Saturday 23rd February - Go Ride Kingdom

It was great to be back at Kingdom.  It was very misty though, misty enough to make it onto the risk assessment!

We kicked off with a skills warm up on the Top Loop, which included a gate slalom section designed to get riders out of their saddles and using their body weight to glide through the course.  After that we split into two, Gavin and Gary headed over to the Cafe Loop and we stayed put, working on mounts/dismounts.
  

Having radio communication between the coaches makes it much easier to run the season, and facilitates dynamic planning!  Both groups headed down to the Natural Velodrome for re-fuelling, before cracking on with a Trains and Stations drill to get some efforts in.  An easy spin up Heart Break Hill left us just enough time for a team bib relay, which is always a popular end to the session.

Next week (Saturday March 2nd) we are at Cyclopark for Club Cluster.

Sunday 10th February 2019 - London League Cyclocross Team Champs - Ardingly

It's been a brilliant cross season for our riders.  They've raced consistently well throughout the winter and it's been a pleasure seeing them grow and progress as bike riders.  As well as the London League our younger riders have combined racing with some family trips to other parts of the country.  Hope has also tested out a few National Trophy courses for us.  So it was a fitting end to the season that we were able to field one full youth KVK team (Betsy & The Boys), Hope guested with Velo 4t Cyclopark, Gary, Jez & Malcolm made up the KVK Dads (Gareth was struck down by flu :-() and I joined the KVG team.

The Team! Ivo, Hope, Betsy, Albert & Oliver

The course was a really fun and interesting mix of surfaces; tarmac for the start and mid race sprint section, sand for ultimate handling challenge, rubber chips and of course some mud (this is cyclocross).  Loose tape also played a major part of the mud section, but I'm proud to say I didn't say any KVKs with it wound round their rear mech.

Betsy primed on the start line

Oliver in the sand, blurred by speed!

Ivo celebrating his Overall Series Placing: 3rd Boy U10's

Overall series standings from the KVK were impressive! Full results can be found HERE

U10 Boys - Ivo 3rd Overall
U12 Boys - Albert 6th & Oliver 11th Overall
U10 Girls - Betsy 4th Overall
Youth B Girls - Hope 6th Overall

The series is very generously sponsored by Kinesis; here's a few nice rider pics from them.

Cyclocross racing is very accessible and it's not uncommon to see whole families racing throughout the day.  The KVK Dads stepped up to the mark.  They all survived their first race and put in a good performance, enthusiastically cheered on by the kids!  I'm pretty sure they will be back, as well as being accessible it's addictive!

Joined by the Kent Velo Girls and Kent Velo Boys.  Kent Velo Dads Jez, Gary and Malcolm with Ivo, Oliver and Hope (Albert and Betsy had to leave).

Saturday 9th February - Penshurst Ride Out

I checked up on the definition of both an aquathon and a duathlon neither of which accurately describe today's ride, which involved bike riding, bike swimming, wading, splashing and wind biking.  I wasn't actually there but Michele sent me some photos.  I swear kids never grow out of a fascination with puddles!  It will probably take a week to dry out but I'm sure it was worth it judging by the smiles.

Bridge shot: Harry, Mathias, Reuben, Oliver and Ella

Back at base, sneak preview of laundry challenge which follows this ride!