Go-Ride Games

Mike Healey

Our post Olympic Go-Ride Games session (free) attracted 76 kids (and 15 parents on bikes). Weather was kind and the kids (and parents - even the one who fell off the woodwork) had a great time.

Thank (your choice of) deity (or none) for having 6 coaches and umpteen volunteers, inc. 6 youth ones + Chris Young, regional Go-Ride coach.

Post Olympic surge - we'll see what comes of it

madtam

Nice one !!

Glad to hear it was a success. Strangely my son has suddenly become mad keen on cycling although it seems to be more associated with competition on Strava rather then TDF or Olympics even if they have a background effect.

karlth

Boy #1 has been to one. Bit of a wobble at the end because in the crush at the end of the handicap race he got forced into the side and came in last, but got over it enough to want to start doing the evening skills training.

DannyDan

I think that what you guys are doing is simply amazing - it is so important for our kids to get the chance to fall in-love with group activities and the great outdoors .

Mike Healey

And as for the post-Olympic bounce? 72 kids on Saturday - bit of a 'mare, but in a nice, encouraging way. Just need about 4/5 more coaches if this keeps up

othello

Mike Healey wrote:

And as for the post-Olympic bounce? 72 kids on Saturday - bit of a 'mare, but in a nice, encouraging way. Just need about 4/5 more coaches if this keeps up

Over 100 kids at our club (Palmer Park Velo) on Saturday, which was a record. Good thing we have had a group of parents doing their British Cycling Level 2 over the past months (me included) so we had enough coaches. But only just!

Mike Healey

othello wrote:

Mike Healey wrote:

And as for the post-Olympic bounce? 72 kids on Saturday - bit of a 'mare, but in a nice, encouraging way. Just need about 4/5 more coaches if this keeps up

Over 100 kids at our club (Palmer Park Velo) on Saturday, which was a record. Good thing we have had a group of parents doing their British Cycling Level 2 over the past months (me included) so we had enough coaches. But only just!

100? Congratulations/Ouch!! We're at the arm twisting (gentle) stage with those parents who've been foolish enough to express an interest - looking for funding at present

othello

Mike Healey wrote:

100? Congratulations/Ouch!! We're at the arm twisting (gentle) stage with those parents who've been foolish enough to express an interest - looking for funding at present

Thanks!

It was becoming obvious to lots of parents that the long standing coaching team were collapsing under the strain and extra help was needed. Lots of us were spending the sessions there and watching anyway, so it seemed a no-brainer. You might need to up the arm pressure a little

The club has funded/part-funded the cost of BC Level 2 in exchange for a written commitment to attend 20 sessions over 2 years as a coach. Which is a fair exchange IMHO. There is (or was pre-olympics) plenty of funding around at a local level for coaching. Will be interesting to see if it gets pulled now.

Good luck and great to here of thriving clubs! I wonder if there needs to be a way to connect and share experiences, perhaps online?

Mike Healey

othello wrote:

Mike Healey wrote:

100? Congratulations/Ouch!! We're at the arm twisting (gentle) stage with those parents who've been foolish enough to express an interest - looking for funding at present

Thanks!

It was becoming obvious to lots of parents that the long standing coaching team were collapsing under the strain and extra help was needed. Lots of us were spending the sessions there and watching anyway, so it seemed a no-brainer. You might need to up the arm pressure a little

The club has funded/part-funded the cost of BC Level 2 in exchange for a written commitment to attend 20 sessions over 2 years as a coach. Which is a fair exchange IMHO. There is (or was pre-olympics) plenty of funding around at a local level for coaching. Will be interesting to see if it gets pulled nowGood luck and great to here of thriving clubs!

We're going to do the same. We've funded one or two coaches in the past without making any form of contract and they've taken the qualification and not put sufficient back in.

Following on the Go-Ride Games we've had a huge amount of interest (aka new members) and in the last couple of weeks we've had 72 and 74 kids respectively. We live in interesting times as the Chinese say - or, be careful what you wish for. Anyway, we've got at least two firm promises and a couple of probables (ish) for coaching.

I wonder if there needs to be a way to connect and share experiences, perhaps online?

I've long thought along those lines as well. I remember reading about Palmer Park Velo back in the day, along with Manindy Flyers and Hillingdon Slipstreamers when I was a beginner coach and thinking that there was a fund of practical coaching knowledge which we could all share - I know I picked Ian Drake's brains when he was still head of sports at his school and they were winning loads of BSCA championships.

Seems to me that a Go-Ride club forum along those lines could be a useful addition to the BC website. Perhaps if we both suggested it?

And how about a swap weekend sometime? The BC conferences are excellent, but we might also benefit from more practical, small group sessions with a handful of clubs?