Off-Road skills for MTB and Cyclocross

LVYCC offers coaching sessions and social ride opportunities for 6 to 18 year olds to enjoy cycling, socialise and enjoy the sport. We are part of the British Cycling organisation as an accredited Go-Ride club.

Our mountain biking coaching sessions takes place most Saturday mornings from 10.15 to 12.15, starting at Redbridge Cycling Centre, Forest Road, Hainault, IG6 3HP.

This facility has a purpose built mountain bike trails that are safe from road traffic plus a clubhouse with changing facilities and a cafe. We also ride the trails in Hainault Forest Country Park which is a short ride traffic-free away.

All of our riders are organised into groups based on their ability and experience. As the riders develop their skills, they can move between the different groups. Every group has at least one British Cycling coach and also has parent helpers.

The cost for each session is £6. All riders are required to sign-on and pay prior to the session. If your child needs a bike, one can be hired from the club.

Parents and guardians are required to remain on site for the duration of the session, or they’re welcome to ride with their child’s group.

As well as the weekly coaching sessions, we run regular mountain bike socials at trails around the south-east, and during the Autumn half-term holidays we organise a mountain bike away-weekend at trail centres like Cannock Chase, Thetford Forest and Woburn Sands.

Frequently asked questions

Mountain bikes, hybrids, gravel and cyclocross bikes are all suitable, as long as they have a wide range of gears and knobbly tyres - 30mm or more.
If your child needs one, we have bikes available for hire at low cost, so there’s no reason not to get riding!
Lycra or cycling specific clothing is not essential. Clothing should be comfy, suitable for the activity and not too baggy, to avoid it getting caught in your bike.
Trainers are preferable, no open-toed shoes or sandals. All shoelaces must be tucked into shoes to avoid them getting caught in the chain and causing accidents. If you have cycling shoes with cleats (which lock the shoe to the pedal like ski boots lock onto skis) these are also suitable, provided you have compatible pedals. Always bring a waterproof top layer and layers of warm clothes in case of bad weather.
All riders need a cycle helmet in good condition: please bring one with you. If you don’t have one you can borrow one from the Cycling Centre. Helmets must fit properly and fasten under the chin and at the back of the head.
Gloves or cycling mitts must be worn at all times when riding. Cycling glasses are recommended especially for off road, as branches can injure eyes.
A healthy snack, a drink, and a spare tube in case of punctures.

MTB racing runs through the summer with several cross-country series in the area that are a great introduction to racing.
Beastway - Wednesday evenings at Redbridge Cycle Centre from May - June.
Travers - Sundays at Potash Woods from April to July
Crank It - Various events nationwide, with some in the south-east.
During autumn and winter, cyclocross takes over with two local series to choose from.
London and South-East Cyclo-Cross League
Eastern Cyclo-Cross League
This depends on the series you’re racing in as some series are not run under British Cycling regulations. Check with the event organiser if your child doesn’t have a license yet.
Every child who races under British Cycling regulations must have a Racing licence. If you want to try it out first, you can pay for a day licence from the race organiser. It is always good to start off with a Go Race event as these are designed for novice racers.
A racing licence can be obtained through British Cycling, free for the first year for youth members of a go-ride club such as LVYCC. The licence runs from 1st Jan to 31st Dec each year.
Aim to arrive at least an hour before the start to orientate yourselves, get ready, sign on and warm up.
Take a photo of the race licence, so if it's left behind or forgotten there will be a suitable image to use at sign on. Until it arrives, take the British Cycling membership confirmation email instead.
Take food, drink and a change of clothes, cycling clothing, helmet, glasses, track pump, spare inner tubes and a supply of safety pins for your race numbers.
When you get to the race venue you will need to head to the signing-on desk, where you will be given your race number and a transponder (not all races use these) and cable ties. Ask how to pin the number on your jersey and where to attach your transponder to.
Get warmed up with some practice laps, and get to the start line in good time to line up in your grid position and get ready to go.