Cyclo-Cross (often abbreviated to ‘Cross) is generally an autumn and winter sport. Massed starts make for exciting races, usually no more than an hour in length – and shorter for juniors, women and veterans. There are usually free-to-enter races for younger riders. Some organisers are now starting to run summer series, which are proving very popular.

Lapping it Up! Cyclo-Cross races are usually multi lap events, held on short (typically less than a mile and often less than half a mile), grassy courses, generally in public parks or on school playing fields. Less technically demanding than Mountain Biking, Cyclo-Cross often requires riders to dismount to clear artificial obstacles – often wooden boards. The ability to swap smoothly and quickly from riding to running and back to riding in one fluid motion is a key skill for advanced riders.

Private Battles:
The short lap lengths mean that better riders often lap some of the slower competitors, but that’s not the end of the race – you can still submerge yourself in the action, enjoy your own private battles and forget whether you are first or a hundred and first – that’s the beauty of the sport: it’s what you make of it that counts.

Bike Facts:
Cyclo-Cross machines look very similar to road bikes, with dropped handlebars and thin tyres – however the latter have a knobbled-tread for grip, powerful brakes, low gears and better frame clearances to prevent clogging with mud, all of which adds up to make them easy to handle on the rough.

**This content is used courtessy of British Cycling.
VC10 recommend that all riders join British Cycling for the insurance and numerous other benefits membership provides. For more details please visit: http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/membership

Tracks:
Track racing takes place on short specially built tracks consisting of two tight, banked corners joined by two short straights. Tracks range hugely in length – outdoor tracks usually being longer and with shallower bankings – but Olympic and World Championship Track racing is generally held on indoor 250m wooden tracks. Many outdoor tracks are concrete or tarmac surfaced.

Bikes:
Track bikes are relatively simple, lacking the gears and brakes of their Road cousins. With bikes having a fixed wheel (forcing you to pedal continuously) the rider controls speed through pressure applied to the pedals. Bikes fall into two broad categories:

Upright bikes with conventional dropped handlebars, traditional spoked or carbon spoked wheels. These bikes are used for bunch races, Keirin and Match Sprint.

Low-profile bikes, with extended “trathalon” style bars, allowing the rider to adopt a more aerodynamic position. Wheels are often four-spoked carbon or carbon disc. Handling and manoeuvrability are sacrificed for aerodynamic efficiency. These bikes are used for Pursuit races and Kilo and 500m Time Trial.

TRACK RACING – A GUIDE TO THE MAIN EVENTS

Track events can be split into two main types Sprint events, which generally last for less than two minutes and Endurance events which can be up to 40km in length.

Sprint Events

Kilometre Time Trial (500 metres for women):
A time trial against the watch, ridden from a standing start. No qualifying rounds, make this a high-pressure, one-chance event.

Team Sprint:
Three man teams ride three laps of the track (750m on Olympic standard 250m Tracks). After the first lap, the first rider peels off and plays no further part in the race. After the second lap the second rider also pulls off, leaving the third rider to complete the event and record the team’s time. Technically demanding, the aim is for the first two riders to shield and slipstream the third rider for two laps (slipstreaming can save up to 30% of energy) leaving them relatively fresh for the last lap. Usually ridden two teams at a time (starting opposite sides of the track) with a qualifying round, with the four fastest winning teams going through to the finals for gold/silver and bronze.

Keirin:
The Keirin (Japanese for “fight”) is a race in which riders sprint for the line after completing a series of laps behind a single motorbike pacer (derny). The pacer gradually builds up speed, with riders jockeying for position behind (riders must not pass the “derny” until it pulls off). The derny pulls onto the track infield with 2 and a half laps to go and from then on it’s a free-for-all to the line. Tactical and often very physical, it’s a great spectator event. Usually ridden with heats, repechage and major (medals) and minor placings finals.

Match Sprint:
Simple head-to-head sprinting between two riders over three laps of the track. At the highest level there is usually a qualifying 200m flying start time trial to organise the seeding. From then on there are a series of knockout rounds leading to quarter-finals, semis and the final. These latter rounds are usually ridden on a best of three basis.

Endurance Events

Individual Pursuit:
The ultimate head-to-head endurance race. Riders begin from a standing start in pairs on opposite sides of the Track and literally “pursue” each other for 4000 meters (3000 meters for women). There is usually a qualifying round from which the fastest riders progress either to a second round where the top eight ride off for places in the gold/silver and bronze finals. In the finals, the fastest rider wins, unless one rider is caught by the other, at which point the race is over.

Team Pursuit:
Team version of the individual pursuit. A male only discipline. The major difference to the individual version is that the four riders share the workload, with the lead rider staying at the front for only a lap or so before swinging up the track (right) and re-joining the four man line at the back. A technical event, team-mates often ride only centimetres apart to maximise slipstreaming effects. Times are taken on the third rider of the team to cross the line: the slowest rider in a team often sacrifices himself in later stages of the event and pulls up the track to let his team-mates complete the race without him.

Points Race:
A bunch race (20-30 riders) competing over 20, 30 or 40km. Riders aim to gain points, with the highest score winning the event. Points can be scored at “Intermediate” sprints, often every 10, 20 or 25 laps. Large numbers of bonus points can also be scored by lapping the field. A very tactical event, with alliances being formed and broken and dramatic attacks being chased down by the field. Requires speed, stamina, the ability to sprint quickly to grab points and a cool head.

Madison:
Effectively a Points Race for two-man teams (though the points scoring works slightly differently – see below). Only one rider per pairing is ever actually racing. The other rider circles the track high up the banking awaiting being caught by his team-mate at which point he swoops down and, after a hand sling (difficult to describe, but basically the rider who is “in” takes the hand of his team-mate and transfers his momentum to him through a mixed handshake and slinging motion) takes over the racing for the pair. Highly technical, a challenge to watch, but very exciting and almost balletic at times. Again, the winner is the team with the most points – however, unlike Points Races, laps gained over the field do not produce bonus points – instead laps gained actually have priority over points scored. So if only one team laps the field, they win irrespective of the number of points scored. And if several teams lap the field, they then are ranked according to points scored. This puts extra emphasis on taking laps, which subtly influences tactics used.

Scratch Race:
A simple bunch race, usually held over 10, 15, 20 or 25 km with the first over the line the winner. Tactical moves include lapping the field. Riders with endurance but poor sprinting abilities will favour this tactic, whilst riders with a powerful sprint will favour saving their efforts to the very end.

**This content is used courtesy of British Cycling.
VC10 recommend that all riders join British Cycling for the insurance and numerous other benefits membership provides. For more details please visit: http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/membership

VC10 uses a stepped approach when introducing cycling to Sub21 riders. The emphasis is on safe and progressive development. Taking things at your pace. The most important thing being fun and friendship.
 
In conjunction with British Cycling’s GoRide and Bikeability Schemes, VC10 has a safe and structured approach for families to learn cycling. This allows riders new to cycling to progress from being a complete novice to riding in Road Races, Mountain Bike Events or Time Trials.
 

Bikeability:
There are three Bikeability levels which aim to help you become a more proficient, safer cyclist. The program has been developed so that as you achieve the next level you can safely go to more places on your bike. Using the expertise of VC10 partners such as Cyclefleet, we can provide training and access to beginners and recreational bikes. Cyclefleet can provide Bikeability training to family groups or individuals.
 

GoRide:
As you and your family progress the next step is to get involved in British Cycling’s GoRide scheme. This scheme is aimed at developing young riders abilities in a safe environment, giving them the opportunity to perfect their bike handling and get involved in fun competition and activities…perhaps with the ultimate goal of riding for a team or in the Olympics!

This is where VC10’s sponsor Sigma Sport steps in, helping the club provide the correct equipment to riders who want to represent us in racing events. VC10 has the backing and the ambition to give young riders the opportunities they deserve. All Sub21 team riders are supplied with team clothing and race bikes as part of the sponsorship package from Sigma and VC10.
 
If racing and Olympic ambition are not your cup of tea and you just want to become club members we offer the same care and support to help you get the most from cycling. We want you to feel confident about going out together for a family ride or allowing the kids to ride to school.  Above all VC10 hope you will join us and find a friendly and safe environment for you and your family to enjoy cycling.

Velo Féminin is for women who want to participate in cycling at every level.

We have members who use the Cycle2Work scheme for fitness right through to competing in road races, national time trials and mountain bike races.

As with our youth program Sub21, we offer a progressive approach to cycling. Bikeability offers members who have never ridden on the road before the ability to train in safe environments before heading out onto the open road.

Many people both women and men are concerned about how they will react to riding in traffic and on the road. VC10’s Bikeability training will ease you into road riding when you feel you have the skills and confidence to do this.

Some people feel that road riding is not for them. VC10’s ladies Mountain Bike section could be a great way for you to get out on your bike without the worry of traffic.

VC10 via Cyclefleet has access to recreational bikes so people can come along and do “Come and Try It” events before taking the step of buying their own equipment.

The VC10/aspire holistic coaching products allow competitive cyclists to develop their performance goals and be coached on a daily/weekly basis by British Cycling qualified coaches.

VC10’s philosophy is. “Its your club – what do you want from it?”

Join us and shape the future of Women’s cycling in the UK.