Saturday 14th January - Go Ride

Against all odds we managed to run our Go Ride session as normal on Saturday.  Thanks to Ellen for the write up and James for the pictures:

Sardines in full flow

On Saturday we had the first Go-ride of 2017.  12 riders came along to the session despite the cold and slightly snowy conditions!  The riders started off with riding around the field and doing an off bike warm up including star jumps and burpees. The focus of the session was slow riding so to begin everyone found a partner and had a slow race- a competition where the riders had to see who could get to to the line the slowest without putting their foot down.  We then had quite a few games of sardines and sumo to practice trackstanding.

Toni and I were with Nico, Eloise, Joel, Oliver and Hope and we had to make the circle very small before the riders put their feet down!  After a quick stop for some of the delicious rice crispy cakes that Oliver had brought along the riders practised picking up a baton from the ground.  Everyone improved lots and managed to pick up a baton. 

There was time for a quick competition to see which team could pick up the batons the fastest before some Marymoor crawl races to finish of the session.  Well done to everyone who came, especially Megan as it was her first time

Sunday 8th January - Club Cluster Track Session at Lee Valley Velodrome

Congratulations to Ellen who completed her Young Volunteers workshop during the school holidays.  As well as helping out at Go-Ride Ellen has offered to give me a hand with the blog, so here's what she had to say about the last club cluster session at Lee Valley:

On Sunday, Toni, Hannah and I went up to Lee Valley Velodrome.  The session looked at different skills like taking a hand off the bars and accelerating over the top of the bunch.  Towards the end of the session we got an opportunity to practice using tri bars- we did lumps and bumps as well as a 1km pursuit.  It was my first time using tri bars so i was a bit nervous but I really enjoyed it and was pleased that I got to try them out.  It was a fast session but fun and worth getting up early


Future Dates:
29th January - Novice & Intermediate
12th February - Intermediate & Advanced
26th February - Novice & Intermediate

Full details and how to book on follow the link below:

http://www.bc-regions.co.uk/southeast/index.php/regional-sessions/lee-valley-track-sessions/

January 2017 - Happy New Year

So, it's finally here, 2017 kicks off and as usual there is lots of planning going on at KVK HQ.  The combination of ages, disciplines and family/work commitments makes planning a  schedule that works a real headache.......................but at the end of the day what we all really want to do is ride our bikes, have some fun with the kids and watch them learning to love bike riding in whatever way makes them tick.  So that's what I did the day all our plans went out of the window and we weren't able to start Go-Ride on 7th January. I treated myself to a ride with some of the best bike riders I know.  We met at Toni's house, there was some confusion as our meeting coincided with the arrival of a white stretch limo, the kids thought I'd arranged a treat for them until the neighbours emerged, suited and booted and it became apparent that the car was not for us.

It was a gentle ride, just to spin the legs and test out some recovering lungs after the inevitable end of term lurgies and excessive consumption of chocolate and turkey over the holidays. We set off along the Causeway and out towards Hever.  After a while Toni and Polly took the lead, I sat in and Calvin and Luke talked astrophysics at the back.  After climbing up to The Rock we took a short break to re-fuel and chat, then the girls suggested the boys led out the ride for a while.  After that the ride took on a slightly less relaxed feel; lets just say Calvin and Luke don't have the same smooth pedalling action as the earlier leaders, add to that a close encounter with a deer and a large curb and you should be getting the idea.  We arrived safely back and were met by Heather and Cody, just back from their walk.  A perfect way to start 2017.  Wishing all our riders a fantastic year of bike riding,

Saturday 17th December Pimp My Ride

As usual the KVK had pulled out all the stops to get themselves and their bikes looking super festive for our annual Christmas ride.  We met up at school, an amazing sight; forty riders all resplendent in tinsel and baubles.  This year we had two Santas alongside elves, reindeer, a christmas tree and a snowy star.  Gareth climbed on top of his car to take a photo before we set off along the cycle path to Tonbridge.

 It is no mean feat negotiating the path with it's numberous crossings and side turnings but in true KVK style everyone lent a hand and we made it smoothly all the way down to town with no mishaps.  Once on the traffic free path there was time to let off some steam before heading back through Powder Mills and back to Hildenborough.  Cafe stop was my house, Rog was on hand with the tea, coffee and hot chocolate and there were lots of treats brought along by the riders and their families.  We tried out Jacob's light up Christmas Tree, powered by our club Isla bike on a turbo.  Thanks to everyone who came along to celebrate the end of 2016 at the KVK.  Looking forward to lots more fun in 2017.  I've been sent lots of photos but here are a few to give you a flavour of the ride.

Saturday 10th December - Col de Coldharbour & Youth Ride (To Be A Pilgrim)

Today was an experiment, we decided to run an off-site ride for Go-Riders
as well as a Youth Ride for our older riders.  The day dawned, miserable, damp and grey but this didn't affect the KVK's enthusiasm for bike riding.

We all ended up together at the exit of the bumpy field, ideal for a quick group photo

Our minis at the top of Col de Coldharbour, won't be long before none of the adults can keep up with them.

Betsy and Gareth after a successful ascent of the Col de Coldharbour

 Eighteen young riders met up at West Wood; four of them headed off "To Be A Pilgrim" (they were heading towards the Pilgrim's Way), and I split the remaining fourteen into four groups.  Malcolm and Christophe headed out with Luke, Dan, Eloise and Hope with strict instructions to do at least two laps this week.  Previously, they had 'convinced' Calvin that they were tired after just one and returned to play on the pump track.  Michele and Claire took the youngest riders; Betsy, Franklin, Ivo and Serena helped by Sarah, Gary & Cas.  They met up with Ewan and James in the lane, some early morning puncture repair had delayed them.  Finally, Joel, Joshua, Albert and Oliver rode out with myself, Jez, Gareth, Andrew and Ella.  All my group made it non stop to the top of the Col de Coldharbour.  All went well, and we were just thinking about an extra climb up the Chestnut Walk when Joel got the first of two punctures.  The kids took time out for some snacking and we did a few mini races while the puncture was repaired before setting off again.  When Joel's back tyre deflated for the second time, I sent the group on and launched a van resuce.  On the plus side, Joel was finally convinced it was time to upgrade his bike.  Everyone met back a the pump track, no sign of the Pilgrims though..............so I headed home wondering where they had got to.



Damian texted soon after to let me know all was well but that he'd had a series of punctures that had slowed them down.  Time for some new tyres or better road sweeping by KCC???

Next week is our final session and is our popular Pimp My Bike ride.  Decorate yourself and your bike in festive fashion and join us for a short ride before returning to Coldharbour Lane for hot chocolate and cakes.  Suitable for all our riders, adults riders welcome (and needed for our youngest members).

Sunday 4th December Regional Cyclocross Champs at Cyclopark

Four of our riders took part in the Regional Cyclocross Championships at Cyclopark on Sunday; Toni, Polly, Hope and Oliver.  Toni and Polly have been regularly competing in the London League but for Hope and Oliver it was their first race.

Hope cheering Oliver on while Claire gets a photo!

The course featured some challenging off camber sections together with the usual twists and turns.  There was even a steep bank climb and a sandpit, no time for sand castles this time though.

Toni takes the bronze medal in the South East and East Regional CX Champs

Saturday 3rd December - Go Ride Club Cluster at Cyclopark

Today was the second of the Go Ride Club Cluster sessions at Cyclopark.  Seventeen of our riders signed on and riders were given the choice of a road session or an MTB session.  I headed down to the road circuit with coaches from Wigmore and Woolwich.  Jimmy headed off on the MTB trails.  Thanks to Christophe for the photos.