Racing Metro 15
that some riders have had to take more time out than they
anticipated for exams which have disrupted their season more
than they would have liked, but obviously we’ve
allowed for the fact that this is their future
so sometimes, training has had to take
second place.
We’ve shown them though that
taking an hour out of constant
revision and getting out on
the bike can have a beneficial
effect. Our links with our
supporters give us links
into coaching and training
programmes that would
allow any rider to go
to the very top if they
have the ability. While
this won’t affect most
of our members, it’s
an example that there’s
no upper limit to what
someone can achieve.”
Present
“As we only started this
winter and made a conscious
decision not to ‘poach’ riders from
other clubs, its gone quite well. The
main aim for this year is to let everyone
know what we’re about and get the name
around. We’re trying to attract riders of the 14-18 age range
that we can start with a complete 1-1 coaching and training
programme immediately and some in the 12-13
age group that we can prepare for the time
they reach 14 years.
We still need to build on our
current rider base and position and
further reinforce what we do.
Our main focus, those that will
form our race team will be
relatively small. The rest will
still support this as a larger
club base, so riders can
drop in and out if they feel
it’s too restrictive for them
or takes up more time that
they feel they can give.
We’re planning a series
of ‘workshop’ type of days
when we’ll get named
people in to inspire us even
more. Some of our riders
will start to focus on Cycle-
Cross shortly while the rest
will require a weekly road ride,
and there’s always mid-week Turbo
sessions when the weather gets bad and
the nights are too dark to train outside.
We’re planning a few come and try it sessions.
Anyone can find us on Facebook as Racing Metro 15 or we
often assist with sessions with Newburn Racing Academy.”
Youth
“Youth development is an essential part of what we do.
There is huge evidence to show the beneficial effects of exercise
at a certain age and how this carries on into adult life, even
in those that don’t exercise past their teenage years. It’s also
been shown that those that have taken part in a sport at that
formative time are more likely to take it up again in
their late thirties and forties.
It’s not so much just getting involved
in a sport; it’s something that’s going
to stay with you for life. At the
same time there are a number
of people who will coach you
to go fast in a straight line,
but don’t reinforce the skills
and techniques aspect
of riding a bike. The
abilities to focus, spatial
awareness, confidence
and
communication
are essential life skills a
person needs whether in
sport or just life.”
Community
“We’re more of a team
than a club although anyone
from the local community
could apply to join. A rider
would have to be quite involved
with the sport already as our
programme means we’re trying to fill a
gap to riders towards the end of their Youth
years, so at the moment, we don’t teach the basics
as there are lots of very good Go-Ride clubs already doing
this and there wouldn’t be any point in us duplicating that, but
there are some riders who’ve never joined a club as
they feel it’s not for them.”
Challenges/Ambitions
“One of the greatest challenges
over the next five years is
accepting that some of our
riders may have to leave the
club as they go to University
in other parts of the country.
Hopefully some will have
to move on as they achieve
their ambitions at the top
of the sport. In that respect
all we can hope for is they
remember where they came
from! The other problem
is that if we can’t find the
facilities that we need, we’re
always going to have to find
ever more innovative ways to get
our riders up to the standard they
expect us to.
Ideally, we’d like to be based at a
dedicated facility which we’re working
on with British Cycling and Local Authorities
already. Newcastle is one of the few major cities in England
that doesn’t have at least one. It’s been shown by example that
this is a massive boost to recruitment. Aside from that, I’d like
us to have shown at least one male and one female rider to
have made one of the Great Britain national teams.”
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