The next generation?

[Cubist]

Just got back from an entertaining hour and a bit's riding.

Our club has an Under 14s training session on a Saturday morning. They meet at a local school and do some cyclocross style nonsense with the kids. (Who all absolutely love it of course,and there are some awesome future prospects amongst them, but that's another thing!)

Mike, who runs our Thursday night club rides asked if Cubester and I would tag a long this morning as he wanted to try taking some youngsters on a proper of-road ride. So we dutifully turned up and tagged along (I think he wanted some moral support) . I had forgotten what it's like cycling with novices and youngsters, and it wasn't long before we had the usual

"My chain's come off"
"My brakes are sticking"
"My saddle's slipping"
"I can't change gear"
"My bike's making a funny noise"
"My seat's too high"
"My seat's too low"
"This hill's too steep"
"I've been stung" and
"I've fallen in the river." (and funnily enough that was in exactly the same place as another lad fell into the river last year..........)

SO, with kids ranging from 7 to 12 years we had an absolute hoot, with some gnarly climbs and thrashing descents on local bridleways, running just over the hour, but having an absolutely wonderful time. Roll on next Saturday.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Just got back from an entertaining hour and a bit's riding.

Our club has an Under 14s training session on a Saturday morning. They meet at a local school and do some cyclocross style nonsense with the kids. (Who all absolutely love it of course,and there are some awesome future prospects amongst them, but that's another thing!)

Mike, who runs our Thursday night club rides asked if Cubester and I would tag a long this morning as he wanted to try taking some youngsters on a proper of-road ride. So we dutifully turned up and tagged along (I think he wanted some moral support) . I had forgotten what it's like cycling with novices and youngsters, and it wasn't long before we had the usual

"My chain's come off"
"My brakes are sticking"
"My saddle's slipping"
"I can't change gear"
"My bike's making a funny noise"
"My seat's too high"
"My seat's too low"
"This hill's too steep"
"I've been stung" and
"I've fallen in the river." (and funnily enough that was in exactly the same place as another lad fell into the river last year..........)

SO, with kids ranging from 7 to 12 years we had an absolute hoot, with some gnarly climbs and thrashing descents on local bridleways, running just over the hour, but having an absolutely wonderful time. Roll on next Saturday.

I've had all bar the "Fallen in the river" on rides with both children and adults!!

 

[palinurus]

"My chain's come off"
"My brakes are sticking"
"My saddle's slipping"
"I can't change gear"
"My bike's making a funny noise"
"My seat's too high"
"My seat's too low"
"This hill's too steep"

I'm 43 and that pretty much represents my complaints when riding 'cross, except there are more ****s in it.

I left out "i've fallen in the river" since 'cross courses don't tend to do river crossings any more.

 

[palinurus]

More f***s, I should perhaps have said.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I'm 43 and that pretty much represents my complaints when riding 'cross, except there are more ****s in it.

I left out "i've fallen in the river" since 'cross courses don't tend to do river crossings any more.

Was about to ask when the next ride was but then I saw you next post

 

[Cubist]

The river bit was a kind of entertaining. One lad on the Thursday ride managed to ride his brand spanking Cube AMS off the bank, dropped four or five feet down whilst executing some sort of flip trying to unclip, and landed on his feet,. He even managed to keep his lights dry.

Cubester and I were discussing how spectacular the tumble was as we passed the spot, and as we waited for the last of the stragglers to catch up round the next bend on the path we heard the unmistakeable sounds of an eight year old skipping his front wheel off the edge of the wet stone paving, and riding his little Specialized off the banking, through the nettles and Himalayan Balsam into six or so inches of freezing water.

He looked a little bit secondhand as his Dad helped him back up onto dry land, and he was looking a bit thoughtful about his nettled legs, wet feet and bruises, so Cubester came up with usual sympathy lines that only a prop-forward can dream up. Within minutes he was back in the swing of things, and Dad was clearly relieved he was back in the saddle mostly unhurt.

 

[lukesdad]

There is a local group running rides at weekends around the Brechfa routes, Im a little concerned about letting lukey go I think he s a bit young at 6 Thoughts Cubist ?

 

[Cubist]

There is a local group running rides at weekends around the Brechfa routes, Im a little concerned about letting lukey go I think he s a bit young at 6 Thoughts Cubist ?

My thoughts are they are never too young. As long as he is reasonably confident on the bike, a group taking youngsters will always ride to the ability of the slowest/youngest. I have no doubt you would speak to the organisers at length to find out whether what they do is suitable for a confident 6 yr old.

I kind of guess the group will ride well within kids' abilities, presumably on greens and blues? I would be wary of a group that would take him without you along anyway, and in that case you will always have the option of an escape/bail-out plan anyway.

Give it a try. I imagine Lukey will be the best judge of whether it's too much for him or not, and after watching some of the youngsters this morning I reckon he'll amaze you with his resilience.

One Dad kept apologising because he thought they were holding the group up. I had to point out that the ride was for his lad's benefit, not ours, so he should take as long as he needs to grow in confidence and strength/stamina.

 

[lukesdad]

yep its green and blues but not with parents and I dont know the organisers. It was reccomended by a senior school teacher we met in the forest one day,

 

[cjb]

Well done, Cubist, for putting something back into the sport. I often wonder where our next generation of world-class sportsmen are coming from, so if you can tear them away from their electronic entertainment for an evening you are doing something really special.

 

[coffeejo]

Yesterday at the start of stage 6, I overheard a group of girls aged about 11 or 12 debating the finer points of the Tour and their favourite rider's chances, team tactics, etc etc. Cycling as a sport and a hobby has a golden future

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Yesterday at the start of stage 6, I overheard a group of girls aged about 11 or 12 debating the finer points of the Tour and their favourite rider's chances, team tactics, etc etc. Cycling as a sport and a hobby has a golden future

That is great news!