Essex Roads put on its first Go Ride session at Lake Meadows on Sunday 8th June 2008. 9 children aged between 5 and 12 took part.
Graham Hart delivered the session with the assistance of Chris Smith, a cycling coach who has many years experience of putting on Go Ride sessions with Southend Wheelers. Isabel Kershaw, our club welfare officer, signed children in and gave them each a name label. Bike and helmets were checked and the odd adjustment was made to chin straps and brake cables.
After warming up, the cyclists were put into groups. Sophie Hart joined in to make up 2 teams of five and to assist with demonstrations. The first skill practiced was to ride along a narrow set of cones in a straight line, turn through 180 degrees and return to the start. As their confidence grew they were asked to take one hand of the bars, firstly for a second or two and then to give a high 5 to the coaches. To reinforce the skill, children were asked why they might need to do this when riding.
The skills session was concluded with a relay race between the teams. Each cyclist was asked to ride the line between the cones, turn to pass under the limbo bar and return to the start along a slalom course. However the riders had to stop without skidding and place one foot on the floor before the next rider started. Each cyclist had to complete the course 3 times. A narrow victory went to Chris's team.
A special mention is made for Gwen Cook's help with James and Luke. She got a great workout running round with them to ensure they were able to complete the session, and was probably more tired than any of the children by the end.
Thanks also to Lucy at Orchid for allowing us to take up part of the field during the running of the charity bike rides, to Mark Stanbury, club secretary, for all his assistance and to British Cycling for the loan of their marquee.
Graham
For Essex Roads Go-Ride Skills Sessions - See Go-ride on front page.