Young Hackney Sports Unit
Cycling Report November 28th 2014
Guiness Youth Club Lee Valley Velopark Trip
On
Tuesday 28th November 2014 the weather in London was beautiful; clear
blue sky and warm - lucky! This was the day that 10 young cyclists from
Guiness Youth Club (GYC) visited the Lee Valley Velopark in the Queen
Elizabeth Park for the first time. They came to the Concorde Centre Bike
Club via mini bus in good time after being collected by our driver
Roger Steil and Hayley Birch. After greetings the group were issued with
club cycles, head protection and a pre-ride briefing from myself; Young Hackney's
lead cycling coach (Sports Unit).
Additional
staff members Darren Popham, Norman Saggers and Fiona Meeks joined in
for the car free ride around Hackney Marshes and across three bridges
into the QE Park. Along the route we all observed autumnal trees, the
River Lea, the Orbit statue and the 2012 Olympic stadium as a picture
book back drop to 82 football pitches on Hackney Marshes.
On the
last bridge close to London’s iconic Velodrome there was sense of
excitement, a feeling like standing right next to someone world famous.
Underneath us ran 1.5klm of road circuit and to the left we could see
the BMX track start gates and main ramp.
After a respectful ride
around the velodrome’s perimeter path we headed for main reception,
took our bikes inside and went up stairs for refreshments in the café
while observing a training session. There were various questions from
our young riders to answer about cycling at the Velopark and accessing
cycle sport, but the main point was that this trip must be remembered as
the first of many.
Keir Apperley
