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RACING ACADEMY

The Academy riders are our most experienced riders and are involved in all forms of cycle racing. We have riders racing on closed road circuits such as Crystal Palace and Hillingdon, on the Track at Herne Hill velodrome and in London League Cyclo-cross.

The Academy is managed by experienced coach Peter Fordham, backed up by coaches Dave Bradshaw and Nick Woolven.

Youngsters who are interested in joining this group should contact the Academy Manager

• Peter Fordham
• Telephone - 020 8641 2859


• Email - peter.fordham@suttoncycling.co.uk

The programme of rides is subject to the training and racing requirements of the members of the Academy and as such is difficult to programme too far in advance. Please check the 'What's On' link to find out what is happening this week.

Kids Minor Classics Cyclosportifs

Peter Fordham, our Club Chairman and organiser, challenges young riders aged 12 to 16 to try our Kids' Minor Classic Cyclosportive, and help make history. We believe it is the first ever cyclosportive specially designed for young people - unaccompanied adults are not allowed!

Sunday April 10th. 2011

Start and finish Nonsuch Park, Cheam, Surrey SM3 8AL, start from 9 a.m.

Peter's aim is for youngsters to enjoy a road ride in the company of an adult, and experience some of the pleasures adults receive from cycling. He has planned a route which uses quiet country roads and lanes and is well signposted, being partly along the Surrey Cycleway.

The 'Minor Classic' is about 47 miles and is an easier ride (than the cancelled 'Classic'*) for those who may not be so strong or ambitious. Descends the North Downs and wanders along the Surrey Cycleway to Henfold Lake tea rooms (control point). Return climbs Box Hill.

As the event is designed for young people, adults will not be allowed to ride by themselves. Any adult must have one or two riders 12-16 years old for whom they will accept responsibility. The entry forms have been designed to ensure parental consent and acceptance of responsibility by the 'responsible adult'. There will be no event timing as there is intended to be a stop at the control point and we don't want the event to be a race. Riders may record their own times if they wish.

Closing date 26th March

Cheques payable to Sutton Cycling Club.

Click Here to download the entry form and return to Organiser, Peter Fordham with entry fee.

Peter Fordham, 32 Gillian Park Rd, Sutton, Surrey, SM3 9 JT

Click Here to download the event flyer.

Additional information

• Carparks at Cheam Gate, Ewell Road or near Nonsuch Mansion.
• Limited changing facilities.
• No electronic mapping. Maps will be provided and route will be marked.
• Riders will receive a voucher which can be exchanged for refreshments at the Control Point.
• No timing.
• Charity: John Ibbotson Fund and one other to be determined.

Any questions contact Peter Fordham at peter.fordham@suttoncycling.co.uk

EARLY SEASON ROAD RACING

Sort out your gears.

Youth and Junior riders must ride restricted gears in competition, so check that yours are correct for your 2010 racing category. If you don't and they're not correct you could be disqualified. You should ride these restrictions all the time, as it helps you to develop leg speed - and it's no good if you can't keep up with other competitors in races because you don't ride the correct gears in training. Details of Youth and Junior gear restrictions are set out below.

Closed Road Circuits.

Youth riders you can only ride on closed road circuits so your options are limited, largely Crystal Palace, Hillingdon Cycle Circuit and the new Redbridge Cycle Circuit.

There are some circuit events organised by the Surrey League, check on Surrey Cycle Racing League

Preparation.

Your preparation for the summer should have already started. The foundation that you put down in the next three months will determine how good your season will be. You cannot start training in March / Aprill!!

You should be keeping a diary already of the training you're doing, how you feel etc.

For those who go training with Peter Fordahm, meet at at the bus shelter at Banstead crossroads at 9:00am on Sunday mornings (road rides). If it's frosty, ring Peter on his mobile 07778 192739 to see whether we're going out on MTBs, in which case we leave at 9:30am.

Off-road training at Sutton Arena and turbo-training at 1st Wallington Scout Hall will continue this term - Arena restarts Wednesday 13th January and turbo Thursday 28th January 2010.

Remember, form and performances early season are not critical. If you do well that's OK, but think of early season races as training. The big events (championships) are in the summer, not spring, and it's those you should be looking to win.

Also remember early season you may need to wear more clothes to race than you will in the summer, just because you're racing doesn't mean you have to wear shorts and/or short sleeve racing vests.

The Leagues are Entry on the Line (EOL), that is, on the day of the race, but for other races it is usually cheaper to enter in advance - closing dates are 3/4 weeks before in the case of major events. For championships there is normally no EOL.

If your child is interested, please speak to his/her coach and we can make sure they are properly prepared, both as regards the cycling and the paperwork:

YOUTH GEAR RESTRICTIONS FOR 2010

Changes to Youth Gear restrictions for 2010, as highlighted in grey in the extract from the 2010 Handbook given below.

3.3.1 In all road events (other than events promoted in accordance with T.R. 7.12) juniors shall be restricted to a maximum gear such that the distance covered per crank revolution is 7.93 metres. The gear restriction shall not apply to seniors.

3.3.2 In all events other than under the provisions of 3.3.3 below, Youth category riders shall be restricted to maximum gears as shown in the following table.

YOUTH CATEGORY GEAR RESTRICTIONS

3.3.3 For track and roller racing events where a Youth A, B or C rider has received dispensation from BCHQ to compete against riders of an older category, then that rider shall be restricted in gearing to that of the older category.

The gear charts for achieving these restrictions are on the BC website: - Download Gear restrictions Document

General Information.

We can also advise on bike frame size, bike fit, and positioning. Contact us for more details.