Go Ride 10th June & Youth Ride

Great turnout today with thirty one riders signing on.  Thankfully our three freshly qualified coaches Jez, Gareth and Andrew were ready for action, Andrew even took photos and did a write up:

“It must have been the sun or Kary’s national marketing campaign, but we amazed to have seven new riders today.  They all got involved straight away and showed the bike skills that they already had.  At least one had ridden at another club before and showed themselves very capable.  The challenge for the coaches was to learn all the names, though it was clear that the riders progressed more with their riding than the coaches did with remembering names - name badges in the future / or personalised jerseys?

The group progressed well riding as a line and learning to stop in a small space as well as picking up those essentials of covering the brakes and keeping up the inside leg round corners.  So we were pleased that by mid-way through the session Kary said that we could join the big endurance challenge with all of the other riders on the grass.  We quickly split into two teams (green - because they were on green bikes or jerseys) and red / orange (for the same reason) and joined into the endurance relay; this being in full swing there was an initial trepidation on the part of the green team as so many riders seems to be involved, but Alice quickly took the lead and helped her team get fully involved.


What an amazing turn-out and we will look forward to getting to know the individual skills of the new riders.  Everyone had a great time!" By Coach Andrew

Getting organised for our sprinting drills. Paced by one of the YV's, then sprinting for the line on the whistle

Our pre-session practise session; tights turns and stopping in the box

Gareth takes our newest riders through a quick skills check

Older riders "Chasing the Snake" - paced by Luke

Jez gives the riders their briefing "stay behind Toni's back wheel until I blow my whistle"

A round of applause for the riders, coaches and volunteers

Panorama!

Youth Ride
This week we tackled Reverse ISO Henry VIII. A select group of young riders and some willing adults enjoyed a 22 mile route taking in Hever Castle (hence the Henry VIII) reference.  I learnt from Christophe that the French don't have cat's eyes, but I'm sure french cats have eyes???

Anyway it was a good ride, nobody crashed, nobody cried.  In fact they were all smiling at the end.

Nico, Hope and Eloise - we never did find  Henry VIII!