When is the track open? 

 

Our track is an open public place, so anyone can ride here at any time, however as a club
we will run sessions every Saturday between 9am and 3pm. Through the months of April to
October we run gate practice sessions on a Tuesday evening and a coaching session for our
national riders on a Monday evening. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for additional
information, cancellations, or extra sessions we may put on.

During club sessions the track is closed to the public.

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How old do you have to be to ride the track?

 

Any ages are allowed to ride the track, we do recommend that whoever rides the track can
confidently ride a bike stood up, as that is required to get around the track safely. 4 years old
is the minimum age to compete in a regional or national BMX race set by British Cycling.

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How do I become a member?

 

If you’ve been to a few of our coaching sessions or gate practice sessions, you may want to
become a member to take advantage of our members only sessions, you can become a
member by going through the British Cycling link below.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/club/profile/1931/runnymede-rockets

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What do I need to wear?

 

If you are planning to ride during one of our organized sessions, we will need you to wear at
least long sleeves, long trousers, gloves, and a full-face helmet. It doesn’t matter if they’re
BMX specific or not, as long as you’re covered. We also recommend wearing elbow or knee
pads if you have them. If you don’t have a full-face helmet then don’t worry, as we do have
some that can be hired for use in our sessions.

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Do I need a BMX to ride the track?

 

We do recommend that you ride a BMX bike to take part in one of our sessions, however if
you or your child prefers their own bike, we recommend that the seat is put down as low as
possible, and that both brakes work well. If you don’t have a bike at all, fear not as we do
have bikes we can lend out during our sessions, just let us know when you book on and we’ll
have it waiting for you when you arrive.

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Can I leave my child unattended during a club session?

 

If they are under the age of 16, no. BMX Racing is considered an extreme sport, and no
matter what level anyone is riding at accidents do happen, so please stick around while the
sessions are taking place.

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How do I join a coaching session?

 

If you would like to get involved and have a go, you can book onto one of our sessions in the
link below. If you’ve never ridden a BMX track before, we recommend joining our Group
1 session as that is where we’ll teach you the basics, we do recommend that whoever
rides the track can confidently ride a bike stood up, as that is required to get around the track
safely.

BOOK A SESSION

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Can I just turn up to a coaching session and join in?

 

Unfortunately not. There is a limit (set by British Cycling) on the number of riders that a
coach is allowed to have in a session. As a result, all coaching sessions are pre-book only
so that we can control numbers.

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Which coaching session should I book?

 

Please read the coaching groups guide and book onto the most appropriate session. If
you’ve new to the sport of BMX racing or have only been to the track a few times, please
book onto Group 1.

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What size bike will I need?

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This can be a bit of a grey area, as it can usually come down to preference, it is usually best
to come to the track and try the different sized bikes as the sizes can fluctuate between
brands. Below we have a list of sizes in order from smallest to largest.

• Micro-mini: 16.75 in top tube.

• Mini: 17.75 in top tube.

• Junior: 18.25 in top tube. 

• Expert: 18.9 in top tube.

• Expert XL: 20 in top tube.

• Pro: 20.75 in top tube.

• Pro XL: 21 in top tube.

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Is there anything else I might need to know before attending a session?

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Before attending a session please have a read through our code of conduct, this may
answer any other questions you may have, you are also agreeing to abide by these rules
when you sign up for a session.

Parents, please do not walk onto the track during a session, as this makes it unsafe for the
other riders on the track. If your child falls they will be helped by the coach who is first aid
trained. Please wait for the coach to ask you to come onto the track.

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Do I need to be a member do join in club sessions?

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No you don’t need to be a member to join in with our sessions, but members do get discount
and sometimes priority booking for certain sessions.

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Do I need a licence to race?

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At first no, you won’t need a license to do club races, but once you start to get into the
regional races you will need a Silver BC Membership which is available through the British
Cycling website.

• Club races – no

• Regional level – Silver BC membership

• Nationals – race licence

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Why don’t you run more sessions like holiday clubs and birthday parties etc.?

Our agreement with the council limits the number of times we can use the track per year, so
we tend to keep them to 2/3 times a week maximum to keep us in line with the council. Also,
our club is fully run by volunteers who help run the club in their own spare time around their
own work and life commitments.

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How do I order a club jersey?

 

For race jerseys we run a pre-order system, we will post about it on all of our channels so no
ones misses out, and we intend to do this a couple times a year, manufacturer dependent. If
you would like any other club merchandise, you can visit B73 Tees, and can order from
there.

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Can I help or volunteer in any way?

 

Yes of course! If you feel as though you want to help in anyway, please make yourself
known to any of the coaches or other volunteers, many hands make light work. We also
have a yearly AGM (details will be posted on our FB page) that any members are invited to
attend, and this is where official volunteer roles are appointed.

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