We had several riders at Calshot velodrome on to try their hand at riding on a track.
 
 
There are three velodromes in the UK and Calshot is one of them.... it is down on The Solent... right on the seafront facing across to the Isle of Wight, should you be wondering.

There will soon be a fourth UK velodrome - London.

Sutton junior cycle club were staging a session there on sunday 16 May, and their coach Julian McGovern said we could 'piggy-back' the Sutton Cycling Club's event if there was any interest..... and yes, there was.... and here's a summary of the messages that came back.

Report from Richard…… Daniel’s dad

We had a great time at Calshot today, which was really well organised by Julian McGovern and coach Terry Blake.

A Sutton lad, Andrew, demonstrated how to do a flying lap setting his personal best time of 11.26.  Freddie came in at 13.10 with Dan challenging Andrew’s time at 11.70.

It was a great day out that we would love to repeat.

Report from Teresa... Freddie's mum
I agree with Richard that it was a lovely morning and really well organised by Julian and Terry.  It was an early start and rather chilly there but well worth the journey down.  There was a lot of competition from the Sutton CC youth and a few Woolwich CC members too so it made for a good challenge.
Freddie really enjoyed it and like Dan will be keen to go again.  

Andre cycled back as part of his training and did 105 miles and got back before dark but did hit the rain!!

Report from Michelle…… Christian’s mum

What a great day, Christian really enjoyed himself his lap time was 15.76.  He did come off once from great height and slipped all the way down the pain was taken away by the fact I managed to get it on tape !  

We stayed for the afternoon session Ted had a go – he’s paying for it today, but did really good times !  

Julian let Ted and Christian have a race, dad won – it was a really well organised day I had to drag them away – I’m sure we’ll be doing it again. Thanks.
 
Report from Phil....  Tom's dad
 
Getting there was pretty straightforward - took less time than I'd allowed. A friendly and helpful bunch. Tom thoroughly enjoyed his session too. It took him a little while to get the confidence to go up the banking, but once he got it, he was OK.

He'd definitely want to go again. And I want a go now....

Thanks to Julian for organising. It all went off smoothly.
 
Footnotes...from me

Andre, should you be wondering, is returning from the land of the great unwashed to join us in the world of active cycling. He plans to avoid doing the ironing for a week or two by riding either too Spain… or back from Spain…. or both.

Ted should be warned that anyone beating their offspring is in danger of being loaded down with rocks prior to the next Calshot event…. or (in the meantime) being packed off to Spain to accompany Andre in pedalling his way back home.

Phil is a member of Addiscombe CC and he was marshalling their club's Surrey League handicap race at Newdhapel last Thursday evening.... and was telling me he put his comments up on the Addiscombe club's website... so thanks for that Phil. 
(Tom comes to Mertham to Raiders as Addiscombe CC doesn't have a section for young riders)