Our first day back this year and a great excuse to have lots of Easter fun. Everyone on our Go Ride session had decorated their bike helmets with bunny ears or chicks and we even had a life sized rabbit on the coaching team!
Go Ride 9.30am - 10.30am
We started the session with some one handed riding including air high fives and some Simon Says. Meanwhile our Easter Bunnies had been busy distributing chocolate eggs, so part of our endurance circuit included a dismount/egg collection zone. Riders pocketed their eggs and returned to base to pop them in their collecting baskets. Finally the bunnies invited all the riders to stop and retrieve all the remaining eggs, so every last one was picked up!
Next up, we took a break from the bikes and set up some egg and spoon races. Amazingly this former sports day favourite was a new phenomenon to many of our youngest riders. They took to it very quickly though and showed great skill running towards the finish line without dropping their eggs.
Finally, we split the riders into two groups and challenged them to "feed the rabbit". Each rider had to take a carrot from their bucket, ride towards the giant rabbit and throw it at the whole in the rabbit's tummy. After a few technical issues, coaches Michele and Chris ended up supported the rabbit and found themselves in the firing line more than once. There was much laughter and enthusiasm for launching carrots at the rabbit/Chris/Michele. Fortunately we ran out of time (and carrots) before any serious injuries where sustained, this game definitely got the thumbs up from the kids!
Kent Velo Youth 10.45am - 12pm
Continuing the rabbit theme, our youth riders started the session by attempting to bunny hop their bikes. We even has some new wooden hurdles to practise with. They made a good attempt at this tricky skill and their were definitely some gaps between rubber and tarmac, clearing the hurdles proved more difficult but also gives us a target to work towards.
Once again, the Easter Bunny had visited with chocolate eggs, so riders collected them up as they completed their endurance block.
This time our egg and spoon races took place on the bike; their was a distinct split in skill level so we ended up with two heats. Alice finally took the overall win with exceptional balance and skill.
After scaring the coaches with stories of Feed the Rabbit from Session 1, Norman took measures to protect the coaches! It did get a bit physical but on balance a good time was had by all. The Easter props are all back in the shed now and we look forward to next year.
