Track sessions on 12th and 26th April
The 2025 track cycling season at Preston Park is about to begin! We are excited to confirm that both Inner Ring and Outer Ring sessions will have track riding groups on Saturday 12th April and Saturday 26th April. These sessions will provide riders with an opportunity to develop their track cycling skills and prepare for the upcoming race season.
New to track cycling?
Please see British Cycling’s Introduction to Track Cycling. For riders new to track cycling, these April sessions will also include track accreditation, which is required for anyone looking to race in the Sussex Cycle Racing League (SCRL) Wednesday night series or the National Youth Omnium regional rounds.
What is accreditation? Accreditation is a process that ensures riders have the necessary skills to ride and race safely on a velodrome using a track bike. Riders will learn essential techniques such as starting, stopping, group riding, and track etiquette. Our qualified track coaches will guide riders through this process over a number of sessions. We don’t rush the accreditation, it takes as long as it takes for each rider but is usually completed in 2-3 hours of track time.
I’m not a PPYCC member, can I come and get accredited? Yes, we would love to see you! Any youth rider who is not a PPYCC member can attend these sessions by prior arrangement. Please email chair@ppycc.org.uk
What if I don’t want to race? We appreciate that not every PPYCC rider wants to race at track league. Therefore our coaches design the novice track cycling sessions to be accessible to all riders who enjoy riding their bike, whether interested in track racing or not. We encourage all our regulars to join these sessions as riding a track bike is a great skill to accomplish and really good fun!
What if I just don’t want to ride on a track bike? This is absolutely fine, please still come along! Our regular coaches will still be available to run activities for those on road bikes not wishing to take part in the track cycling group.
Borrowing a track bike
If you require a loan track bike, please arrive 15 mins early to find a correctly sized bike. PPYCC has track bikes in three wheel sizes: 24 inch, 650C (26 inches) and 700C (27 inches). But there are a limited number, so please contact us in advance and let us know what size you need. Our loan bikes are equipped with flat pedals suitable for trainers, but riders can bring their own pedals if they wish and swap them over.
Track bike season loans for PPYCC members. Once you have completed accreditation, if you are planning to race SCRL most weeks then you can take a 650C or 700C bike home for the season. This will save time with bike fits each week. Please do not ask for a bike loan unless planning to race regularly at track league. We only have a few 24 inch bikes though, so the 24 inch bikes are NOT available to loan and need to be kept at the track and used by whoever needs them.
As usual, no charge applies for bike loans but you are responsible for general maintenance of the bike and keeping it in good working order, replacing consumables like bar tape, chain and tyres when needed.
Non-members can loan track bikes on Wednesday nights at the league, there is a tick box on the SCRL registration form if you need to borrow one, for which the league charges £4.
Weather & session updates
Track cycling is weather-dependent. If the track is damp or wet, we will revert to regular Inner and Outer Ring road bike sessions. Updates will be posted on the PPYCC website by 8:00 AM on the day of each session, so please check before leaving home.
Get ready for the 2025 track racing season
With the SCRL Wednesday night track league starting soon and key races like the Preston Park Omnium in May, now is the perfect time to get on a track bike and develop your skills. Whether you’re looking to do your first local race or enter the regional Omnium series, we look forward to seeing you on the 12th and 26th April!
Weds night track league: http://scrl.co.uk
Regional Youth Omniums: Herne Hill (Round 2), Preston Park (Round 3), Bournemouth (Round 4), Welwyn (Round 4)