Cyclist Problem Solved

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​I remember an advert a number of years ago about the garage door – “Get a garage door, a super garage door, you get much more with a roller door”. The problem was you needed a garage first! The new Manawatu Cycleway from Mangaweka to Palmerston North is a bit like that super roller door. It’s all up and running with unique-cyclist signposts, picnic tables, places to stop along the way and of course great scenery. One problem! How do you get your bikes and gear to the start and finish of the Cycleway (The Garage)?

So that is where Rachel Dean comes into the picture. Rachel owns the The Hub Café at The Mangaweka International Airport. Rachel came out from England to play cricket in 1993 and she fell in love with New Zealand. She did three more trips out to NZ and finally in 2003 she arrived back with the idea of living here permanently. Traveling around in a campervan sealed this idea. After a few months she found her first job driving trucks for Foodstuffs, which lasted for about 5 years. Due to her love of Classic Cars, especially MGs, she met John & Viv Eames, who are world famous in Mangaweka!! They started the Rangitikei River Adventures – now called Mangaweka Adventure Company & own the DC3 aeroplane. Rachel, who was living in Friendly Feilding at the time, had the opportunity to purchase The Café under the DC3.

She had another string to her bow - a shuttle bus - that she used for a variety of tours, including the Manawatu Wind Farm & Gorge Tours. She even gave talks to school children up at The Wind Farm– such fun on a windy day!

So when she arrived in Mangaweka she saw the opportunity to support the Adventure operators from the Café by helping with their transport needs, plus providing tours of her own. Eg transporting visitors to and from The Rangitikei River for The Mangaweka Adventure Company and also farm tours.

Now this is where the Manawatu Cycleway (the roller door) comes into the picture. Rachel and her team (The garage) are available to pick up Cyclists & their bikes from Palmerston North, Feilding, and Ashhurst – in fact just about anywhere on route. She will even drop off luggage to accommodation providers. In fact she is completely flexible to the needs of Cyclists. There is of course understandably a charge for this service. Her shuttle bus can take up to 11 passengers, but at this stage only 4 cyclist and their bikes, but she will expand as the route becomes more popular.

So if this suits your requirements give Rachel a call on 06 3825747 or 021 1309138. [email protected] or chat with her on Facebook. Not only is she a tour driver, but also she is very approachable & knowledgeable. She loves the area and can see such tourist potential around Rangitikei and Manawatu.