The Lions Tour de Manawatu Cycle Challenge is held annually in November and attracts more than 1000 riders, both local and from further afield. The rides are ideal for a fun, family event as both young and old can enter or as a personal challenge. There are short, medium and long distances and entry is open to individual or tandem riders. All races are timed with the exception of the 20km individual and 20km tandem where there is a choice of timed and untimed.

While enjoying the ride, you will also be cycling through the streets of Palmerston North and the scenic Manawatu District countryside. After the ride concludes, the fun continues with a great number of exciting spot prizes to be handed out ranging from large Flat Screen TVs to cycle accessories. Times and photos of the event are later available on this website.

The tour is run by an enthusiastic and experienced committee and is generously supported every year by local businesses. Proceeds from the Cycle Challenge are put to good use in the community and this year will support canTeen Manawatu (supporting young people with cancer). Why not join in? Challenge yourself Use it as part of your fitness programme Challenger your family.

Fitzherbert Lions Club seeks to serve the community, especially youth, sport and the disadvantaged. The main beneficiary of the Lions Tour de Manawatu 2010  will be the canTeen Manawatu (supporting young people with cancer). In 2009, the Tour supported Drug Arm Palmerston North and in 2008, the Tour supported the Youth One Stop Shop (YOSS) allowing them to purchase a much needed van. In previous years, Tour de Manawatu proceeds were donated to the Manawatu branch of the Child Cancer Foundation ($11,600 in 2007), Life Education Trust, St Johns First Aid, and general community projects.

The Tour started in the 1980s when a group of enthusiasts, including Gary Buys the owner of Pedal Pushers,  organised an annual fun cycle ride to raise funds for IHC.  It steadily grew in popularity, and in March 1992 the first Tour de Manawatu was organised with distances 50 and 115 km. In 1997, organising the event became too much work, and the Tour went into recess. Gary Buys then approached Lions Club of Fitzherbert in Palmerston North which already had a proven track record for organising the very successful annual Mountain Bike Ride.  A three-man committee was formed (none with prior involvement in cycling) to organise the Tour in consultation with the previous committee. The Club has  organised the Tour every year, except one year when there was uncertainty in NZ over event organisers’ legal responsibilities. This makes the tour, in 2010, the 11th Lions Tour de Manawatu