Sooo, we went on a ride last week up the Wandle with the Sutton Cycling Club, and decided to give it a go.
Sutton CC are actually a club for kids. They meet every saturday morning at a school playing fields in Cheam, where they teach kids cycling skills by playing games etc.
Took the lad along this morning: He was stoking the tandem, while Butterfly rode his bike (they are about the same size). Then, when we got there, he swapped onto his bike.
They were doing an on-road day today, which is just as well, as the lad's Cyclone has some v.slick tyres on, and he would have struggled with too much muddy stuff.
Off through the woods to start, though, and we were soon trundling round the quiet (and often private) roads of Cheam. After a stop for a snack, we did a bit more, then onto a busier road to see how it went. The group of kids managed to ride very sensibly, with only one off when they were singling out after a junction. Generally, though, they were well disciplined, and doubled up when requested, and singling when through the junction. With them wearing their club jerseys, they looked good on the road, and managed to get some passers by interested in the club.
Seven miles in total with the group, and 15.5miles in total. A good morning.
Good points:
For new starters, they do a thorough bike check (the lad's passed, but I had just been fettling it, and Butterfly had knocked off the spiders' webs
)
Every week, the kids have to do a bike safety check that's drilled into them
The leader gave a sound pre-ride talk about safety
He also used the snack break to get the kids to think about essential things to bring on a ride (inner tube, drink, snack, maybe tools etc)
Bad points:
Er...can't think of owt.
