Saturday 26th May - Go Ride at Stocks Green

The combination of the school holidays and the summer term led me to believe we'd be low on numbers today; eighteen riders signed on, so low by recent standards but a lovely number to work with, including a few new starters.

If the summer term means one thing it means the opportunity to try out some track style riding and racing.  After some clock style sprints on the track to get everyone warmed up, we split into two groups and headed off to our own respective grass tracks.  Working on the grass is a great introduction to the discipline of track riding but with less of the risks.  Observation and awareness of other riders are key skills to master for track riding along with following other riders and moving around in a group and on the track.  We had plenty of time to practise this before moving onto some racing.

Ella and Charlie go head to head in the last lap of The Devil.  

The Elimination race or 'Devil' as it's commonly known requires riders to use their skill and judgement to ensure they are not last across the line.  We opted to eliminate one rider every other lap, down to the final two riders, who then sprinted for the line.  Charlie beat Ella on the final lap to take the win for Damian's group.

Finally we ran an Italian Pursuit race.  This time two teams ride against each other, starting on opposite sides of the track.  Riders work together in their team, peeling off after each lap until one rider is left from each team.

It wa great to see everyone enjoying the sunshine and some fun racing.  Well done to all our riders who worked hard on their skills and put them to good use on the race track.

Next Week our riders are invited to the Club Cluster at Cyclopark.  We'll be back at Stocks Green on 9th June.

Sunday 20th May - Racing at Betteshanger

It was great to get this photo from Gary; the Thwaites headed down to Betteshanger Country Park, the home of Thanet RC for some typically friendly and well organised racing from our friends there.

Sounds like Ivo put some great strategies into action; biding his time and making a break for it on the last lap.  Well done Ivo.

Gary can also recommend Fish & Chips in nearby Sandwich, if you are looking for the full seaside experience.  Maybe some our riders will try that out on 9th June when Thanet host the South East Regional Road Race Champs on the circuit.

Top step on the podium for Ivo and a nice cap and a bag of Haribo, life doesn't get much better than that!

Saturday 19th May - Bedgebury Boars - Racing in the Forest

We had a good turnout from the KVK for the first of the Bedgebury Boars Races this year; twelve young riders and three adults.

It was great to see several of our newer members racing, some of them for the first time.

Despite the fact that it is really very relaxed, this is a good introduction to the formality of racing, with a start pen, Commissaire briefing and of course a lap board, bell and finish flag.  Newcomers to bike racing are often surprised that riders don't know how many laps the race will be until some time during the race; each age category is allowed to race for a certain length of time, so the Commissaire times the inital laps and then calculates when to put the lap board out.  With one lap to go the bell is rung for every rider who crosses the line.  When the race leader crosses the finish line, the chequered flag is displayed, every rider finishes the next time they cross the line, regardless of how many laps they have completed.

Alice and Iris in the U8s start pen

U10's start pen: Oliver, Bronnie, Finlay, William, Isaac, Thomas & Ivo

We had our biggest turnout in the U10's with seven riders starting.  Unfortunately Ivo took one of the corners a little bit too quickly and ended up on the floor and wasn't able to finish.  Fortunately he didn't sustain any serious injuries.  Oliver was the first KVK rider to cross the finish line, followed by Bronnie, Finlay, William, Isaac and Thomas.  Next up was the U12's race. This runs for 20 minutes, the field included some pretty serious riders too, several of whom regularly race at regional level. First back for the KVK was Harry followed by Reuben and Mathias.

The final race of the morning was for the Juniors and Adults Jez, Gary and me all lined up at the start.  It was good fun and much drier than the last time I raced it.  Our first rider across the line was Jez, followed closely by me and Gary.  Time for a lie down now :-)

Well done to all the riders on some great racing,  thanks to all the parents who brought their youngsters along and of course the volunteers from Bedgebury Boars for another enjoyable morning racing in the forest.

Scroll down for a few more pictures and a link to the full results.

U12's start pen

U12's team Mathias, Harry & Reuben

U10s team photo (minus Isaac)

U8's team (plus Isaac!)

U12's start

Thomas and Alfie in the U10's

Adult Team: Jez, Kary & Gary (+Oliver & Ivo)

Full Results HERE

Spring In The Park at Cyclopark 2018 - Rounds 1-4

2018 Spring In The Park Race Team

U8's - Betsy 

U10's - Albert, Ivo, Oliver, Thomas, Lucy, Ella

U12's - 

U14's - Hope & Eloise

U16's - Ellen & Polly


Round 1 - 27th April 2018

Not quite the beautiful sunny evening that we all dreamed off, but nevertheless it didn't rain which is always a positive, especially on your first circuit race of the season.  An impressive ten KVK riders signed on for this first round.  Together with our support team plus myself and Luke on transponders there was a good show of KVK colours on show.

Follow the series on Facebook HERE

Riders and Results: Betsy 1st, Ivo 3rd, Albert 6th, Lucy 3rd, Oliver 8th, Thomas 9th, Hope 2nd, Eloise 4th, Polly 4th, Ellen 6th

It was great to see everyone consolidating their winter riding into solid race performances. Everyone enjoyed their racing and went away with ideas about what to work on next week. 

Round 2 - 4th May 2018

After a scorching day at school, it was good to see another ten strong team this evening, almost the same riders, Thomas was away, but Ella was riding for the first time.  Finish positions on the night vary week to week and are influenced by a variety of factors, the rider's best performance is not always reflected in their finishing position.  The thing I noticed most this week was how most of the riders managed to stay in a bunch or a group of riders until the closing stages of the race, this is an exhilerating experience, and probably the single biggest thing that keeps riders racing!

Riders and Results: Betsy 1st, Ivo 3rd, Albert 5th, Lucy 3rd, Oliver 9th, Ella 6th, Hope 3rd, Eloise 8th, Polly 2nd, Ellen 3rd



Round 3 - 11th May 2018
A slightly reduced team this week, but still a good showing of eight riders.  With a different field of riders each week, absolute finishing positions don't tell the whole story; it's very unusual for all our riders to have a good week at the same time.  This week Lucy, Eloise and Ellen were on fire, Ella and Oliver put in good performances, Hope was tired, Ivo sprinted a lap too early and Polly got very lucky.  All part of the rich tapestry that is bike racing!  See you next week folks ;-)

Riders and Results: Ivo 4th, Lucy 2nd, Oliver 9th, Ella 7th, Eloise 6th, Hope 7th Polly 2nd, Ellen 4th

Round 4 Friday 18th May

Riders and Results: Betsy 1st, Lucy 3rd, Ella 6th, Ivo 3rd, Albert 4th, Oliver 7th, Thomas 8th, Hope 5th, Eloise 7th, Polly 3rd, Ellen 6th

Saturday 12th May - Summer's Here Go Ride Racing

Go Ride racing is always fun and seems to be enjoyed by the kids, thanks to Michele's unerring enthusiasm to volunteer Calvin, I arrived at Stocks Green to a finished course, all taped and staked even though it was barely 8.30am.

Having not really had much chance to use the grass so far this year, we opted for a Cross Country course rather than track style racing; hopefully we can squeeze this in later in the term.

Super Minis Mass Start

As riders arrived and signed on, they were able to get a few practise laps in on an extensive course which included a spiral on the grass and an extension for the the older riders.  We kicked off the racing with a one lap TT; technical issues meant we had to revert to manual timing, but it worked out with the help of some last minute volunteers.

Our Youngest Rider of the day - Euan

Moving swiftly on, our four age categories Super Minis, Minis, Juniors and Youths all took part in a mass start race over several laps before moving onto some Slow Races and finally straight line sprints on the grass. Line judging for these last two events proved particularly challenging but this time, technology came to the rescue with Andrew providing some finish line photography for the sprint heats.

With the perfect number of riders (24 in all) results were quickly done and we were onto the podium ceremonies.  Hope did the honours presenting the medals to the riders ably assisted by Hannah.  A special day for the club as another one of our keenest riders officially graduates from Go Ride Racing.

Minis battling it out in the spiral

Juniors Mass Start

Youth Mass Start

Minis Sprints

Super Minis Sprints

Super Mini Girls 

Super Mini Boys

Mini Girls

Mini Boys

Junior Girls

Junior Boys (A)

Junior Boys (B)

Youth Boys