Southborough Wheelers Youth is a welcoming and rapidly growing club with over 40 members. Created by British Cycling, the Go-Ride programme aims to get more young people riding through fun coaching and an introduction to racing. Currently, over 80% of the Great Britain Cycling Team started riding at their local Go-Ride Clubs.
Our membership includes Junior riders (under 18s) and Youth riders (under 16s) with our youngest members joining us at age 7-8 years. We coach basic cycling skills through to more advanced race skills and we have a good mix of boys and girls riding with us throughout the year.
We aim to:
In 2018 we were granted the Sport England Clubmark accreditation which recognises that the club observes best practice in child protection, coaching and competition, equity and club management.
The club provides a welcome next step for children and families, who wonder after they learn to ride a bike, what’s next? Southborough Wheelers Youth is a friendly and encouraging environment where we take great delight in seeing our members develop their skills, confidence and develop new friendships often outside of their normal school social circles.
For many of our members, Southborough Wheelers Youth become a part of their life that brings them fun, confidence, independence, new skills and friendships and a sense of being a valued part of a team that supports and encourages each other.
We currently have 7 British Cycling qualified coaches who create a positive and inclusive environment for riders and their families that also incorporates current best practices in cycle coaching for young people. All coaching is provided off road & away from motor traffic. Older more experienced riders can also join Youth road rides.
There is no pressure from the club to take the step up to racing but many of our members do, successfully competing in road, cyclocross and mountain bike racing in local leagues. Those who do go onto race build strong bonds with their team mates and typically see significant gains in confidence in their abilities.
Where and when we meet
We meet most Saturdays from March through to November, and local sessions meet at Meadows School in the centre of Southborough from 9.30am and last approximately an hour. Throughout the year, on the first Saturday of the month, we take part in the monthly "club cluster" sessions with other youth cycling groups from Kent and South London at the closed road circuit Cyclopark in Gravesend, these are longer sessions running from 10am to 12 noon. Finally several times a year we have track riding sessions at Herne Hill Velodrome in South London.
We are particularly keen to increase membership of younger riders (7-11 years old) as well as more parent helpers.
To begin riding with Southborough Wheelers Youth, children need to have learnt basic cycling skills and have a geared bicycle that is in a good state of repair and is mechanically sound along with a cycle helmet.
You won’t need cycling-specific clothing to try it out, but when riders decide they want to stay, we recommend getting hold of appropriate kit. High quality Southborough Wheelers cycling kit is available through the club in a range of sizes.
Annual Youth Membership costs £5 (for under 16s) or £7 (for 16-18 year olds)
Each weekly riding session costs £3 for sessions in Southborough.
Please send us an email at youth@southborough-wheelers.co.uk and we’ll be very happy to advise you on the next steps.
