Weekend 27th & 28th October 2018

Just a couple of things going on this weekend:

• Off site ride from Hayesden Country Park
• London League Cyclocross - Round 7 Preston Park

A real chilly start to the weekend but that didn't put our toughest riders off!  Zach, Jess, Isaac, Alfie, Leon, Oliver, Ivo and Harry were all ready and waiting when I arrived at Hayesden.  We quickly split into groups and set off in various directions, covering various distances and encountering various challenges. Great day for a bike ride, it would have been so easy to stay indoors if you'd checked the weather forecast!

Michele's group at Tonbridge Park

Four miles later, back at Hayesden Park - not sure who says kids don't like to play???

Oliver, Alfie and Leon outside Christophe's house ;-)

Good to see Alfie helping out with the puncture repair!

London League Cyclocross Round 7 - Preston Park

A few pics to get started, details to follow!

The "Green Demon" AKA Ivo

Oliver with his wingman in the background!

Watch out Tulsi, if Ivo spots the colour of those crisps.........

Weekend 20th & 21st October

Just a couple of things going on this weekend:

• Go Ride at Stocks Green
• London League Cyclocross at Lingfield Cross Country Course

Go Ride at Stocks Green

This week we focussed on Slow Riding.  After a skills warm up, we played a game of Whistle Stop; riders have to stop on a whistle and wait for the double whistle to sound before setting off again.  If they put a foot down it's instant elimination!  We used this game and split the riders into groups.  Each group headed off with a coach for some intensive coaching and practise at slow riding.  We brought everyone back together at the end for a 15 minute endurance block, this time it was all out fast riding . :-)

Great to see riders demonstrating the determination needed to master and improve on essential bike handling skills, keep up the good work everyone!

Riders concentrating hard for Sardines

Jez's group attempting the Batons and Bases Challenge

London League Cyclocross Round 6 - Lingfield

It was a beautiful sunny morning as as Polly was home and wanted to race I got a chance to see the KVK (though not in action, I arrived too late for that).  I got the impression it had been a tough course, not so much because it was technical but because all those horses make the ground quite bumpy!  Our two youngest riders looked happy to be playing in the sunshine, riding their bikes, sliding down banks and eating chips.  Hope's race had not gone quite to plan, her excellent cornering skills were not quite matched by all the riders and she ended up succumbing to an unscheduled dismount.  Polly started well, but faded quite dramatically after three laps, she did manage to stay upright though and managed a short sprint to avoid being overtaken on the home straight.

Results (Age Cat & Gender): U10's Ivo 2nd (and fastest lap), U12's Oliver 10th in a very strong field (and a bumpy one :-)), Youth B Hope 4th, Junior Polly 2nd.

This week's podium: the top of a grassy bank! Ivo placed 2nd

Weekend of 13th/14th October

Just three things going on for our riders this weekend:

• Go Ride at Kingdom - Penshurst
• Club Cluster - Lee Valley Velodrome
• London League Cyclocross

Go Ride at Kingdom - Penshurst

Twenty five riders signed on this morning and made it down to 'The Natural Velodrome', where we started our session.  Jez led the session with Gary, Andrew and Michele assisting, no Young Volunteers this morning.  I took on a welfare and general duties role, no first aid required and just one puncture to sort.  Johnny stepped in to lend a hand with a mechanical for a young rider who'd arrived on spec.

Nice pedal position from Fin :-)

We used 'Heart Break Hill' to give the riders practise and using and choosing the right gears for sustained climbing, the return route also provides the opportunity to hone cornering technique; still some very mixed outcomes on that front!  Moving onto the slightly flatter section and including a couple of slalom zones, meant the riders had to focus on control and steering while going up and downhill.  The rough surface provides some challenges too and forces the riders to think more carefully about what's under their tyres.  By the time we made it up to the 'Start Loop' everyone needed to refuel; choc chip cookies on hand this week!

Getting ready for Heart Break Hill

The demon dismount zone: rough ground up hill!

Smiling, it's down hill!

Whilst the riders were working on mounting and dismounting with the coaches, a couple of parents helped out setting up our final course; Start Loop + Cafe Loop.  We were pleased to see that Miles had 'tweaked' the car park so that the course is now traffic free and our gap in the fence was unimpeded (thanks Miles ;-)).  I led the riders out for a sighting lap/rolling start, before pulling off and leaving the riders to race for two laps.

It was great to see all our riders enjoying the race, many of them would have happily raced again, but sadly we'd run out of time.  Another great session enjoyed by all the riders and coaches.  Next week we'll be back at Stocks Green, our next session at Kingdom is October 27th.

Race leader, Harry.....

Indominitable spirit, Fraser........

Girls race leader Ella, chased by Zara

It was great to see all our riders enjoying the race, many of them would have happily raced again, but sadly we'd run out of time.  Another great session enjoyed by all the riders and coaches.  Next week we'll be back at Stocks Green, our next session at Kingdom is October 27th.

Lee Valley Velodrome - Club Cluster

Harry, Hope and Eloise all got up VERY early just for the thrill of riding at London.  I also got to help out on the coaching front with our friend Terry from Woolwich.  I didn't get a team photo though :-(

East Kent Cyclocross

Our team today were Albert, Ivo and Gareth.  Thanks to Gary for the photos.  Good results; well done to Ivo for working his way back up the field after an early unscheduled dismount. Well done to Albert for beating one of his regular rivals :-). Good to see Gareth flying the flag too.  Research says that although Olympic athletes inspire our youngsters, parents and relatives who participate in sport massively influence their youngsters own participation.  

Ivo 2nd in the U10's

Albert - 2nd in the U12's

Gareth - 14th/35 riders

Weekend of 6th/7th October

Another busy weekend for our riders who've been taking part in coaching sessions and racing all over the place!

I'll post updates from all the sessions as I get them.

• Go Ride at Stocks Green School - Kary, Damian, Michele, Calvin, Toni & Luke
• Club Cluster at Cyclopark - Andrew & Gary
• London League Cyclocross at Herne Hill 
• National Trophy Cyclocross, Derby - Malcolm

Go Ride at Stocks Green

A rather grey morning and our first distinctly chilly session of the term.  Sixteen riders signed on and the focus of our session was cornering.  We kicked off with a group warm up on the playground. I call this drill Clock Sprints, but no one else has ever heard of it, so I must have made the name up at some time!  The riders are split into two groups and given a number. One rider from each group sets the pace for their riders and their job is to keep their groups half a lap apart.  Lucy and Harry took this role on.  On the whistle one or more riders from each group (based on the number called) have to get to the front of their group and join the back of the other group.

Lucy's setting a good pace for her group and keeping them all under control!

On the face of it, the drill itself looks quite simple, but there are lots of skills going into making it run so smoothly; excellent controlled group riding, smooth riding, changing pace and moving through a group.  It also takes a lot of concentration, especially in a group of riders mixed by age and experience.  In true KVK style they made a great job of it.

After our warm up we split into two groups and worked on pin end turns. Michele, Claire and I had fun challenging our riders to make their tight turns without overshooting the cones and encouraging them to go much faster in the straights.  We also ran some Australian Pursuit heats on the course which ended in a few minor spills as the grass got increasingly slippery!

Back on the playground, we switched to carving turns.  We practised and practised until everyone could get through the five gates we'd set up with their pedals in the correct position.  After so much hard work, it was time for some fun, so we ended with some swimming pool style relays on the grass.

End of session photo from Group 1 on the tyres

Next week Saturday 13th October we are Kingdom, Penshurst for Go Ride.

Club Cluster - Cyclopark

10 KVK’s signed on for the BC club cluster at Cyclopark on Saturday. With road or cyclocross sessions available, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and thankfully the rain held off until the end of the session. Thanks to Jimmy and the other coaches on the day.  The next club cluster that we will be taking part in is on Saturday 2nd December.

London League Cyclocross - Herne Hill

A beautiful morning at Herne Hill Velodrome welcomed the competitors for round 5 of the London and South East Cyclocross League. 

With Hope at the nationals in Derby and league regular Oliver having a week off, the KVK team consisted of Lucy and Albert in the U12’s and Betsy and Ivo in the U10’s. 

After a coached lap lead by Luke from British Cycling, the races began starting with the U10’s. A good performance by all the team, with some tough close racing at this wonderful historic venue. 

Chapeau also to Lucy’s dad Johnny for not only supporting but also racing.

Happy and relaxed - Betsy and Ivo chatting in the front row of the U10's

National Trophy Cyclocross - Derby

Thanks to Claire for the race report from Derby: 

Last weekend, Hope was very excited to be going to her first National Series Cyclocross race which was being held in Derby. There was a strong field of 44 U14 riders starting the race. It was a bright but frosty morning, a big improvement from the rain of the previous day but the ground remained damp to give some fast but tricky conditions. It was a bit sketchy in places. The technical course included some bridges to provide sharp inclines as well as steps, hurdles and challenging sharp bends. It was a step up from other races and so was the level of kit being stored in the pit area. There was a special area for people to use their diesel powered jet washers and there was a line of spare bikes each much fancier than Hope's one and only. This was a steep learning curve for Malcolm as much as Hope!

Hope took it cautiously, feeling unsure of the slippery conditions having fallen on the practice lap. She picked up a bit as she went along and managed to finish without being lapped by the leaders. Her finishing position was 32nd which she was pleased with but she is keen to improve in the next race in November. She definitely enjoyed the experience. 


Hope enjoyed seeing so many other crazy cross people, including the Junior Men's world champion resplendent in his rainbow jersey. She saw him again at training on Tuesday night, still wearing his lovely striped shirt. Now, how does his mum keep that clean with so much of it being white??