Junior MTB Clubs

If it's something informal, and just you with your kids and some friends kids, then that's what most of us have been doing for years in the woods behind the building society...

However, it will probably get a little more involved if you are wanting to organise something a litle more like a club. It might be worth looking at what Little Rippers do, and how they organise, but am not really sure how they run things.

I'm a mtb coach for the kids (Go
Ride) section of the local bike club... the adults part of the club has pretty much nothing to do with us, but it helps us by them being BC affiliated etc. That then means we can operate as an official BC Go-Ride club under their umbrella, but that does mean playing by their rules, so all of the coaches need to be appropriately qualified etc...

So, it might be worth talking to your local club to see if you can piggyback with them...

Anyone have any ideas or pitfalls. I didn’t think doing this would need any regulatory or other requirements but wanted to check.

You don't have to have anything, it's just that if down the line something does go wrong and a child is hospitalised (or worse) then you don't have all the back up of having been trained by the club and being able to show you followed the club's (and BC's) safeguarding procedures etc. You're just on your own with someone else's kid is hospital and you're left holding the baby (so to speak) all on your lonesome.

Our cycling club endlessly keeps inviting juniors along and I endlessly point out that it's not by an means a safe environment and they really shouldn't be doing this with processes in place. They then all agree I'm right and ban juniors for a few months until they start appearing again.

On Saturday, we had a random junior join the fast group (as someone not on the ride had invited him to join us), he got dropped 30 miles from home and left to find his own way back (which he did). So, I kicked off again and for the 3rd time this year, juniors are banned!

I’m a mtb coach for the kids (Go
Ride) section of the local bike club…

Same here. Except the club president does most of the organising of the kids section too. That’s quite a lot of work I think.

Our insurance means under 13s have to have a parent riding with them, but the club paid for parents to get coaching training, first aid etc. We’ve made good riding buddies from the fortnightly sessions and do a kid’s ride every weekend as well. The hardest part is when new kids join in and have much lower skill levels as it’s hard to keep sessions relevant for everyone, but we’re working on it.

Shibden Cycling Club is big into off-road and very supportive of teen kids. Probably a bit cx-ish at this time of year but looks like they do a lot of mtb stuff and you see them at xc races.

Thanks everyone, very helpful. I am going to make sure I know what the local adult/road bike clubs are doing as a first step. Just keen to get them in an environment where they are being pushed and having some regular coaching so I think getting a few people together locally is going to be the best first option and will see where it goers from there!

Hi,

I'm a L2 MTB coach that coachesfor Huddersfield Star Wheelers. We offer junior MTB coaching most Saturdays. We have three qualified MTB coaches and one MTB leader. Have a look at our Facebook page Huddersfield Star Wheelers Juniors if you want further details.

Have a look at kicc website they have/had info on who is involved with the club and the tickithey hold. There's a faq section and a lot of the paperwork. https://www.kicc.bike/

On Saturday, we had a random junior join the fast group (as someone not on the ride had invited him to join us), he got dropped 30 miles from home and left to find his own way back (which he did)

Seriously? Our club all ride the same route at different speeds, so fall off the first group and get picked up by the second... The last group rides at the pace of the slowest rider.

I've often been the designated coach for juniors when they ride in groups with adults (if parents don't ride as well). that means you don't leave them behind. Ever. No excuses.

MTB riding has been more hit and miss. I used to lead kids around Swinley for Palmer Velo, which is how I got involved with MTB.

If the local Cycling Clubs dont have a MTB junior section they may be keen to set something up. It might be easier for you as a lot of the infrastructure will already exist e.g insurance etc and they might pay for you to go on a MTB leaders course. My club is lucky and has loads of volunteers for the youngsters. There all aspects covered from MTB through to track and road.

On Saturday, we had a random junior join the fast group (as someone not on the ride had invited him to join us), he got dropped 30 miles from home and left to find his own way back (which he did)

Seriously? Our club all ride the same route at different speeds, so fall off the first group and get picked up by the second… The last group rides at the pace of the slowest rider.

I’ve often been the designated coach for juniors when they ride in groups with adults (if parents don’t ride as well). that means you don’t leave them behind. Ever. No excuses.

MTB riding has been more hit and miss. I used to lead kids around Swinley for Palmer Velo, which is how I got involved with MTB.

All our groups do different rides to different cafes - based on whichever the leader of that ride wishes to visit - keeps it nice and varied.

I’ve often been the designated coach for juniors when they ride in groups with adults (if parents don’t ride as well). that means you don’t leave them behind. Ever. No excuses.

Yep, I agree. The fastest group is definitely not a 'no drop' ride, it drops people all over the place every week - if you can't keep up, you're in the wrong group. I get dropped most weeks on the way back as my legs normally give up around 80% and the pace always intensifies when people can smell home...

However, the 'club' has again agreed that juniors are banned (for at least one week anyway). Dropping a junior at the furthest point is pretty outrageous, but the collective opinion was he wasn't fast enough and dropping would discourage him from joining again. The thing that really grates is the person who suggested he join that group has never ridden with it and didn't ask anyone and she knew the group drops people....

that means you don’t leave them behind. Ever. No excuses.

The main difference is that you agreed to have juniors in the group!

That is pretty poor thinking from a club - sounds like they've no real interest in Juniors and helping progress them.

I'm obviously naïve or sheltered as that kind of thinking just doesn't make any sense to me.

Saying that, it'll be a very good day when (if!) that Junior continues and then drops the fast riders as that will happen at some stage.

That is pretty poor thinking from a club – sounds like they’ve no real interest in Juniors and helping progress them.

I’m obviously naïve or sheltered as that kind of thinking just doesn’t make any sense to me.

It's not really a club - no actual entity, no safeguarding officer, no constitution. It's just a WA group with 200 members and a weekly turnout of 60 in summer and 25 in winter...

The issue with juniors, which I keep raising, is either we do it properly (BC rules, safeguarding officer, no drop, sweeper for rides with juniors), or we just ban them. NB There are two other proper clubs in the town who do take juniors and have everything in place. It's just the owner of the WA groups wants to be open to everyone and doesn't seem to understand that you can't just randomly invite juniors on rides with adults where no one knows the kid and no one gives two hoots about them. However, she keeps on doing it.....

What most people like about the 'club' is there are no rules and each group just organises itself as it sees fit - so the fast group is a mini road race, enter at your peril - which is great if you like that sort of thing. we all know each other pretty well and ride very well as a group which is just as well when you're 2" off the wheel in front at 30mph+.

the collective opinion was he wasn’t fast enough and dropping would discourage him from joining again

I personally think <TRUSS> That. Is. Outrageous </TRUSS>. Fast group and dropping or not. If anything had happened it's the CLUB that will be on the rack. Being a club member carries responsibility too. Do they drop people if they puncture/fall off/crash? It is why I am in a club. We have fast rides that drop people. But you don't leave juniors if they do turn up. You just don't.

Which club us this?

it’s the CLUB that will be on the rack

It's a WA group - there is no club entity, no website, no clubhouse, no committee, no rules, no members (other than WA).

Being a club member carries responsibility too.

There is no membership, you just turn up and ride.

I personally think <TRUSS> That. Is. Outrageous </TRUSS>.

I don't disagree, there were quite a few parents in the group as well!

Depends on the Junior too though I guess? Back when I was at school, I would regularly put in 50/60/70 milers on my own. I knew every back road and turn in my area like the back of my hand. Im sure the fast roadies would have dropped me, Im sure Id not have cared.

Depends on the Junior too though I guess?

He was 17. But legally a child AIUI and therefore the supervising adults have a duty of care etc.

Messy situation as no one was supervising nor wanted to, nor was asked that I know of.

And as I have mentioned, this is the now the 3rd time we've collectively decided to ban juniors. Won't be the last though.....

Those of you with MTB leadership qualifications - what age riders can you take out? Can you take them to trail centres and bridleways?

Our Go-Ride a has a road riding pathway for the older riders, but those only interested in MTB/Gravel/CX riding tend to just stop coming as they get older as we can't offer them anything.

The club I am an office holder for looked into it and soon backed away. The regulatory / legal / insurance side of it was a nightmare for a group of people who just want to go for a ride. The rules about responsibility whether parents are or aren’t with them were to onerous in our view

I personally think <TRUSS> That. Is. Outrageous </TRUSS>. Fast group and dropping or not. If anything had happened it’s the CLUB that will be on the rack. Being a club member carries responsibility too. Do they drop people if they puncture/fall off/crash? It is why I am in a club. We have fast rides that drop people. But you don’t leave juniors if they do turn up. You just don’t.

what if he was 18? what if he was 17 but never mentioned his age?

These fast drop groups go with the expectation of dropping people. Its not a "get rid of people we dont like/think are too crap" its a semi-race simulation training keep up or go home.

If he lasted an hour and dropped off, then showed up the next week smiling and hoping to last an hour and a half I expect he'd be welcomed with open arms.
If his mum rings up to moan, probably not.

If he lasted an hour and dropped off, then showed up the next week smiling and hoping to last an hour and a half I expect he’d be welcomed with open arms.

Personally, I am very uncomfortable with the whole duty of care thing. Our rides are not for the feint hearted and don't pick the safest roads etc. If a minor has an accident during one of our rides, we're all potentially in very deep shit. If the kid had been killed on his way back, after being dropped, I would expect we'd all be interviewed under caution as to why he was left alone 30+ miles from home etc.

Just not worth the (very small) possibility of something going badly wrong. I just want to ride my bike...

If we were a proper club, with safeguarding, background checks, pre-approved 'safe' routes, leaders and sweepers etc - then totally different scenario.

The local clubs, which do accept juniors, have a totally separate chain gang for juniors as they've obvs decided the adult ones aren't suitable. We did 45k of through and off at race pace on Saturday where my only consideration was 'not blowing up'! No time to look after anyone else.

There was an article in the magazine a few issues back about a pretty successful juniors club , in minehead I think it was . Might be worth a read.

If we were a proper club, with safeguarding, background checks, pre-approved ‘safe’ routes, leaders and sweepers etc – then totally different scenario.

Fair enough. We're a BC Go Ride club. We also have separate evening rides for Juniors (Richmond Park laps including gravel), but Saturdays are everyone comes and it's no drop. MTB at Swinley is more ad-hoc, but coaches will attend when free.

Seems like the WA group approach, when it gets as large and organised as above, is asking for trouble if there was an issue!

I can only see this ending in a world of pain for everyone...

Its sad that red tape, real and potential, is going to limit the opportunity for young riders and limiting their enjoyment or participation.
I bet the dutch and french have a much better system.

Seems like the WA group approach, when it gets as large and organised as above, is asking for trouble if there was an issue!

If it's all adults, I can't see a problem.

The problem is some (well one) members want to build the 'club' as large as possible, but still just as a WA group and keep inviting juniors to 'join' as we're so 'open and friendly'.

Its sad that red tape, real and potential, is going to limit the opportunity for young riders and limiting their enjoyment or participation.

Affects all sports, I took my nephew to the hockey junior training and used to help out a bit. Every kid had to be in sight of two adults at all times etc - very onerous regs when you have 80 kids to orgnaise on an astro and someone needs to go to the loo in the local sports hall - have to send one coach and rope in a random parent as a witness to shadow the coach etc.

If you use Facebook, have a look at the Little Rippers group/page - hopefully a decent source of advice. Again, not a club.

I’m a leader with a dedicated junior bike club (no adult section). Club has strong governing body links with club dev officer and one of the main folk working for Scot Cycling too, so we’re really lucky.