Weekend of 15th/16th September

The bike paths at Kingdom, Penshurst.

We kicked off the weekend with our first trip to Kingdom in Penshurst for a Go Ride session.  We have been there before; a few years ago now, and of course for cyclocross racing, but this was the first of a few sessions we have planned there for this term. I spent few sessions before we arrived, exploring and thinking; this is going to be fun:-)

Getting started a the natural velodrome

As this was our first session, our main objective was to get to know the site and work out what we can do here in the future.  With this in mind, we started at the far end of the site in an area known as "the natural velodrome".  To be fair you do need a fairly good imagination to view this as a velodrome, but ridden anti clockwise you are just turning left.  Unlike most velodromes, the surface is fairly grassy and there is a wicked gradient.  Apparently there is hard core below the grass though and if we ride it enough it will emerge!

At the top of Heart Break Hill

Our next challenge was to climb Heart Break Hill.  This section provides a the opportunity to practise using gears to climb efficiently; the descent provides a good recovery and some practise at braking before going back up the hill, again and again......

Practising slalom on a flatter section

Once we'd climbed Heart Break Hill numerous times, we landed on a flatter section.  Once we'd had a quick biscuit break, Damian, Michele and Calvin ran some mounting and dismounting drills, while Jez and I marked out the course for our final team relays.

We had a great time at Kingdom, the coaches and the riders are already looking forward to being back there very soon. It was good to see a few riders and their families enjoying a post ride snack/lunch.  Damian took this photo of the cake, it did look very tempting...........


Meanwhile, up at Brands Hatch, Hope, Ellen and Polly was getting ready for the last of this year's National Youth Series races.

And finally, Sunday saw our growing cyclocross team competing at beneath the iconic mast (and steps) of Crystal Palace.  As ever it certainly was a busy weekend for the KVK.

Next weekend: Go Ride at Stocks Green, Herne Hill Velodrome Session, Lee Valley Club Cluster and Leeds Castle Cyclocross.