South Canterbury Mountain Bike Club

SOUTH CANTERBURY MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB INC.
5:45 PM
TUESDAY
9TH
SEPTEMBER
2008Venue: 57A Theodosia Street, Timaru
(Offices of Mitchell McCleary Chartered Accountants)

Agenda:

1. Receive the Committee’s report on the activities of the Club over the last year and the proposed priorities and directions for the Club in the current year.
2. Receive the statement of financial position and statement of financial performance for the past financial year.
3. Elect the members of the Committee of the Club. All current Committee Members are required by the Rules to stand down, but are eligible for re-election. Nominations are now open, must be in writing and will be received by the Secretary prior to and at the AGM. The Club’s Rules provide for a Committee of no less than six members and no more than ten members. Nominees must be financial members as at the date of the AGM.
4. Resolve whether a review of the Club’s accounts is required.
5 General business:
(a) Any other business which members may wish to raise at the meeting; and
(b) The Committee wishes to give members at the AGM an opportunity to comment on the activities of the Club to date, and welcomes your input on possible future activities. This is your Club - come along and tell us what you want!

Please note that you have received this notice because you are on the mailing list for the Club. This does not mean that you are a financial member. Only financial members will be eligible to attend, participate in and vote at the Annual General Meeting.

HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR MEMBERSHIP?
Please be aware that you need to be a financial member of the Club to vote at the AGM on 9 September 2008 and to continue to receive the newsletters and other emails concerning the activities of the Club. Annual subscription is only $10.00. If you pay your subscription prior to the AGM, you will be a financial member until the 2009 AGM. If you are not a financial member as at the AGM, we may stop sending you newsletters and other emails concerning the activities of the Club.

You can renew your membership by completing the tear-off slip below (you may need to print and cut yourself if accessing this from the website) and posting it together with your cheque for $10.00 to the Club (P.O. Box 40, Timaru).

Please update your details if anything has changed:

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Full name Phone

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Home address

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Email address

Are there other members of your family living at the same address who also wish to join the Club? One annual $10.00 subscription covers all members of a family residing as one household. Each person within the same household who wishes to join the Club must complete a Membership Application form - reply to this email to be sent a form.

If you are unsure whether or not your membership subscription is paid up, please contact the Treasurer: tony@mitchellmccleary.co.nz

KEN GRAVE
Secretary
23.08.2008

Hi All

I will have notice of the Club’s 2008 Annual General Meeting out to everyone shortly – the meeting will be in the next few weeks.  Apologies for any confusion caused by the early notice in the last newsletter.

Ken

Hi All - please see the following from Alan Johns

New track just opened for anyone who doesn’t know about it already. It starts from the railway track, Claremont end. It turns off 100 feet before you get to the first seat, you turn to your right and it drops down through the creek and joins up with the original low track - as you can see in the photo - Kev’s showing how it’s done. Kev’s hard work in building this for us all should be acknowledged. Thanks Alan

Beachcomber Cruises offer water transport to the Queen Charlotte Track and also cruise throughout Queen Charlotte Sound including the New Zealand Post Mail Run.

The Queen Charlotte Track is 71kms in length and is renowned for its stunning views, contrasting landscape, historical landmarks and wonderful variety of native bush and wildlife. To complete all of the track we have our Great Track & Pack Pass which includes transport and luggage transfers. We also have many day walk/mountain biking options available ranging from 2hrs - 7hrs. Please contact our friendly team about day options.

We would like to offer your group special discounted rates with our Great Track & Pack Pass for both mountain bikers and trampers.
For Mountain Bikers:
One way transport from Picton to Ship Cove with luggage transfers will cost $65.00 per person. Minimum 4 pax.
Great Track & Pack Pass including return transport from Picton to Ship Cove with a pickup from Anakiwa and luggage transfers will cost $80.00 per person. Minimum 4 pax
For Trampers:
Our Great Track & Pack Pass including return transport from Picton to Ship Cove with a pickup from Anakiwa and luggage transfers will cost $80.00 per person. Minimum 4 pax
For groups of 10+ please contact us for our group rate.
If you would like information about accommodation on the Queen Charlotte Track please visit our website www.beachcombercruises.co.nz where you will find information about accommodation available.
If you would like more information or to make a reservation please contact our friendly team
Kind regards
Paula
Beachcomber Fun Cruises
The Waterfront
P.O. Box 12
Picton New Zealand
Office: +64 3 573 6175
Fax: +64 3 573 6176
Web: www.beachcombercruises.co.nz

McLeans Island in the morning

• 11km one-way loop - no oncoming traffic
• Buffed singletrack, bermed corners mostly through pine forest
• No climbs (other than up ‘n’ down stopbanks)
• Suitable for all abilities - great for families, even with quite young children (so long as they can cope with the distance)
• Suitable even in inclement weather
• 25 minutes to 1 hour per lap - the fast guys ‘n’ gals can do multiple laps!

Check out http://www.onyourbike.co.nz/ for details. McLeans Island is between Christchurch Airport and the Waimakariri River - the entrance to the MTB track is opposite Orana Park.

BYO lunch

Port Hills singletrack in the afternoon

• 20+ kilometre loop
• 2+ hours

We’ll start from a car park above the Sign of the Takahe in Cashmere, so no huge climb: 5 minutes of tarseal up to Victoria Park, then climbing offroad for 15 minutes will have us up to the Summit Road, just below Sugarloaf Transmitter. Admire the view across the city and plains to the Alps and catch your breath before turning left (East) and ride flowing singletrack along Bowenvale Traverse Track probably as far as the top of Rapaki Track.

Return the way we came but continue past Sugarloaf, dropping down Thomsons Track past the Sign of the Kiwi (maybe an icecream?) and a short tarseal climb along the Summit Road to the top of Worsleys Road, then down Marleys Hill Track (aka “Flying Nun”) onto Old Dyers Pass Track then a short climb back to the waiting cars.

This ride is 80% singletrack, 10% 4WD track, 10% tarseal

I would describe it as moderately difficult singletrack - narrow, with frequent obstacles - a few (mainly very short - often only 10 metres or so) stretches may be easier walked. Some technical ability and confidence is required. If you aren’t comfortable riding the more technical tracks in the Scenic, you may find this ride challenging in places.
Check out http://www.onyourbike.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=30 for some good photos of what to expect on the easier sections of track.

Check out http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Cycling/TracksRides/PortHills.asp for more details on the tracks, and track reports. Note that as at yesterday many of the tracks were closed due to the recent rain, however the tracks I’ve selected above are very quick-drying (except for Old Dyers Pass Track, which we can avoid if need be). In the absence of any more significant rain, I’m reasonably confident the tracks will be open by next weekend.

Obviously, the Port Hills are exposed and so this ride is weather-dependent. It’s not a nice place to be in a howling southerly! We’ll keep Bottle Lake Forest as a backup - lots of great tracks with plenty of shelter.

More details next week as to car-pooling, meeting times and places

Hope lots of you can make it

Ken