Go-Ride - is British Cycling's development programme for young people. The programme provides a fun and safe way to introduce young riders to the world of cycle sport and provides a platform to improve bike handling skills.

To get involved is easy, through one of BC's many Holiday Coaching Programmes or at a local Go-Ride club (see the list to the left). Here young people will be able to sample the various cycle sport disciplines and start enjoying one of the fastest growing sports in the UK today.

For those who are already involved and want to move forward, Go-Ride has it covered with the new Go-Ride Racing competition programme.

Information for Parents

As a parent you will no doubt want to make sure that your child is safe whenever they undertake any type of activity without your supervision. British Cycling's Go-Ride Clubmark Accreditation supports the development and recognition of quality junior clubs. As part of the programme, clubs must ensure they have a Club Welfare Officer who has attended a Child Protection Course, and that Go-Ride sessions are delivered by British Cycling qualified coaches who have also attended courses on Child Protection, Equity, and hold a current First Aid certificate.

Go-Ride clubs deliver coaching activities in traffic-free environments. Any type of bike can be used, so long as it is in good condition, and a cycling helmet must be worn. The sessions teach the necessary skills to make riders more competent and safer cyclists. One example - Portsmouth School of Cycle Racing

What will my child gain from this?

The Go-Ride programme of cycling activities promotes good health and includes fun activities that are easy to learn. As obesity levels in young people rise, cycling can be seen as a very enjoyable way of getting exercise and countering a sedentary lifestyle.

Will my child be safe?

All Go-Ride clubs have a commitment to ongoing training for their volunteers, coaches and officials, to have a sound structure, to be fair and equitable and to undertake training to support British Cycling's Policies and Guidelines for child protection and best practice. All coaching sessions are risk assessed and clubs take relevant actions to reduce any possible risks. As such, clubs do everything in their power to provide a safe environment in which your child can cycle. Cycling, however, does have its risks and even the best riders still fall off occasionally.

What qualifications do British Cycling coaches have?

All coaches in Go-Ride clubs must be British Cycling qualified coaches. All British Cycling coaching awards include sports coach UK's ‘Safeguarding and Protecting Children' workshop, which helps to ensure that Go-Ride clubs are safe and welcoming environments for young people of all backgrounds.

Coaches are also encouraged to broaden their knowledge to suit their particular requirements, for example attending the sports coach UK workshop ‘How to Coach Disabled People in Sport'. British Cycling has a Coach Licensing Scheme that requires all qualified coaches to retain annual membership and hold a valid First Aid certificate.

Go-Ride and Clubmark

British Cycling has incorporated Sport England's Clubmark standard into the Go-Ride Accreditation programme. Clubmark is a nationally recognised set of standards that supports the development and recognition of quality junior clubs.

A Go-Ride Cycling Club is a club that has committed to work towards Clubmark accreditation. To achieve Go-Ride Clubmark status clubs are required to demonstrate minimum operating standards in 4 areas: Safeguarding Young People, Sports Equity, Club Management, and Coaching.

For more information please contact British Cycling on 0161 274 2069 or visit the Clubmark Website

Holiday Coaching Programmes 2010

The Holiday Coaching Programmes during 2009 proved to be a great success, so British Cycling is running another series of programmes across the country this year. As before, they are open to various ages and abilities, and offer up to 5 days of quality, progressive coaching.

There is a wide variety of cycling on offer, covering all of the major disciplines: BMX, Cycle-Speedway, Cyclo-Cross, Mountain Biking, Road and Track.

South Region Holiday Coaching Programmes 2010

This year's Go-Ride South Region Holiday Coaching Programmes are still being confirmed and will be added to the British Cycling site as soon as they become available.

Please keep checking the link above as details may change.

For further information and a registration form for the South's Holiday Coaching Programmes please contact our Regional Manager or Regional Go-Ride Coaches. Pre-booking on the schemes is essential and riders turning up on the day will not be admitted.