Saturday 8th October & Sunday 9th October

So here's the thing, I woke up, I felt exhausted and it was forecast to rain (heavily), just another Saturday morning then! As usual things just got better, and better............

Go-Ride - I'd planned to do the giant Y cornering session.  We split the riders into two groups and headed our separate ways.  Damian started on the course proper and the riders were soon taking the pin end turns at speed and in small groups.  I seemed to have a fairly boisterous group of riders so nothing for it but to tire them out on the grass too.  Toni and Ellen attempted to be human cones on a simple two pin end course, that did however prove quite challenging for the riders.  We progressed towards an Australian Pursuit style race.  Some super impressive riding combining skill and endurance.  Rider of the week definitely went to Thomas for steadfastly resisting being overtaken!  It never did rain and Damian told me he'd been really impressed with his group; we know from experience that the skill involved in these tight turns will stand the riders in good stead in the future if they get into racing.

Moving swiftly on to Youth Ride.  Damian & Sarah headed out with Toni and Calvin, on a longer hillier ride, meanwhile Dan, Nico, Luke, Hope, Polly headed out with myself and Ruth.  We re-ran (rode?) the route we've called Whale, hopefully one day these guys will be able to navigate themselves.  No accidents or incidents, possibly slightly less moaning about hills but definitely not less talking! Luke sat on the front with me at the end and we blasted back along the causeway, great to see the young riders really coming into their own.



Sunday 9th October - London League Cyclocross at Happy Valley

Polly, Toni & Damian have all raced the LondonXLeague

Some of our older riders (some of them much older ;-)) have been checking out the cyclocross scene this year by competing in the London League http://www.londonxleague.co.uk/ .  Toni and Polly are half way through and Damian has just launched his cycle racing career last week at Sumner Ponds.  Cyclocross racing is a winter thing, courses are mainly on grass/trails with man made obstacles such as hurdles thrown in.  You can take part on a mountain bike, cyclocross bikes themselves look like road bikes but have nobbly tyres (Isla/Frog bikes can be made into cross bikes just by switching the tyres). The bunch quickly gets strung out so it's easy to get lost in the race.  These races have a great atmosphere, and it's common to see parents and kids competing on the same day.  We'll have a chance to practise some cyclocross terrain and techniques at the Go Ride Cluster session at Cyclopark on 5th November and then put them into practise at the Regional Champs to be held at Cyclopark on Sunday December 4th http://www.londonxleague.co.uk/2016/08/south-east-east-championship-20162017-sun-4th-dec/