Youth Riders Continue to Impress

With all the excitement of our new Quick Start Go-Ride last weekend I overlooked to report on the Youth Ride, regular Go-Ride session and Power Pack.

I admit that the Penshurst route is one of my favourites but we hadn't done it for a while and it was a glorious day.  My group set off ahead and left Damian with his group to chase us down.  Perfect pace management meant that we regrouped at  'Top of the World', before a leisurely descent to Penshurst Place and then onwards and upwards past PORC on Grove Road.  We stopped for Jelly Babies at the top before continuing on towards Wellers Town.  We appearred to have lost Hannah and Michele but turned out Hannah had a puncture so we sent the rest of the team back to assist.  Polly provided musical accompaniment and the remaining sweeties were divvied up.  Back on the Causeway the kids demonstrated some very efficient and well ordered group riding and we were back in no time.  16 miles @ 12mph.  Outstanding riding from everyone this week.

Saturday 1st March - Youth Ride, Quick Start and Regular Go Ride

A fantastic first session for the many new faces joining our Go-Ride Quick Start group; a huge turn out of 12 riders made for a lively, fun session.

We were focussing on the correct techniques for mounting and dismounting and as well as moving our weight around on the bike and cycling in the ready position.  It was not long before everyone was showing some real improvement.

Some terrific straight riding saw our riders negotiate the narrow channel of cones with minimal contact even when the gap was little more than 6 inches wide (Kary will be very relieved that her brand new cones survived more or less undamaged!!).

We finished with a game of limbo and a slalom and some great skills were on show with riders getting really low on their bikes – you have set the bar really high (or should that be low?) for future limbos!!      

Very well done everyone – a really impressive session.

Just some brief points to think about:

·         Remember to put your pedal in the “pedal ready” position (at 2 o’clock) before you move off so you can get some power down and the bike rolling.

·         Keep look ahead not at the ground right in front of your wheel; the bike will go where you look.

·         Free-wheel (glide) with pedals level and your weight over the centre of the bike.

If you find you  have a few spare moments, why not get out and practice what we learnt – you will be amazed at the difference it makes.  

Next session:  Saturday 8^th March – sign-on at 1.45 for 2pm start (3pm finish).  Remember to bring a drink and a snack

Go-Ride Racing Saturday 22nd February

All our winners!

Medal winners in the "Unders" category, Luke, Hope & Max

 A great afternoon of racing, helped by the sunshine and a good turnout of riders.  The ground is still waterlogged so we improvised with the course, using the margins of the site as much as possible. Closing the car park and shutting the gate meant we could extend our usual course and include a dead turn, which brought out some pretty good cornering skills.  We combined the results from the TT, mass start, team relay and skills section to come up with our winners in three categories: Unders, Overs and Under Overs.  Gold medalists were Luke, Toni and Sophie. Silver medalists were Hope, Polly and Ellen. Bronze medals went to Max, Calvin and Hannah.  Excellent riding from all our competitors, well done.  Next Go Ride Racing session is March 22nd, don't forget to tell your friends.  Non members welcome to have a go.

Medal Winners in the "Overs" category, Toni, Polly & Calvin

Medal Winners in the "Under Overs" category Sophie, Ellen & Hannah

Herne Hill and Evans Ride It Sportive

On Saturday afternoon we made our first club trip to Herne Hill Velodrome.  This is an outdoor velodrome and the only surviving venue from the 1948 Olympics.  Our coaches Peter and Tony got us fitted out with track bikes (fixed wheel,no brakes) and we were straight into the session.  We learnt that you always start and finish on the fence and at all other times you need to keep pedalling.  After only a couple of laps we were trying out the banking and getting the hang of passing other riders. "Stay" seems a simple command and a welcome change from the "hold your line" that is usually bellowed by roadies.  We progressed onto half lap changes and then rotating in groups before finishing with a couple of races.  A great afternoon of bike riding, which we look forward to doing again in May.  Well done to everyone who took part, you were great!

After an exhausting Saturday at Herne Hill, Toni, Hannah and Polly all dragged their parents out of bed on Sunday morning to take part in the Evans Ride It from Cyclopark.  Both the routes, fun and short turned out to be slightly longer than advertised (17 & 35 miles) so the youngsters racked up 87 miles between them.  Parents did slightly less, Polly's derailleur had a fight with a stick so I ended up walking/gliding her bike back while she rode my bike the rest of the way.  Great riding from all three KVKs. Well done girls you are AMAZING.

Polly, Hannah & Toni taking part in the Evans Ride It from Cyclopark

Sunshine AND cake, what more do you want from a bike ride?

Saturday 8th February - More Awesome Bike Riding from KVK

Cyclopark Fastest Lap Winners
Congratulations to Sarah Allewell from KVG, Toni and Polly who were all presented with their prizes for winning their age categories in the fastest lap competition at Cyclopark last year.(pictures?)

Youth Ride - Underriver & Carters Hill
Intrepid riders Hannah, Calvin, Ellen & Luke headed out on Saturday morning on our easy Underriver loop.  However, they do like a challenge so we took a slight detour up Carters Hill.  As usual they pulled out all the stops and did their best reaching various points non-stop before tackling the hairy descent. Calvin had a chance to put his skills from the puncture repair workshop into practice and everyone displayed amazing strength both mental and physical throughout the ride.  As ever we were treated to a little sleet shower on the way home.  Rider of the week goes to Luke for a great climb (all the way to the top) and a very brave descent.

Go Ride - Balancing & Slow Riding
There was a great turnout for this afternoon's Go Ride session which focussed on balance and slow riding in preparation for our trip to Herne Hill next weekend.

Our intro activity had riders leaning into a wall without putting their foot down before trying the same thing with a partner. This is a tricky skill but it does come with practise and trust in your partner!


We split into groups and worked on slow riding skills, with some riders progressing onto track stands.  We finished off the session with some impressive riding in groups of six through a tight obstacle course.  An activity that required skillful, controlled riding from everyone.  Well done to everyone who took part, great riding.

Next week:  Herne Hill track session 1 - 3pm (session starts at 1.30pm please arrive in good time). 

Saturday 22nd February: Go Ride Racing Stocks Green 12.45pm - 3pm (PLEASE NOTE EARLIER START TIME) Non members are free to join us for this event.

Sunday 3rd February - KVK at Power Pack

Thanks to Damian for sending me this picture, great turnout from the KVK for Power Pack this month.  I hear there were thrills and spills.................but everyone is smiling and I can't see any holes, so can only assume it was a good session.

Saturday 2nd February - Youth Ride & Go Ride

Our Youth Ride explored new territory this morning by heading towards Gover Hill and then taking two different routes to Plaxtol, returning via Ightham Mote.  Both groups set a steady pace of 11.6mph and climbed either 800 or 1200ft.  Everyone rode really well and the extra climbing forced people to access gears they don't usually bother with!  We agreed it was a technically challenging route with lots of uphill right turn junctions, parked cars and buses to contend with as well as the usual floods and fallen branches.  Great riding from everyone and no punctures!

Our Go Ride session built on the work we did last week on moving with our bikes.  We split into two groups to work on  mounting and dismounting.  This gave less experienced riders plenty of time to get to grips with scooting whilst other progressed onto running dismounts and jump ons.  Two mini circuits provided practise areas before our final CX style team relay.  

The heavens opened to provide an authentic winter race feel and excellent riding from everyone made for two exciting races.  Thanks to Paul our new Young Volunteer for the great photos.