Cycle Club Ashwell actively encourages children to enjoy and improve their cycling experience and currently has 60 members in the youth section.
Go-Ride
We are a Go-Ride club which is British Cycling’s Club Development Programme aimed at improving both riders and clubs. Click here to read more about it in 2011.
In 2008, CC Ashwell's Go-Ride programme featured in British Cycling's Go-Ride Club Development magazine. Click here to download a PDF of the article.
Click here to download further information for parents with children attending these Go-Ride sessions.
We keep in close contact with British Cycling in order to take advantage of the latest programmes and ideas on how to improve our riders cycling.
Read 16 years-old Fiona's report about volunteering in this edition of British Cycling's e-zine, The Hub.
Forms
British Cycling Parental Consent Form
CTT Parental Consent Form [Time Trials under-18]
CTC Parental Consent Form [Club rides]
Thursday evening grass track sessions
The Club holds regular grass track cycling sessions and Go-Ride cycling skill lessons on each Thursday evening throughout the lighter Summer months, from May 5.30pm to 7.30pm until the end of September. These popular sessions, attract children from all over the local area. The emphasis is very much on fun, learning and exercise. There is no minimum level of fitness required and bikes are provided for the grass track sessions. No formal kit is needed – although we insist on a good fitting cycling helmet.
When we started in 2008 we clearly met a local need and member numbers grew quickly. Starting with two qualified coaches we now have five qualified coaches at Level 2 and two at Level 3 who are all members of CCA.
The Thursday evening sessions are held on Ashwell's recreation ground along Lucas Lane and are run by qualified British Cycling trained coaches and assistants who have been CRB checked to Enhanced Level.
All sessions are coach led. They define the structure of the sessions but are mindful of the rider’s own goals. They strive to help them achieve their own aspirations. There are three main levels of development from induction to advanced and each progresses through a structured programme. Session coaches adapt the basic requirements of their level to suit those riders within each group. This inclusive approach is central to everything that our club stands for.
We welcome all ages and abilities from 6-16 and seek to make sessions fun as well as a serious learning experience. To be practical we believe that the appropriate starting age is 8-9 years, but if your child is cycling and keen please feel free to talk with us. We recognise that one approach doesn’t suit all and make sure we consider each on their merit.
In the lighter evenings of the summer period we offer an extra road session for the more advanced riders from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. As the evenings draw in we start and finish earlier. You will be advised as the season progresses.
We are developing our own seven acre facility within the village and hope to have this up and running before the end of the summer. We will then have more flexibility on times and number of sessions enabling us to develop different groups at their own speed and availability. Please keep an eye on the forum for all developments and announcements.
Pop along, try us out, see for yourself and get to speak to the parents about how CC Ashwell is helping their kids have fun.
For more details, contact Geoff, email geoff@ccashwell.com
Road Riding
From April we expect to organise road sessions for the more capable riders on Tuesday evenings. We will also run a road session during the light summer evenings on Thursday after Go-Ride for these same riders.
On Saturdays we run a girls ride having found over time that they need a different approach in learning group riding. These take place at 10am from 37 Silver Street, Ashwell.
The Saturday Club Run is an ideal way for many teens [and parents!] to get into cycling. Visit our Club Run page for details.
On Sundays we organise a youth ride for the more advanced riders who are able to sustain an average of 16+mph for 30-40 miles. This is preparatory to their joining a club ride with the adult members.
Racing
Whilst not a pure racing club, we encourage our young riders to take part in appropriate events for their enjoyment and development.
The Club often organises trips for junior and youth events to encourage those that want a taste of competition. The coaches role is to help our riders achieve their goals and select suitable events to suit ability and fitness.
Our grass track specialisation gives the club an advantage over other clubs and we aim to exploit this wherever possible. CC Ashwell also send the Youth down to the Mildenhall event each year. Click here for pictures.
Some of our riders progress onto tarmac track cycling and we are fortunate in having a track reasonably close at the Gosling Stadium in Welwyn. Saturday sessions at the Welwyn tarmac track are organised for anyone who wants to try racing; teaching how to track ride safely and to get acquainted with the track. Contact geoff@ccashwell.com for details.
Closed circuit racing at Hillingdon and Hog-Hill, plus other venues which exclude traffic, are available to experience racing in age categories. Some of our riders already take part in these.
Indoor Velodrome riding at Manchester and Newport are also available to riders who the coaches deem capable.
Here is a list of races and suitable events and venues for season 2011/12 [Excel doc];
Download Youth_events_2011_V15_Sept21_WEB
Training and Fitness
Apart from general riding and instruction at velodromes for accreditation, we offer circuit training in Ashwell School on Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm during the winter from November to March.
These are ideal for all age groups and encourage best practice for developing and maintaining muscle tone and strength.
On Thursdays during winter months we offer roller and turbo sessions at the school also from 7-9pm
On Wednesdays there are cyclo-cross sessions at Knights Templar School in Baldock under floodlights from 7-8.30pm
Downloads
Record-of-Achievement.pdf
Parents-of-Children-Attending-GoRide.pdf
Go-Ride_rules_2011.pdf
Go-Ride_2011_CCA.pdf
