunch rides as several of the shops run their own bunch rides. The club does not have a club coach but some members do provide personal coaching programs.

Please Have Respect
The club is run entirely by volunteers who give up their spare time to orgainize the races so please have patience with your enquires.

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