Club
Introduction
Affiliated to :
BC. BSCA. RTLeague. RTTC.
Palmer Park Velo ~ Reading East
We are a unique club operating within the West Thames area,
which caters for all children between the ages of 4 and
18, (Novice Seniors also welcome) even if they are already in a Senior Cycling club.
The riders vary in ability from beginners right up
to National and even International Standards.
We were the first club in the UK to become BCF IMPROVE
Accredited.
We are a GO-RIDE club with a child welfare officer. All
officials and helpers undergo a compulsory Police record check.
We also have Club Mark Status. This ensures that we have all
the necessary criteria in place which conforms to the requirements of
British Cycling.
Ordinary Cycling clubs don't cater for the young children, this
is why our club has been formed
There are two
types of training sessions weekly every Saturday morning. Fixed wheel 09:00 ~
10:45. Free wheel 11:00 ~ 12:45. (Cost per session £2.50 Club members and
£3.50 non members).
A skills award scheme
to start from March 2005. A series of cycling tasks for all levels. The riders
will be tested at approx 6 week intervals for Bronze, Silver, Gold and
Platinum awards
We
hold a Saturday Race Series ( 8 throughout the year) where the riders are
grouped in ability rather than age.
Also
this year is our first Team events, where 4 teams compete at various things
during the year. They gain rewards for helping others, trying hard, good
behaviour, and submitting reports or articles for our newsletter.
We have several qualified ABCC & BC cycling coaches
at all levels, available at each
of these sessions.
The club runs a bimonthly newsletter all
members have a copy emailed to them.
We train the children to become confident on their bikes in all
disciplines, track, road, cyclo cross and mountain
bike, and to race in close contact etc. Their confidence on the bike has a
knock on effect in all other aspects, including developing the correct
attitude to meet the challenges, every day pressures of parents and school
give them.
Their times are recorded and the record holders enter the Hall
of Fame for various distances. They have now standards to achieve and earn a
certificate for bronze, silver and gold times for the 200m and 1 lap
distances. In addition a points system is operated from March until November
for attendance and participation in various events. Encouragement is given to
participate in all the BSCA events (British Schools Cycling Association).
We hold a Club Championship for Circuit, Track, Skills and Mountain
bike, with various age groups, eg
under 8's, under 10's, under 12's, under 14's, also
under 16's. Each have their own age group club champion, medals and trophies
are given out
At the prize presentation in December. All riders that enter
one of the Championships get
something at the presentation.
Monthly club rides are arranged on and off road. Normally the
1st Sunday for on road rides (09:30 at Palmer Park) and every 3rd Sunday for
off road rides (10:00 at Bracknell Lookout). However we do cover quite a lot
of ground taking in Surrey Hills and Crowthorne Gorrick
circuits on the way. Parents are also welcome to come along if they feel up to
it, but not necessary, but we do like the parents to help out and get involved
in the club if they can.
The subscription is £10.00 for under 12's and £12.50 for under 16's
£25.00 family, Associate £12.50 and Seniors £15.00 until
December that year. Late members that join from September onwards, their membership
carries forward for all of the next year.
Regular forthcoming events are published in the newsletter and
web page, or if required we call around for special events that are near.
Please call (Shane Benson 01344 750 617) if you have any
questions or better still come along and get your son, daughter or friend to
join in the fun.
Directions ~ M4 or M3 (via Bracknell) to A329M Reading, on the
count down markers for Reading (A4) you should see the stadium on your left
hand side. Next left after going under the railway bridge, left again into St
Bartholomue's Rd. At T junction (end of the road)
join the main road (A329 to Wokingham) 50m passed the traffic lights again
left into Palmer Park Stadium