Whanganui Mountain Bike Club

MMBC Winter series race 2 – Target reserve Foxton
2025-06-15 11:00 - 16:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Target Reserve, Foxton, 47 SH 1, Foxton, New Zealand
The Central Bicycle Studio Winter Series is back for 2025, with the first race of the series at Whanganui’s Araheke Trails on Sunday 11 May. We have four rounds planned for the all-weather trails at Whanganui’s Araheke Trails and Foxton MTB trails @ Tarfet reserve. Winter Series events have something for everyone, from little nippers on balance bikes through to seasoned campaigners. While we time all riders and there’s competition for the top spots, the emphasis is on having fun and challenging yourself. We welcome E-bikes to all events.
To help us allocate numbers and get the race database organised before the first race, we encourage club members (or members of other MTBNZ-affiliated clubs) to enter for the series online before the first race. As another incentive to enter online, you will get entry for the four-race series for the price of 2.5 individual rounds. You can also enter on the day (Cash Only).
Round 1 (11 May) and Round 3 (13 July) are being held in Pauri opposite the prison off Pauri Domain Rd.
Round 2 (15 June) and Round 4 (10 Aug) in Foxton.
Cost is $10/race and $15/family for members of our club. Online is $25 for the series and $50/family.
Registration for U13 is 11am-12.15pm, 12.30pm start.
Registration for U15+ is 11.30am-1.15pm, 1.30pm start.
The short course is about 3.5km and the long course is about 4km. The number of times you go around the course depends on what category you are in.
Please go to https://mmbc.co.nz/winterseries/ for more information and to enter online.

Thursday 6pm club ride - Harakeke forest meet Lake Wiritoa domain car park
2025-06-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, New Zealand

AGM Wednesday 25 June 2025 @ 7pm, Aramoho Rowing Club, 198 Somme Parade, Aramoho, Whanganui
2025-06-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Caroline’s Boatshed Bar and Eatery, 181 Somme Parade, Aramoho,, Whanganui, 4500, New Zealand
Guest speaker Paul Chaplow – Adventure racing/Bikepacking over the years

Thursday 6pm winter ride - Urban - meeting at i-site
2025-06-26 18:00 - 19:30 | iSite, 31 Taupo Quay, Whanganui, 31 Taupo Quay, Whanganui, 4500, New Zealand

Thursday 6pm club ride – Harakeke forest meet Lake Wiritoa domain car park
2025-07-03 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-17 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-31 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-14 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-28 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-11 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, New Zealand

Thursday 6pm winter ride – Urban – meeting at i-site
2025-07-10 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-24 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-07 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-21 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-04 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-18 18:00 - 20:00 | iSite, 31 Taupo Quay, Whanganui, 31 Taupo Quay, Whanganui, 4500, New Zealand

MMBC Winter series race 3 – Araheke MTB Park (Pauri ) – Pauri Domain Rd opposite prison
2025-07-13 11:00 - 16:00 | Pauri Domain Rd, Araheke MTB park, Pauri Domain Rd, Whanganui, New Zealand

Mid winter (Sunday 20 July 2025) Mangahao dam ride
2025-07-20 10:00 - 16:30 | Mangahao dam, 355 Mangahao Road, Shannon, 4474
We are a bit late with our midwinter ride this year but the weather forecast looks ok for this Sunday to go ahead with our traditional destination in the northern Tararua hills inland from Shannon. An in-and-out ride starting and ending at Mangahao Hydro Station following a 4-wheel drive/clay road to the end at the third dam. 17km each way. Two moderately steep and long hills, scenic river, dams and native bush. About 3 hours in total with stops. We will divide into groups according to bikes and abilities.
Meet: Kaitoke Hall site, SH3 on Sunday 20 July at 10am to share transport. https://maps.app.goo.gl/5s52zqtYxxEvFXaw7
Journey: 91km drive. About 1.25 hours. Bring lunch/snacks. Opportunity for a skinny dip in the very cold water for a celebration and clean up. Wrap up warmly as it will be cold!
If the weather deteriorates then a cancellation email will follow on Friday evening.

Sunday Club Ride - Lismore Forest/Makirikiri Valley Rd - 9.30am
2025-08-03 09:30 - 13:30 | Upokongaro cafe, SH4, 444 State Highway 4, Upokongaro, Whanganui, 4575
A bit of a change for the Lismore Forest club’s open road day (first Sunday of the month). Join us on a circuit starting at Upokongaro, cycle up to Lismore Forest on SH3, then on the forest roads to end up on Mangawhero Rd, up a private forest road to Ken Pawson’s hunting bach and then out via a farm to end up on Makirikiri Valley Rd and back to Upok for a cuppa.
Meet – Cafe at Upokongaro this Sunday 3 August at 9.30am.
Moderate hills. 42km. Suitable for ebikes and fit analogue riders. About 4 hours with stops.

MMBC Winter series race 4 – Target reserve Foxton
2025-08-10 11:00 - 16:00 | Target Reserve, Foxton, 47 SH 1, Foxton, New Zealand

Sunday ride - Harakeke forest 10am - Meet Wiritoa car park
2025-08-24 10:00 - 12:30 | Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, New Zealand
Join Maree and Philip on a whirl around the tracks in Harakeke Forest this Sunday 24 August. Meet at Lake Wiritoa Reserve carpark at 10am. About 2.5 hrs of single track and forestry roads.

Club family ride - Wiritoa/Pauri - Sunday 31 August - 1pm
2025-08-31 13:00 - 15:00 | Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, New Zealand
Hi all
‘Family Rides’ are planned as a monthly club feature. Not just for families but also for any ‘getting started’ riders who want to learn their way around some local trails and maybe pick up some basic skills.
The rides will be tailored for abilities and led by some more experienced club riders who are just there to help out. You’ll never be far from the car park so can opt out at any time.
The next ride is scheduled for 1.00pm this Sunday 31 August around the Pauri and Wiritoa tracks at Araheke MTB park. Meet at Lake Wiritoa car park at 1pm.
The tracks are all family friendly and if the group rides them all, it is about 10km. Come along and ride as much or as little as you like with plenty of stops along the way for a chat.
Cheers.
Malcolm, Ken and the Team

Family ride Sunday 21 September meeting at Lake Wiritoa carpark at 10.30am.
2025-09-21 10:30 - 12:00 | Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, New Zealand
Hi all
The next family ride will be this Sunday 21 September meeting at Lake Wiritoa carpark at 10.30am.
‘Family Rides’ are planned as a monthly club feature. Not just for families but also for any ‘getting started’ riders who want to learn their way around some local trails and maybe pick up some basic skills.
The rides will be tailored for abilities and led by some more experienced club riders who are just there to help out. You’ll never be far from the car park so can opt out at any time.
The tracks at Araheke MTB park are all family friendly and if the group rides them all, it is about 10km. Come along and ride as much or as little as you like with plenty of stops along the way for a chat.
Cheers.
Malcolm, Ken and the Team

Thursday Club Ride Hyltons Pit - 6pm - Brunswick Rd entrance gate
2025-10-02 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-10-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Hyltons Pit, 56 Brunswick Rd,, Whanganui, 4571, New Zealand
Thursday Club Rides for October – 6pm
Hi all
Below is a list of our Thursday evening club rides for the month of October. We will alternate rides in Araheke mtb park/Harakeke forest with rides in Hyltons Pit. The club has a list of ‘leaders’ who when present on any ride would be prepared to lead that particular group. Our rides will take approximately 1.5 hours in total with short stops.
Oct 2 – Hyltons Pit – Brunswick Rd entrance gate
Oct 9 – Araheke mtb park/Harakeke – meet at Lake Wiritoa Reserve carpark
Oct 16 – Hyltons Pit
Oct 23 – Araheke mtb park/Harakeke
Oct 30 – Hyltons Pit – Brunswick Rd
We have a Whatsapp group for people who regularly ride on a Thursday evening. If you would like to join it, please let us know so we can put you on it. It is only a means of communication for those who wish to make sure that there will be others on that particular ride, especially if the weather is looking dicey.
Hope to see you out there. It will be necessary to take lights on the Harakeke rides for the last half an hour or so of riding. This will not be necessary on the Hylton rides as they will be shorter in distance and time taken.
E-bikes are always welcome but please note that the rides cater for analogue biking (unless specifically stated) and the pace is set accordingly. The group may be split if there is a big discrepancy in abilities.
Happy and safe riding!
Rozy

Thursday Club Ride Araheke MTB Park – 6pm – Wiritoa Car Park
2025-10-09 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-10-23 18:00 - 19:30 | Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, Araheke MTB Park, Whanganui, New Zealand

Sunday ride - Harakeke forest 9:30am - Meet Wiritoa car park
2025-10-12 09:30 - 12:00 | Araheke Mountain Bike Park, 316 Kaitoke Road, Kaitoke, Wanganui, 4572, New Zealand

Thursday Club Ride Hyltons Pit – 6pm – Brunswick Rd entrance gate
2025-10-30 18:00 - 19:30 | Hyltons Pit, 56 Brunswick Rd,, Whanganui, 4571, New Zealand
