First audax
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"What a great day, when's the next one?" - that's what my daughter said when she finished her first
audax, Reading CTC's 100km Kennet Valley event on Saturday. Despite grovelling around the rolling
route and battling the cold character-building north-easterly, she thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Thank you Reading CTC.
With 15 miles to go I gave her an energy gel, not realising it was a 3-serving sachet <Big Mistake>,
as it then had me hanging on her back wheel to the finish :-(
She was also spurred on by the comment in her school report last week that said she had made no
improvement in PE and showed complete disinterest in anything athletic.
It's a shame many schools don't recognise outside interests - she's already won several BSCA awards
and completed a self-supported E2E (as well as the Dartmoor Ten-Tors), but because she hates
rounders and cross country, that doesn't count.
John B
JohnB <nospam@here.com>typed
> "What a great day, when's the next one?" - that's what my daughter said when she finished her
> first audax
Well done, that young lady!
> Reading CTC's 100km Kennet Valley event on Saturday. Despite grovelling around the rolling route
> and battling the cold character-building north-easterly, she thoroughly enjoyed the day.
They're good, aren't they?
> With 15 miles to go I gave her an energy gel, not realising it was a 3-serving sachet <Big
> Mistake>, as it then had me hanging on her back wheel to the finish :-(
This '3-serving' business is silly. I bought a 500ml bottle of Oasis last week and it assumed a
portion size of less than the bottle. Surely most people complete something once opened?
> She was also spurred on by the comment in her school report last week that said she had made no
> improvement in PE and showed complete disinterest in anything athletic.
> It's a shame many schools don't recognise outside interests - she's already won several BSCA
> awards and completed a self-supported E2E (as well as the Dartmoor Ten-Tors), but because she
> hates rounders and cross country, that doesn't count.
I was hopeless at school sport too. She has my sympathy.
--
Helen D. Vecht: helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk Edgware.
Originally posted by JohnB
It's a shame many schools don't recognise outside interests - she's already won several BSCA awards
and completed a self-supported E2E (as well as the Dartmoor Ten-Tors), but because she hates
rounders and cross country, that doesn't count.
John B
Are you sure that her school doesn't support outside activities, have you ever asked? Have you ever offered to run cycling coaching sessions in the school?
There are many schools that have started doing cycling now and many involved with British Cycling.
If your local school doesn't 'do' cycling then perhaps its time YOU changed that.
2LAP wrote:
>
> JohnB wrote:
> > It's a shame many schools don't recognise outside interests - she's already won several BSCA
> > awards and completed a self-supported E2E (as well as the Dartmoor Ten-Tors), but because she
> > hates rounders and cross country, that doesn't count. John B
>
> Are you sure that her school doesn't support outside activities, have you ever asked?
Of course I have. The response has been that they are under-resourced. they have given _some_ help,
eg, when my daughter completed the Ten tors last year, she was allowed a day off afterwards to
recover from the ordeal. They are not entirely closed to supporting innitiatives, but can do little
themslves.
> Have you ever offered to run cycling coaching sessions in the school?
It is certainly in my plans. At the moment I run cycle training for the local authority at a primary
school and am intending to expand this later in the year.
Last year my daughter did managed to get them to include a sponsored afternoon cycle ride around the
playing field when other activities had been planned (she rode my trice to the envy of many,
especially as i put teh fairing on). We also tried to organise a ride on a local airfield in aid of
a school supported charity, but the airfield owners didn't want to know :-( We will be trying again.
> There are many schools that have started doing cycling now and many involved with British Cycling.
Invariably there needs to be either a nucleus of cyclists active at the school or a very keen
teacher in post to drive it. The BC schemes (Get Set, etc?) seem to be more based on having a fixed
local facility and I am in a club which is aiming to set such a facility up, but it is in a
different town to the school my daughter attends. Funding is the major issue although we already
have local council support with some degree of fund-matching. We hope to be holding an event with
the local schools in May.
A Big Difficulty is getting teachers and parents to accept that cycling is NOT dangerous, and that
those running the activities are 'safe' and competent - yes, I am CRB checked.
> If your local school doesn't 'do' cycling then perhaps its time YOU changed that.
Don't assume we are not trying but it is an uphill struggle. This is a school that issued
Diaries to all pupils at the start of last term that included the infamous "cycling is dangerous
skull promotion" on the back page (although more likely due to lack of thought rather than
anything anti-bike).
Perhaps you have some further suggestions?
John B
"JohnB" wrote ...
<snip>
> She was also spurred on by the comment in her school report last week that said she had made no
> improvement in PE and showed complete disinterest in anything athletic.
>
> It's a shame many schools don't recognise outside interests - she's already won several BSCA
> awards and completed a self-supported E2E (as well as the Dartmoor Ten-Tors), but because she
> hates rounders and cross country, that doesn't count.
>
> John B
The story goes that when Greg LeMond was in high school, he would be made to run laps around the
football field to make up for the PE classes he missed when he was away at bicycle races.
Congratulations to your daughter on the Audax.
--
mark
Originally posted by JohnB
2LAP wrote:
Perhaps you have some further suggestions?
John B
Looks like you have had a bit of a battle, is your daughter a Nicole Cooke in the making?
I would suggest that you get in touch with BC's Coaching and Development Department as GET SET finished about 2 years ago.
As happened in my club, the development officer helped us approach the local school and get them onside. We also got an awards for all grant for the school & club to buy cycling equipment. BC now has Go Ride, WCS and the Activity Club Coach award which helps club/school links. In the school, between the coaches and teachers (who are trained Activity Coaches by BC) there are coaching sessions run on a weekly basis on school property (edges of pitches, tennis courts, school drive/paths and waste land on cambers etc.) at the end of each term World Class Start come into the school to do a testing session where the kids can get on the 'Talent Team' and can log their results on a web page. It works for us, the kids love it and its great fun.
2LAP wrote:
>
> JohnB wrote:
> > 2LAP wrote: Perhaps you have some further suggestions? John B
>
> Looks like you have had a bit of a battle,
One worth continuing. Its a drip drip scenario.
> is your daughter a Nicole Cooke in the making?
No. She lacks aggression and strength and the hard nosed will to win, but has mountains of mental
grit. She will *never* give up. Hence she has a greater penchant for touring and camping and the
likes. I feel she may go into longer distance events later in life when stamina improves, but she is
also very academic and is aiming quite high, which now takes priority. This year she moves into
Junior ranks where she will struggle against 6' male 1st/2nd category equivalents. I think cycle
racing may take a back seat.
> I would suggest that you get in touch with BC's Coaching and Development Department as GET SET
> finished about 2 years ago.
Yes, my mistake, recognised as soon as the Send was pressed ;-) Of course I meant the Go-Ride
programme, although in mitigation the names do seem to change often - Impruve, Get Set, talent Team,
Go-Ride; what will it be next year. BC does not make it easy.
> As happened in my club, the development officer helped us approach the local school and get them
> onside. We also got an awards for all grant for the school & club to buy cycling equipment. BC now
> has Go Ride, WCS and the Activity Club Coach award which helps club/school links.
I am aware of these and they form part of the Whole Scheme. There is an Activity Coach Course near
me in March which I'm interested in, although it may be a little soon for my overall planning.
In the
> school, between the coaches and teachers (who are trained Activity Coaches by BC) there are
> coaching sessions run on a weekly basis on school property (edges of pitches, tennis courts,
> school drive/paths and waste land on cambers etc.) at the end of each term World Class Start come
> into the school to do a testing session where the kids can get on the 'Talent Team' and can log
> their results on a web page. It works for us, the kids love it and its great fun.
That sounds as if it is working. It sounds brilliant.
I do have some concerns with the BC programme in that it seems mainly aimed at identifying potential
'Champions' because that attracts lottery Funding (the cynic in me). The support for those who don't
make it is questionable especially where there is no strong local club. I assume your club is
reasonably active? Where my daughter schools the local club is hell-bent on racing up and down the
local dual carriageway slipstreaming juggernauts. Time for rant: Time Trialling has no place for
developing either the sport or general cycling AFAIAC and I don't think youngsters should be
encouraged in that direction [1]
[1] I'd go further and say its arguably irresponsible <ducks flames>.
Rant over. Yes, there is a lot that can be done and there are now better resources available than
any time previously. I am following them up. Your advice is very much appreciated. BTW, where are
you situated?
John B
Originally posted by JohnB
> JohnB wrote:
> One worth continuing. Its a drip drip scenario.
> is your daughter a Nicole Cooke in the making?
No. She lacks aggression and strength and the hard nosed will to win, but has mountains of mental
grit. She will *never* give up. Hence she has a greater penchant for touring and camping and the
likes. I feel she may go into longer distance events later in life when stamina improves, but she is
also very academic and is aiming quite high, which now takes priority. This year she moves into
Junior ranks where she will struggle against 6' male 1st/2nd category equivalents. I think cycle
racing may take a back seat.
> I would suggest that you get in touch with BC's Coaching and Development Department as GET SET
> finished about 2 years ago.
Yes, my mistake, recognised as soon as the Send was pressed ;-) Of course I meant the Go-Ride
programme, although in mitigation the names do seem to change often - Impruve, Get Set, talent Team,
Go-Ride; what will it be next year. BC does not make it easy.
> As happened in my club, the development officer helped us approach the local school and get them
> onside. We also got an awards for all grant for the school & club to buy cycling equipment. BC now
> has Go Ride, WCS and the Activity Club Coach award which helps club/school links.
I am aware of these and they form part of the Whole Scheme. There is an Activity Coach Course near
me in March which I'm interested in, although it may be a little soon for my overall planning.
In the
> school, between the coaches and teachers (who are trained Activity Coaches by BC) there are
> coaching sessions run on a weekly basis on school property (edges of pitches, tennis courts,
> school drive/paths and waste land on cambers etc.) at the end of each term World Class Start come
> into the school to do a testing session where the kids can get on the 'Talent Team' and can log
> their results on a web page. It works for us, the kids love it and its great fun.
That sounds as if it is working. It sounds brilliant.
I do have some concerns with the BC programme in that it seems mainly aimed at identifying potential
'Champions' because that attracts lottery Funding (the cynic in me). The support for those who don't
make it is questionable especially where there is no strong local club. I assume your club is
reasonably active? Where my daughter schools the local club is hell-bent on racing up and down the
local dual carriageway slipstreaming juggernauts. Time for rant: Time Trialling has no place for
developing either the sport or general cycling AFAIAC and I don't think youngsters should be
encouraged in that direction [1]
[1] I'd go further and say its arguably irresponsible <ducks flames>.
Rant over. Yes, there is a lot that can be done and there are now better resources available than
any time previously. I am following them up. Your advice is very much appreciated. BTW, where are
you situated?
John B
Hay John,
Was based in the Midlands but move around a lot with my studies. Have a chat with a development officer to link you with a keen club.
Picking up on your points...
I think that the changes in Get-Set, Go-Ride, etc. are due to changes in funding (which can't be helped) and I have been pleased to see improvements with each change (e.g. Go Ride is very focused on child protection (which is ultimately 'coach protection').
In terms of the BC program looking for potential champs, I'm not sure that this is strictly the case. Of course only people who make the talent team gets lots of support, but I actualy think more kids cycle on the Talent Team seriously than cycled off the talent team for the last ten years (more races almost have full fields and there are even some sperate races for famale juniors now!!!). The WCS also aim to test 40000 children, thats 40000 children more experiancing cycling in school even if it is only for 1 hour. People also complain that some children are told that they will be bad at cycling, but from experiance of speaking to children who didn't make the team this is not true. There is also next year to try again. In terms of Go-Ride, this is surely just about cycling, improving skills, providing a positive experiance and getting bums on bikes. Having seen the process working which requires a few keen people, I would recomend it to all!!! Obviously, WCS has to look for 'potential' champions to attract funding from the lottery, but look at all the good work that is being done with the money accross the country (perhaps not in your area) and not all of the money is being spent on the WCS children. There is a lot of misunderstanding out there and unfortunately these people appear to complain rather than realising their ignorance and going to find out more.
Most adults forget (perhaps because they are trying to be PC) that most children like racing/competition and will make almost every situation competitive. Competition (even if its a challenge to complete an Audax distance) is perhaps every clubs best tool in developing riders and comitment from riders. Competition gives opportunities to make friends, travel, become successful, etc. far more than 'within' club activities.
As for TT's we'll have to agree to disagree as after audaxes and touring that's what I did. Off the top of my head its the most popular cycling race and is the only place where new cyclists can race against their own PB's and not get their heads kicked in!!! TT's are also pretty friendly places and full of generaly well meaning cyclists (more so than some Audaxes I have done; where 25 year old males are viewed with a little distrust!!!).
"JohnB" <nospam@here.com> wrote in message
[snip]
>
> It's a shame many schools don't recognise outside interests - she's already won several BSCA
> awards and completed a self-supported E2E
(as
> well as the Dartmoor Ten-Tors), but because she hates rounders and
cross
> country, that doesn't count.
>
Montgomery County, Maryland, where my children used to go to school, did have a regulation allowing
outside activities to count towards the school's PE requirements. I remember a pair of cute,
blonde, high school age twins who rode a tandem, and who had to get their log books signed by the
ride leader every time they went on a club ride, They got credit for commuting to school on the
tandem as well.
The tandem had a horn for each twin. One horn went beep-beep, one horn went boop-boop.
Jeremy Parker
On Mon, 23 Feb 2004 12:47:17 GMT, Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:
> This '3-serving' business is silly. I bought a 500ml bottle of Oasis last week and it assumed a
> portion size of less than the bottle. Surely most people complete something once opened?
>
Correct. This is indeed the reason why soft drink manufacturers started to use larger bottles. They
found that people tended to drink them once empty, increasing total sales and profits.
--
Michael MacClancy Random putdown - "He loves nature in spite of what it did to him." - Forrest
Tucker www.macclancy.demon.co.uk www.macclancy.co.uk
Michael MacClancy <herzelNOSPAM@o2.co.uk>typed
> They found that people tended to drink them once empty, increasing total sales and profits.
^^^^^
I didn't think the general public was *quite* that stupid ;)
--
Helen D. Vecht: helenvecht@zetnet.co.uk Edgware.
On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 21:51:28 +0000, Michael MacClancy
<herzelNOSPAM@o2.co.uk> wrote:
>Correct. This is indeed the reason why soft drink manufacturers started to use larger bottles. They
>found that people tended to drink them once empty
Self refilling, then?
--
Debbie Urban Theology Unit, Sheffield Views expressed in this email are my own and are not
necessarily those of the University of Sheffield or UTU.
On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 22:30:24 GMT, Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:
> Michael MacClancy <herzelNOSPAM@o2.co.uk>typed
>
>> They found that people tended to drink them once empty, increasing total sales and profits.
> ^^^^^
>
> I didn't think the general public was *quite* that stupid ;)
Sorry, suffering from an overdose of Cola. ;-)
I meant 'drink them empty once opened'.
--
Michael MacClancy Random putdown - "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go."
-Oscar Wilde www.macclancy.demon.co.uk www.macclancy.co.uk
On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 22:30:26 +0000, Debbie wrote:
> On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 21:51:28 +0000, Michael MacClancy <herzelNOSPAM@o2.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>Correct. This is indeed the reason why soft drink manufacturers started to use larger bottles.
>>They found that people tended to drink them once empty
>
> Self refilling, then?
LOL. If only!
--
Michael MacClancy Random putdown - "He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader
to the dictionary." - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway) www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk
2LAP wrote:
> Hay John,
>
> Was based in the Midlands but move around a lot with my studies.
No where near me then. I'm a lot further towards the sun.
> Have a chat with a development officer to link you with a keen club.
I will, but fear the nearest suitable club is a good 20 miles away, not at all attractive for new
cyclists. It could be a case of starting from scratch. but then that _can_ have benefits.
> Picking up on your points...
>
> I think that the changes in Get-Set, Go-Ride, etc. are due to changes in funding (which can't be
> helped) ..
Yep, as different sponsors come in and go, eg the loss of the Pru.
>
> In terms of the BC program looking for potential champs, I'm not sure that this is strictly the
> case...... People also complain that some children are told that they will be bad at cycling, but
> from experiance of speaking to children who didn't make the team this is not true.
That is very* good to hear. I've heard the knockers too.
<snip lots of positive comment>
> As for TT's we'll have to agree to disagree as after audaxes and touring that's what I did.
We will disagree then, but I too took a similar route, being primarily a tourist who moved into TTs,
and then fell into the rut of chasing times week in week out - for many years. Eventually the
obsession with times sets in. (I think I still hold all my old club's trike records from 10 miles to
24 hours). ...and I've still got my Cyclo sprint carriers.
> Off the top of my head its the most popular cycling race and is the only place where new cyclists
> can race against their own PB's and not get their heads kicked in!!! TT's are also pretty friendly
> places and full of generaly well meaning cyclists...
In principle, I don't disagree with that at all and tea wagons are still a focus for Sunday rides -
friendly, good banter, always welcoming. But I cannot understand an organisation that has its head
so far in the sand that it will allow 12 year olds to race on near motorway roads. IMO no right-
minded parent would should encourage their offspring to ride TTs on the open road. I think that's
borne out by the number of wizzen old vets that ride.
> (more so than some Audaxes I have done; where 25 year old males are viewed with a little
> distrust!!!).
Ah, you're one of those young upstarts then ;-)
John B
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