FAQsBelow you will find some our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us, and someone from the club will try to answer it.

How long has PPYCC been running?

The club was founded in 2000, and has been going from strength to strength earning Club Mark status in 2007 and winning Brighton and Hove Sports Club of the Year in 2008.

Where and when does the club meet and ride?

Between March and October the club typically meets at Preston Park Cycle Track every Satuday between 10 and 12 AM. Please check our club calendar to confirm details of our next club session. The club also meets less often during the winter months. Again, please check the club calendar for details. Where to find usAge restrictions?The club is aimed at children from 8 to 18 but all ages can join.

How much does membership cost?

See membership section here.

How much does it cost to attend a club session?

Members pay £2.50/session and Non-members £4/session. Occasionally the club travels away from Brighton (Calshot near Portsmouth for track racing during the winter and mountain bike trips during the summer have proved popular). For these type of events, there may be additional costs.

What do I need to bring if I want to join in on a club session?

In addition to your session fee (£2.50 for members/£4 for non-members), please bring:

• Your helmet
• Appropriate clothing and footwear
• A drink and a snack
• Track mitts or gloves ( These will protect your hands in the event of a fall as well as keep your hands warm.)
• Your bike!

What do I need to bring if I want to join in on a road ride session?

In addition to your session fee (£2.50 for members/£4 for non-members) this is the same as for a club session, see above, plus the list below; but please note appropriate clothing is absolutely essential as cycling is a cold sport on all but the warmest days. Road cyclists do not usually wear a rucksack, but if you do not have purpose designed clothing and equipment this may be necessary :

• Rain protection
• Tyre levers, puncture repair kit, spare inner tube, pump and simple tools e.g. hexagon key set or multi-tool.
• Mobile phone or money to make use a public phone

Does every rider get a club jersey?

We have a high quality kit which you can order from us. It’s specially made to order and we will order it once or twice a year, or when enough people ask for it. Be patient when ordering as it can take a long time to arrive. Sometimes we have a few spare jerseys, ask at the club if you would like one of these. Click for the design.

Where can I find a racing bike?

We have found that most riders under the age of 10 (and indeed some under the age of 12) will need a bike with 24″ wheels. Unfortunately, racing bikes this size are very difficult to come by in this country. Kids in the club have managed to find bikes from an amazing variety of sources, including classified ads (try Loot and the Friday-Ad), relatives on the Continent and even the dump! We have also heard rumours that Brixton Bikes in London is able to special order Peugeot kid’s racers from France. Perseverance pays off, so don’t get discouraged if none of these routes pays off. The club also has a few old road bikes available to lend, so let us know if you haven’t been able to get a hold of a bike, and we may be able to help or guide you.For older and taller riders, there are, of course, many more options. Many “Triathlon” bikes have slightly smaller 26″ inch wheels, which may be ideal for someone who isn’t quite tall enough bikes with 27″/700c wheels. Baker Street Bikes in Brighton is a good place to start, but if you are serious about racing and not sure what to get, it may be useful to come along and speak to one of the coaches.

What are the age categories for racing?

There are five youth age categories: under 16, under 14, under 12, under 10 and under 8. For full details of these age categories and associated gear restrictions, please read the Gear Restrictions and Age Categories  document.

How do I enter races?

It depends on the type of race. Races may be pre-entry only, entry on the line [EOL] only or both pre-entry and EOL. When both it usually costs more to EOL. For EOL you just turn up and fill in an entry sheet [and sometimes a form as well] on the day. When you pre-enter you must use the correct entry sheet. Most races are covered by the three entry forms which are: a British Cycling road race entry form, a British Cycling track entry form and a BSCA entry form.  BC Road Entry, BC Track Entry, BSCA Entry

Do I need to own a track bike in order to race at the track?

No. All our riders in the club regularly train with track bikes. Events at Preston Park on Wednesday are require under 12, 14 and 16 year categories to race on track bikes. We have a large number of these bikes and will lend them out to club riders for Wednesday night racing and other track events. The Wednesday night racing is organised by the Sussex Cycling racing league click here for details.

How safe is it?

Although no sport or outdoor activity is 100% safe, at PPYCC we have an excellent safety record. Our coaches are fully BCF qualified Club Coaches, and no club session is permitted to take place without at least one in attendance. As fully qualified coaches, they also hold first aid certificates and have been clearance to work with young people.

Do I need to become a member of British Cycling?

If you join the club, a portion of your club fees goes towards membership of the British Cycling Federation. Membership confers many benefits, including reduced entry fees and insurance. Please visit the British Cycling Federation website for further details.

Does the club have any riders interested in BMX?

PPYCC has mainly track and road riders and also has an interest in mountain biking and cyclo-cross riding. We don’t currently have any BMX riders, but many of the activities we do during our club sessions are suitable for those on BMX bikes. If you’re not sure, come along and try it out.

Policies and Procedures

Below are a variety of documents that inform the way PPYCC is run. Most of them are documents that are required of any club claiming to be Club Mark status.Constitution   Coaches’ Code of Ethics and Conduct  Child Protection Policy   Accident and Emergency ProceduresRisk Assessment Preston Park    Members Code of Conduct