Greasy Chain Charitable Trust

17/02/2026

Save the Date ✨ 17 May 2026 ✨

The Bike Manawatu's Manfeild 6 Hour Cycle Challenge is back! 🚴‍♂️🔥

Solo or team — how many laps can you smash at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon?

Riding for fitness, fun & supporting Arohanui Hospice 💙

Let’s go! 💥

SAVE THE DATE ✨Sunday 17th May 2026 ✨

Bike Manawatu's Manfeild 6 Hour Cycle Challenge is back in 2026, now in its 17th year!

🏁 How many laps of the Manfeild circuit can you ride in 6 hours?

🚴 Take on this challenge solo, or grab your friends or workmates and take turns for your team.

💙 Bike Manawatu is proud to be supporting Arohanui Hospice again this year.

Stay tuned for more details and how to enter.....

17/02/2026

Weapon of Stress Reduction 🚴‍♂️

We ride for freedom, we ride for health, we ride for a fitter New Zealand.
Swap stress for pedals and let every kilometre build a stronger, healthier Aotearoa. 💚

10/01/2026

When there’s no traffic to stop you and no fuel to burn, all that’s left is pure freedom. Cycling is not a trend- It's a Lifestyle.

31/12/2025

Happy New Year 2026 —may every ride keep you stronger, healthier, and happier.

Resolution unlocked: Ride more, worry less. Step 1 done—get on the bike. Step 2? Make every day of 2026 a reason to ride.

Become a greasy chainer- Join us
Click the link --> https://greasychain.com/about/become-a-greasy-chainer/

24/12/2025

This Christmas and New Year, let’s take inspiration from Santa—ride for better health, cleaner air, and a happier planet.
Cycle. Smile. Repeat.
Wishing everyone a joyful Christmas and a fit, green New Year! 🌱✨

24/11/2025

Find your freedom on two wheels 🚴‍♂✨
Cycling is the best therapy — no cancellations, no stress, just the trail, fresh NZ air, and your bike.
Whether you ride for fitness, mental health, adventure or community, every spin brings you closer to calm.
Explore NZ cycling routes, join group rides, and feel the difference.

23/11/2025

Steve Stannard was farewelled in remarkable fashion on Friday that included the launch of a book of his articles, "You Can't Make an Omelette Without Breaking a Few Eggs". See Katherine Stannard's post today "Steve back on Georges Street" and add your thoughts for a great Manawatu community and cycling advocate.
There's also a good article in today's Manawatu Standard from Mathew Dallas who was his editor for many of the articles contained in the book

One man’s vitality, inquisitive nature and distinctive perspective has been both memorialised and anthologised.

01/10/2025

The case for helmets.

Rebecca Oaten spent more than six years campaigning to make cycle helmets compulsory.

16/09/2025

Yes, The Gravel and Tar is back!

NZ’s Toughest One Day Gravel Race for Men and Women is on again.

Now in its ninth year, and for the first time, the 2025 Gravel and Tar Classic and Gravel and Tar La Femme races will be held as Elite/Open events open to International, Trade and Club teams and riders. As an Elite/Open race, entry will be open to Under 19 and above “A-Grade/Elite” riders.

We are inviting clubs to join our International and Trade teams by entering their four person A-grade/Elite rider teams. More than one team may be entered.

This year will also be seeing the introduction of a Team Time Trial on the Saturday which will be part of the accumulated time results for the team competition. Our thanks to Bike Manawatu for organising the TTT.

Significant Prize money is on offer for the Individual Women’s and Men’s races plus for the top three teams in each event.
Entry can be completed using the following links:

Gravel and Tar Le Femme (Women’s Race) - https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=404006
Gravel and Tar Classic (Men’s Race) - https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=403996

Individuals may enter and will be placed in a team where available.
Entry Fees for this year’s race are $70 per rider.

For any enquiries, please contact either:
Mike Simpson 0278363520 / Nick Spark 0274853632
or email [email protected]

03/09/2025

Sadly, our founder of the Greasy Chain Charitable Trust Steve Stannard passed away on Saturday to our great loss.

Steve’s contribution to the promotion of cycling not only as a sport, but as a way of getting Kiwi’s fitter, has been enormous. On the sporting scene, Steve inaugurated the international Gravel and Tar that put Palmerston North and the Manawatu on the world cycling stage with the first edition attracting a viewing audience of 1.6 million and a wider support of some 84 million people worldwide. Wow!

And it was not just the sport of cycling that has benefited from Steve’s drive and enthusiasm, but the wider community through his regularly published opinion pieces that addressed issues important to all of us – education, health, environment – in an engaging and sometimes humorous way that had us all considering better ways of managing the way we live.

To his many friends, Steve’s character, personality, lively commentary, and the ability to put a bit of positivity or humorous spin on a topic that mattered to all of us, will be well remembered.

Our condolences to wife Katherine and children, Elizabeth, Robert and Thomas. Steve’s funeral will be held on Tuesday 9th September at 11am Sydney time (where he was undergoing treatment) and can be viewed via streaming at 1pm NZ time https://www.albertmeyer.com.au/live-streaming/client/?nid=33ac6e5f-6f91-4aa1-b780-1ecae8d29b4c

There is also a wonderful article in The Post (for whom Steve wrote many opinion pieces) at https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360809626/always-motion-steve-stannard-resilient-rider-till-end

A memorial service is being planned for October In Palmerston North.

Rest well dear friend, Steve Stannard.

26/07/2025

🔄 Trade gas for gears.
💸 Cut the costs, not the fun.
🚴‍♂️ 95% of your cycling budget goes to gears — not gas!
🌿