MCR Accreditation help needed
protoatomic
Posts: 2
Hi all,
Sorry if this is a regular request on the forum but I couldn't see anything similar that would provide the answers I was hoping for.
I've been lurking on this forum for a while but now out of necessity I'm posting in need of some help.
I'm looking to get accredited at Manchester velodrome. I've done a few taster sessions so I know what is involved, at least at the first stage, and now want to go and be assessed to allow me to progress. I've had one assessment which I didn't pass but I'm keen to continue with this as I don't think this one missed hurdle is enough to make me stop. Basically I'm looking to see if anyone else in the Manchester area is hoping to follow the accreditation route and would be interested in joining forces to ensure that we had the required four riders at a taster session. I'm currently doing this on my own so just turning up on the off chance that 3 others will also be on the same taster session is both frustrating and expensive.
I'm happy to work on a basis of a no rider left behind policy where by I'd continue to assist by coming to sessions until you passed or decided that you didn't want to continue. I'm not guaranteeing that I would pass an assessment on my next attempt but I'm keen to approach this in a logical fashion and thought the best way would be to recruit like-minded people. I'm only really available in the evenings but might be able to do some of the morning and lunch sessions if that is an issue. Plus I'm happy to co-ordinate.
I'd hope it'll be a good opportunity to meet some people and aim to achieve a shared goal.
Anyway let me know if you are interested and thanks for reading my rambling request.
Sorry if this is a regular request on the forum but I couldn't see anything similar that would provide the answers I was hoping for.
I've been lurking on this forum for a while but now out of necessity I'm posting in need of some help.
I'm looking to get accredited at Manchester velodrome. I've done a few taster sessions so I know what is involved, at least at the first stage, and now want to go and be assessed to allow me to progress. I've had one assessment which I didn't pass but I'm keen to continue with this as I don't think this one missed hurdle is enough to make me stop. Basically I'm looking to see if anyone else in the Manchester area is hoping to follow the accreditation route and would be interested in joining forces to ensure that we had the required four riders at a taster session. I'm currently doing this on my own so just turning up on the off chance that 3 others will also be on the same taster session is both frustrating and expensive.
I'm happy to work on a basis of a no rider left behind policy where by I'd continue to assist by coming to sessions until you passed or decided that you didn't want to continue. I'm not guaranteeing that I would pass an assessment on my next attempt but I'm keen to approach this in a logical fashion and thought the best way would be to recruit like-minded people. I'm only really available in the evenings but might be able to do some of the morning and lunch sessions if that is an issue. Plus I'm happy to co-ordinate.
I'd hope it'll be a good opportunity to meet some people and aim to achieve a shared goal.
Anyway let me know if you are interested and thanks for reading my rambling request.
0
Posts
It’s very hard to show your safe to ride in a group when the group itself is not safe and the majority are riding unexpectedly (i.e. coming off line for no reason, slowing right down for no reason). I’m a 2nd Cat roadie with two seasons of racing, I’m able to enter the Track league because that’s run under british cycling regulations – but I want to gain experience before I jump in to racing for everyone else’s safety as well as building my own confidence. Instead of being supported in this, I’m paying £10+ for a 1hour session to do 20mins of riding at 12mph where the instructors spend the other 40mins explaining through and off and how to go around cones.
One thing I’m not clear on is whether I have to do an induction session and then an accreditation session, these are only held once a month so really it’s going to take me at least another 2-3months assuming there is enough space for me on the session, so it could end up taking me 6months or a year! So just be aware of that, it’s going to take you a long time.
There should be a separate process for those holding a racing license with history of riding, full on, race, group events.
Rant Over.
It's a relatively simple process.
Taster >> Taster Improver >> Skills >> Induction.
Blue, Pink and Green slips.
It's very very busy at the moment, viva la Olympics. You can attend Fri night track league without accreditation, anyone with a racing license can rock up. I have BC Gold + Racing License, but I don't race at the moment. So, technically, I could rock up on Friday and race if I wanted to. You'll be grateful of the skills you learn and the SQTs you can eventually go on to experience a good 2 hours training following your 'going around cones'. Just stick at it. It should take <6 months. There's no fast track. If you can't crack it yet, you can't. It's as simple as that.
If you lack skills, especially confidence to cope with the less experienced riders then I have no doubts why they are not letting people through. From my experience the coaches take note of everything, every rider, every movement etc, so I presume they know what they are doing.
Important note: if you don't understand something or what you should do in certain situation then ask coaches before going up the track. It's the biggest mistake if you don't listen well enough to instructions or simply do not understand them and keep quiet and then go up and hope that you will sort everything out while going. Sometimes it's not that simple and as I said, coaches see you and they will see that you could be confused. Therefore, not able to ride confidently around the track.
On the taster improver sessions, riders turn up that cant ride in a group. They aren't safe to be there, it's not the coaches fault but the process needs updating because its based around the fact that most riders turning up will have experience in a group through club/group rides elsewhere.. But the whole 'learning from club rides' is being lost and that is affecting the Road Race scene as well. If a rider clearly doesn't have the basic group skills they should be referred to a different session off track, like a day workshop on a close track out on the road, because they need to learn how to ride in a group first before they can learn to ride on the track. That will open it up for people that can already ride in a group safely to get on their way.
I really appreciate the idea behind the accreditation process, I totally agree with making sure people are safe before you let them cause trouble in the SQTs, but I think it needs to adapt to the change in who is actually trying to get on the track because its not the same audience as it was before.
I've ridden quite a few SQT but I much prefer some taster sessions where I know who is going to ride etc and the proper beginners usually don't interrupt our training, whereas on the SQTs there are too many riders especially at this time of a year, who haven't ridden since last winter and as I said before they don't know what's going on therefore making it not the safest place to be.
For me the track is a tool I'm going to use to help me on the road, so I'm not using it with the idea of being the next track superstar because it doesn't suite my abilities (that's why I want to use it - to work on my weaknesses). I have identified the track as something that I want to do, so I know I will get accredited because I don't give up. But I have seen a lot of people that have tried to get along with the track (3/2/1/elite roadies) and they just found the accreditation process too obstructive.. IMO that is a shame for the track because it's losing riders that can bring quality (in terms of level of fitness) and their experience to sessions, making the whole environment more competitive which would improve the level for everyone involved, that's not to say it isn't competitive already.. Just having more people at a high level means the basic level is pushed up.
I'd just say to anyone thinking about getting accredited, the process looks easy/straight forward on paper but it can be quite drawn out with sessions being over subscribed, the Skills and Induction session are one month apart, it will take at least two months then account for possible interruptions for restrictions on public access to the track (i.e. competitions). But I guess if you really want it, you're prepared to wait.
Yes, that what we do. And for example in 1hr taster session both of us can ride about 43kms (and improving). What I usually do is full gas for 1hr with or without sprints in between, depends on the amount of people etc as sometimes if there are lots of beginners I'm not allowed. Whereas on the SQT I would do 50-60 kms in 2hrs. The breaks between the exercises are too long and there are usually max 3-4 people who are competitive in scratch races and sprints. So, I agree, that there should something have to be done to attract more competitive riders.
As I see it they only want you to gain accreditation to ride the SQT's because they don't want unsafe riders on there mixing with academy guys (who do attend these sessions at times). If it's racing you're after and you're confident on the track then sign up for the regional league on a Friday where accreditation isn't needed, I generally find that this is actually safer because everyone is really paying attention to what everyone else is doing, but if you're not then you may as well stick out riding with rookies until you're happy with what you're doing. It's not fair to bully the newbies though, how would you feel trying to pass your driving test on roads full of other learners at a 42 degree tilt?!