[Closed] Surrey/Sussex route to cycle 10 miles in 27 minutes for GCSE PE

Having just done my mid-week road sprint (well, kinda-sort-of) that was about 25kms in 1hr involving riding at a moderate/brisk pace plus a bit of climibing but riding in away that doesnt imply I have a deathwish, I'd suggest as others have double checking that they meant Kms not Miles.

Otherwise book a velodrome session with a gurney bike to lead out or head to the A259 coast road from around Littlehampton/Rustington to Shoreham on an early Sunday morning with a suitable tailwind and hope that the traffic lights are in your favour...

BTW Is the examiner called something like Van Aert or Ganna?

Can it be downhill?

Do it on Zwift and lie about his weight like everyone else on there 😉

I'd stay off any busy roads personally.

What about Preston Park velodrome?? Open and free to use Go early so its quiet.

There is also Cyclopark in Kent, I don't know if they have times you could use it?

Or there is Laughton crit circuit. I'd avoid any busy times though.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/301641

This seems far in excess of any requirement for the practical element I saw when looking through the GCSE syllabus.

Are you sure that whoever is delivering this course and setting these thresholds is aware of how hard it is to hold 25mph for 10 miles?

What board is the GCSE?

The (e.g.) AQA spec doesn't mention anything about times / distances other than a race being at least 10 miles.

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/physical-education/gcse/physical-education-8582/scheme-of-assessment/non-exam-assessment-nea-practical-performance-in-physical-activity-and-sport/activities-criteria/cycling-road

That said, you're supposed to be good to get top marks at GCSE PE
Source: Mrs Dubs is Head of PE and often moans about kids with zero outside interests (or aptitude) picking it as "easy". It isn't.

Interesting thread.

Velodrome would be a good shout. Does it stipulate what kind of route/ride it should be? Eg road vs velodrome? Group or solo ride? 25mph for 24 mins is quite an ask for a 16(?) year old. This site looks useful:

https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/

Check the results page, it shows the route of each TT which might help you find one near you.

Please let us know how he gets on!

That’s ridiculous. Even a crit race may not be 25mph in the pack, especially at this time of year with the greasy conditions.
That really is rewarding people who have spent money on kit or who have the local routes that allow for this type of speed.
There’s a few routes near me where thats possible on my aero ride bike, but that is still some going.
Can’t you get someone else to do the ride for him?
Failing that, I’d take him to Betws y Coed. There’s a fairly safe straight line downhill where that speed will be possible for just over 6 miles. No roundabouts and not a huge amount of traffic. Start at the top of the hill past the slate works, sprint up to speed, then there’s a mile of little pedalling and 40mph, a flat section for a few miles, then downhill again. It’ll still need some pedalling, but it’s the safest way I can think of.

The (e.g.) AQA spec doesn’t mention anything about times / distances other than a race being at least 10 miles.

It seems more like a checklist of skills rather than a blunt time/distance target.

I wonder if the teacher involved has supplied some footage of the required level of 'descending technique'? 🙂

Have you got any race results or videos of them racing within the past 18 months as that should cover the practical part for GCSE. Check with the school as getting a specific time is more A Level (GCE).

The g10/42 course is at Holmwood on the bypass but a 24 there would be a good time for a club rider tbh. Could you not get up to Richmond park and do a lap and a half?

It's good, but not outrageous - which I suppose is what top marks are meant to represent, no?

As I've bragged about before on here, at that age I did ride 10.5 miles from my house to my mate's in 27 mins, and I rode home in 24.5 mins, with about a 50m elevation difference. I was on my Dad's hybrid in normal clothes, flat pedals and trainers, but I was able to put my elbows on the bars for a good tuck. However I got my MTB shortly after that and got my arse handed to me in Junior in MTB races, so I wasn't some kind of prodigy.

There are people out there who are decent club junior riders and could do this (there's a schoolkid in the club I was doing ZRL with and he's an A with > 5w/kg, tows everyone else round but not me cos I'm B and not even in his races), and surely they should be the ones getting top marks? Aren't we always bemoaning the celebration of mediocrity in the school system on this forum?

The times listed in the link above don't appear any tougher than the other sports.

I think a 3.55 1500 or a 10.9 second 100 would be fair bit harder than a 23 minute 10.

The only

I think a 3.55 1500

Yeah I'd agree with that one - 3.50 would put you in a photo finish for England under 17 men's

https://www.englandathletics.org/athletics-and-running/england-competitions/national-championships/england-athletics-championship-records/#Table7

molegrips, sorry, you need to recalibrate your measuring devices!

Is a zwift tt permissible? That seems an outrageous ask on an open road

Would he get drug tested at all? It's just that if he wants to get top marks I've got a mate who might know someone who is open to negotiations...

😉

Fly to Malaga, hire car and drive up to Puerto de la Ragua, highest paved road in the Sierra Nevadas.
https://www.dangerousroads.org/europe/spain/3462-puerto-de-la-ragua.html

Then do this descent (it carries on descending past the end point of this segment)
https://www.strava.com/segments/6992201

There you go, 10 miles in about 17-20 mins.

Every time I've done it has been in early season when the summit can be below zero although the road is usually kept clear but you can't go full gas on the top bits in case of ice.

Ask Hillingdon guys if you can use the circuit out of hours. Its not flat but zero traffic. You might have to dodge the odd drunk prostitute though 🙂

Could you not get up to Richmond park and do a lap and a half?

Speed limit in Richmond Park is 20mph. You'll also be sharing it with the hordes chasing Strava PBs and the local SUV brigade.

Why is getting the highest mark important?

Could you not get up to Richmond park and do a lap and a half?

Speed limit in Richmond Park is 20mph. You’ll also be sharing it with the hordes chasing Strava PBs and the local SUV brigade.

Speed limit in RP does not apply to bikes, this has recently been confirmed IIRC (has previously been wrongly enforced by the police).

Having said that given the likelyhood of getting stuck behind cars (I can rarely loop it without getting held up) the hilly nature of the loop and the chance of headwinds I’d say that maintaining an average speed of 25mph over 10miles (just under 2 laps) is a massive fastest lap by a friend I can find is done at just over 26 mph average, probably in a group - he’s a very good amateur racer.

Can we not get a few of us with e-bikes together and help with a tow?

You can look up the Tour De Richmond Park segments on Strava - KOM is about 14 mins.

Another option might be 4 laps of Goodwood (though you have to pay). Might be less boring than the 28 laps of Preston Park you'd need!

https://www.goodwood.com/cycling/motor-circuit/

If you ride Richmond Park after dark it's closed to cars - you can go as fast as you like! I used to live nearby and went up there in the evenings. You'll need a decent non-dazzling lights.

Let's be honest, if he hasn't the first clue where to do this ride in his local area he ain't getting those top marks in the next few weeks whatever happens!

Seems awfully fast to me (but I am slower than a slow thing)
If you really want a quiet-ish route to do this on, then the following might be worth a try.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/51.0842894,-0.1982219/50.9504897,-0.2392475/ @51.0495394,-0.210066,12.25z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-0.2406678!2d50.9602771!3s0x487593af977e998d:0x4cb8cd957bb46130!1m0!3e1

Park at Pease Pottage services, then head south.
The mile or so just north of handcross can be a bit busy, and the crossing of the cowfold road can take a while, depending on traffic.

Mostly downhill, with just a few relatively short rises.

The real issue with Sussex, in particular, is that even the flatter bits tend to have lots of short sharp climbs in. (wrinkly is the phrase that comes to mind)

I’d just drive to Hillingdon circuit and ride that. Or for road, the Dunsfold circuit is used for Surrey league races (all left hand turns). If you want a long downhill but not 10 miles, there is the A25 from Redhill down to Goldalming. With cycle lane too. It’s on the national cycle network and surprisingly nice to ride given it’s an A road. Brighton Preston park or even Reading Palmer park are more velodrome, but both are not steeply banked and open for public sessions.

22 mph on a road bike is going to be a challenge. You’ll want clip ons and a good position. And ideally no traffic. Or if TTs are your thing, a dual carriageway and a LOT of lorries 😉. (You don’t really but traffic assistance is a thing for TTs)

@TiRed I think you mean Godstone not Godalming! Confused me for a while there - as a Redhill resident I can’t recall the A25 going to Godalming, and it certainly wouldn’t be downhill 😂😂

Not hugely local, but closer than some of the suggestions given. Palmer Park velodrome in Reading has chain gang nights for road bikes at the moment. If group riding is acceptable then that should be relatively easy (assuming he has any chance at all).

Tuesdays and Thursdays.

You'd just need to find someone or a group up for doing a 10mile TTT effort.

Check the forecast as it's not run if it's too wet and/or windy.

Let’s be honest, if he hasn’t the first clue where to do this ride in his local area he ain’t getting those top marks in the next few weeks whatever happens!

I'm with you on this - a quick look at the marking criteria for a grade 9 said 20% of marks over 75% (for science admittedly but the attainment level should be similar).

Those top marks aren't supposed to be readily attainable, they're (in this instance) really only going to be achievable by folks looking at potentially going into cycling/athletics etc etc for a career.
It's not really intended to be achievable by someone who isn't seriously racing already, see my comment above re the 1500m time. You need to be within 5 seconds of an English under 17s record to hit top marks. The 100m needs a sub 11s time.
You're not doing that as someone who runs a bit having a crack one weekend. (I might manage within 5 seconds of the 100m 😉)

I might manage within 5 seconds of the 100m 😉

My personal best for the 100m? About 80m.

My personal best for the 100m? About 80m.

In a school athletics competition I once managed 2m of the 100m before pulling up with a badly twisted ankle. I was terrible at sprinting anyway - the distances where my running started to get good was 1500m and upwards - so my best time in the 100m was about 17 seconds. Genuinely utterly terrible.

Borrow a scooter and motopace him

Seeing as this is a bona-fide qualification, are kids allowed to go out and train during school time / normal timetabled sports? GB junior tt champ was at our school bitd & wasn't even allowed out of school as a 6th former to train & had to do cross country running instead 😕

My personal best for the 100m? About 80m.

Made me chuckle!

DrP

marking criteria for a grade 9 said 20% of marks over 75% (for science admittedly but the attainment level should be similar).

Those top marks aren’t supposed to be readily attainable, they’re (in this instance) really only going to be achievable by folks looking at potentially going into cycling/athletics etc etc for a career.
It’s not really intended to be achievable by someone who isn’t seriously racing already,

Does seem to me that a grade 9 in PE seems to be a level of unachievability above the other GCSE subjects.

Maths,German, physics etc must get a fair load of people getting 9s who have no intention at sell of pursuing them as a career or doing them to a high level already.

Though I appreciate that to someone who is shit hot at cycling but not so academic might well have the opposite viewpoint...

Nowhere near you but the A44 into Aberystwyth goes downhill for a long while then you'd only have to do a little bit on the flat

Nowhere near you but the A44 into Aberystwyth goes downhill for a long while then you’d only have to do a little bit on the flat

Technically if you just want the longest continuous downhill in the country, you don't have to go that far, it's Pishill just outside Henley in the Chilterns. It's only 10k though, so to get the other 6 you'd have to start up the road which isn't quite as flat as Google suggests.

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Maths,German, physics etc must get a fair load of people getting 9s who have no intention at sell of pursuing them as a career or doing them to a high level already.

You would still need a very significant aptitude for the subject to stand a chance of getting a 9.
But yeah, there's comparatively little chance they wanted to be a particle physicist since age seven. Dr maybe...

Depending how long you want to spend looking into it, have a look on the cycling time trials website -
https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/
- and look for courses near you. Have a look at the average results for the ones nearby to see which ones are fastest and have a look.
Alternatively look for a long downhill section, or one with the wind. Maybe missed a trick a few weeks ago, would have been really fast to get over to Maidstone! Then some form of motorised return journey!

I'd also suggest a 10mi TT is going to be defined as a race/competition. eg properly & independently timed, not just a strava log.

The times listed in the link above don’t appear any tougher than the other sports.

I think a 3.55 1500 or a 10.9 second 100 would be fair bit harder than a 23 minute 10

IIRC, a 23 minute 10 is about 4 minutes of the pace at national level for a junior on a fast course (2019 was a fast course for nat champs, last year wasn't). So a lot easier than the 3:55/1500, especially looking at this!

Yeah I’d agree with that one – 3.50 would put you in a photo finish for England under 17 men’s

Why is getting the highest mark important?

As he thought it was an easy option and has (so far) not been doing the required work?

Technically if you just want the longest continuous downhill in the country, you don’t have to go that far, it’s Pishill just outside Henley in the Chilterns. It’s only 10k though, so to get the other 6 you’d have to start up the road which isn’t quite as flat as Google suggests.

You'd be much better off starting in Nettlebed, but the right turn down Pishill is a tricky one, you'd want a spotter. It's a big hill up from Watlington

You’d be much better off starting in Nettlebed, but the right turn down Pishill is a tricky one, you’d want a spotter. It’s a big hill up from Watlington

Not coming from Watlington, coming from Christmas Common on the minor road at the top before the main road junction.

What it loses in nice A-road surface it gains in being completely flat.

Oh yes, that makes sense.

IIRC, a 23 minute 10 is about 4 minutes of the pace at national level for a junior on a fast course (2019 was a fast course for nat champs, last year wasn’t). So a lot easier than the 3:55/1500, especially looking at this!

Yes, but the guys doing 19 min 10's at junior level are also probably going to be on highest tech bikes, expensive skinsuits and hats, and so on. That's going to be worth a few % but cost 1000's

Even the most expensive running shoes are prob £2-300; 'accessible' and far less advantageous

Yes, but the guys doing 19 min 10’s at junior level are also probably going to be on highest tech bikes, expensive skinsuits and hats, and so on. That’s going to be worth a few % but cost 1000’s

Even the most expensive running shoes are prob £2-300; ‘accessible’ and far less advantageous

I agree, but in that case the kid without access to cycling equipment can devote 2 years to running the 1500m instead. Or any of the track and field events their school has the kit for.

I'd hazard a guess that anyone devoted enough to spend 2 years training to do a 10 mile TT at that pace is probably already interested in TT's (or at least road cycling), and in which case probably has (or could justify) at least a set of clip ons which would get you within marginal gains of the ££££ TT bike.

There's probably easier ways to get one grade up in a piece of coursework than spend a few grand and still have to put in 95% of the effort.

That’s going to be worth a few % but cost 1000’s

And how much do you think 1:1 tuition for three hours twice a week every week for two years costs?

I hate to burst your bubble but the reason schools in poor areas have poor outcomes isn't that poor people are stupid.

And how much do you think 1:1 tuition for three hours twice a week every week for two years costs?

Top marks in some subjects doesn't always need 1:1 tuition for years.

People who are gifted can do it fairly easily, there's a few in every year. But even a gifted cyclist won't do a 23 minute 10 on a cheap too-small MTB in his jeans on whatever random roads are near his house. But one who's the same size as his dad who's an amateur triathlete and has all the expensive gear to lend stands a far better chance.

Are we sure this level of athleticism is necessary for a level 9 in GCSE PE? My yr11 daughter is on course for a 9 in PE and is unremarkable in any sport but the school has all the other coursework nailed.

Why is getting the highest mark important?

Because UK society is based on it and it has a large bearing on your working life. Of course you could go to a hippy school that cares more about bringing up well rounded individuals where working together, morals and ethics are more important than passing a test in a subject that you will never, ever use again (looking at you physics and chemistry) but I think that may be slightly off topic of the thread...