Quoted post said:Originally posted by JohnB
B JohnB said:One worth continuing. Its a drip drip scenario.
Quoted message said: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.
Quoted message said: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.
Quoted message said: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
Quoted message said: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 [/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!!!).
