Are Track Cycling Tasters suitable for complete beginners?
Yes, they’re designed for people of all ages and abilities. As long as you can ride a bike in a straight line, unaided, you’ll be fine.

What clothing and shoes should I wear?
Lycra or cycling specific clothing is not essential. Clothing should be comfy, suitable for the activity and not too baggy, to avoid getting caught in your bike. Trainers are preferable, please don’t wear open-toed sandals.

Check the weather before you come; bring a waterproof and warm clothes in case of bad weather.

Wear a top that covers your shoulders (no sleeveless tops).

What type of helmet and gloves should I wear?
If you have your own cycling helmet in good condition please bring it with you, if not we have ones you can borrow. Peaks must be removed from helmets. Helmets must fasten under the chin and at the back of the head. We would also recommend that the helmet be no more than 3 years old.

Gloves or cycling mitts must be worn at all times when riding.

Where do I go when I arrive at HHV?
Sessions take place all around the site. Kids sessions meet at the big ‘derny gate’ which is situated at the end of the grandstand seating area. Off-road sessions typically meet at the ‘derny gate’ also. Youth and Adult Track sessions meet on the steps outside the pavilion. If unclear, find a member of staff and they will be happy to direct you to the relevant location.

What time should I arrive?
Please aim to arrive 30 minutes before the start of your session. Late arrivals (more than 10 minutes after the start time) to Track Cycling Tasters and Kids sessions won’t be able to participate.

Do sessions still run during the holidays?
Yes, all of our sessions continue to run on Bank Holidays and during School Holidays. The only days that sessions do not take place are on 24th, 25th and 26th of December and 1st January.

Which sessions are suitable for people with disabilities?
Please get in touch to discuss your specific needs and to see which sessions will be suitable for you.

What age can kids try a Track Cycling Taster?
As soon as they’re 8yrs+ they can try our tasters. Prior to that, we’d encourage them to develop their bike handling skills in our Strider, Frog or Youth MTB Sessions.

What clothing and shoes should kids wear?
Lycra or cycling specific clothing is not essential. Clothing should be comfy, suitable for the activity and not too baggy, to avoid getting caught in your bike. Trainers are preferable, please don’t wear open-toed sandals. All shoe laces must be tucked into shoes.

Please make sure you check the weather before you come; bring a waterproof and warm clothes in case of bad weather.

Strider Balance Bike

Frog Pedal Bike

Youth Track Bike

I’m accredited elsewhere, do I still need to do my HHV accreditations?
Yes, you still need to pass both levels of accreditation. However if you are an experienced racer from another velodrome you do not necessarily need to come to any training sessions prior to your accreditation. Current International professional riders, and riders on British Cycling track development programmes (Junior Academy and above) do not require accreditation.

Can an accreditation at Herne Hill Velodrome be used at other tracks?
No, a Herne Hill accreditation is not valid at other velodromes

Youth Track Bike

Track Bike

Road Bike

Which sessions include free bike hire?
Strider, Frog, Learn to Cycle, Track Tasters, Track Skills, Intermediate Training, Race Training, Accreditations and Youth MTB sessions all include free, optional bike hire. Road/TT Bike sessions do not include free bike hire.

Can I adapt the hire bike to suit me?
The saddle height is adjusted to fit you. For Track Tasters, Track Skills, Track Training & Accreditations you can use your own clip-less pedals, however you will be required to remove/replace our pedals yourself before and after the session. Please do not adjust the handlebars, stem, or anything except the saddle height on our hire bikes.

Can I store my own bike at HHV?
We have a limited number of private storage hooks available. To register your interest / join the waiting list, click here. The Bike Storage Contract can be viewed here.

Can I use my own bike?
You’re more than welcome to bring you own bike as long as it meets the safety requirements of the session.
Please see the diagrams below to check your bike is appropriate.

What are Season Hire Bikes?
We have a limited number of track bikes that we hire to users on an annual basis, enabling them have a bike at the track that’s setup to fit them (saddle, pedals etc). To register your interest / join the waiting list, click here.

Will my session be cancelled if it’s raining, icy or windy?

We are an outdoor facility and recommend that you check the weather forecast before attending, dress accordingly and bring a spare set of clothes if necessary. We will continue activities in all but the most extreme conditions. Light to medium rain is not a problem, as our track has an all-weather surface and grip is easily maintained in wet weather.  

In the case of heavy rain during a session we may pause riding. More often than not we are able to continue riding when it eases up. We recommend eye protection with clear lenses if rain is scheduled for your session, as spray from other riders’ wheels is often the foremost safety issue. 

In the case of ice and high winds, please look out for updates on our Instagram stories regarding session cancellations when these conditions are forecast. If you are coming from far away please check for updates before setting off.

What is your weather cancellation policy?

Rider safety is paramount and decisions regarding whether to run a session or not are taken by the session coach, who is best placed to determine if the session content is appropriate for the riders and weather conditions. We understand how frustrating it can be when sessions are cancelled at very short notice, but rider safety is always our primary concern when deciding if a session can take place.

We endeavour to give people at least 2 hours notice if we do decide to cancel a session due to extreme weather, however sometimes this can be less if the conditions are changeable. Once cancelled, we will move your booking to our holding page, from which you can transfer it to another session of the same type for no additional cost. 

We will inform participants about any cancellations via the email address used to book the session, so do check your inbox before you begin traveling to HHV. We also post session updates on our Twitter feed.

How do I book a session?
All of our sessions are now booked via RiderHQ. To find and book specific session types, visit our Book a Session page and follow the links.

If you would like to book a birthday party, school session, group or corporate session or hire any of our facilities, please visit our Hire page for further details.

What is your refund policy?
Our aim is to have a refund policy that is fair for riders, but also limits the financial impact on HHV of last minute cancellations. You can cancel your booking in your Rider HQ account up to 48hrs before the session starts and receive a full refund (minus booking fee). Within 48hrs of the session start time, you can apply to cancel your booking in your Rider HQ account and if we manage to fill your place, then you will receive a full refund. If we don't, you will not be refunded. The majority of sessions have waiting lists at the moment, so we hope that a full refund can be issued in the majority of cases.

Where is Herne Hill Velodrome?
We are situated at 104 Burbage Rd, London SE24 9HE. As you walk north-west along Burbage Rd (from the cross with Turney Rd) keep an eye out for some lovely wood panel gates and a small sign on your right-hand side.

For more information about the recently updated traffic calming measures on Burbage Road click here or search ‘Dulwich Streetspace’.

What’s the best way to get to HHV?
By bike of course! We have loads of bike racks so you can keep your bike safely locked up.

We’re a short walk (and even shorter cycle) from North Dulwich, Herne Hill or Tulse Hill overground stations and local bus routes can be found by clicking here.

Is there car parking available on site?
We have a limited number of car parking spaces, including disabled bays, on site and would recommend coming by bike or public transport unless driving is absolutely necessary.

Introduction
HHV is an inclusive venue. We strive to provide activities, information and facilities that enable everyone to enjoy riding a bike. 

If you are concerned that your disability might affect your visit or you have specific access requirements, do drop us an email in advance so that we can make any necessary arrangements.

Accessibility Contact
We hope you find all of the information you need on this page. If not, do get in touch with our Cycling Manager, Iain Cook, with any queries; icook@hhvt.org. We are a small team but will endeavour to get back to you as quickly as we can.

Parking / Getting Here
We currently have 4 designated disabled parking bays and a large, unmarked parking area.

If you have specific travel or access needs, do drop us an email before your visit. For more information on how to get to HHV, please see the Travel & Parking FAQ section above.

Accessible Cycling at Herne Hill Velodrome
Award-winning charity Wheels for Wellbeing (WfW) run weekly drop-in sessions at HHV, catering for riders of all ages - and with a range of disabilities - with their huge variety of adapted cycles. For more information, visit their website.

When booking cycling sessions at HHV through our booking partner RiderHQ, we include data fields that enable you to outline any specific requirements or concerns you might have, allowing our coaches to prepare for your visit or get in touch beforehand if needed. The information you provide will only be viewed by members of staff involved in delivering the activity in which you are participating.

Venue Description / Visitor Information
The vast majority of our 9 acre site has step-free access, including the entranceway, parking areas, toilets, track centre, multi-use-games-area, bike storage area and pavilion. A customer lift enables those with mobility issues to access our clubroom, meeting room, cafe and main spectator area, situated on the first floor.

Whilst step-free, parts of our site, including our extensive off-road trails, are comprised of rough ground and undulating terrain which might be challenging for wheelchair users or visitors with mobility issues or visual impairment.

Toilets / Changing Rooms
We have two disabled toilets/changing rooms with step-free access situated on the ground floor of the pavilion.

Spectating
We have a large, accessible spectator’s area on the first floor of the pavilion, overlooking the main 450m banked velodrome. Whilst we rarely sell tickets for racing events at HHV, we can reserve this area for visitors who might be unable to access other spectator areas at HHV. Simply drop us an email ahead of your visit.

Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome on site. We simply ask that they are kept on a lead at all times.

Downloadable pdf
To download a large type pdf document containing the accessibility information featured on this page, please click here.

Introduction
HHV is primarily known for the Velodrome, but did you know we also have some off-road trails? They host a variety of sessions and races throughout the year.

What is Cyclocross?
Local youth club HHYCC have written a handy guide to Cyclocross, which you can read here.  

In brief, Cyclocross is a mix of the best elements of road riding, mountain biking and cross-country running. It’s an excellent way to keep fit over winter, and because of the variety of obstacles thrown in, it’s a dynamic and fun experience that you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere! It’s quite a race-focused discipline, however because of all the technical elements, it features very few ‘bunch’ or group racing tactics, which makes it one of the most beginner-friendly disciplines.

Can I come to Mountain Biking sessions?
Currently, HHV only run MTB sessions from January - May. If you are a youth rider you can try Herne Hill Youth CC’s Saturday MTB sessions, which run year-round; see their website for more info and for their booking links.

Are Cyclocross skills sessions suitable for complete beginners?
If you are brand new to cycling, check out our bike handling skills sessions first. If you’re a relatively confident commuter or club cyclist, these sessions are for you! They are designed to introduce you to a range of new skills specific to cyclocross, and build your fitness and confidence off-road.

What do I need to bring to the session?
A suitable bike (see below), layers and waterproofs. As this session is physically demanding, you may want to invest in cycling-specific layers and waterproofs; HHYCC’s  guide to clothing is here

What type of bike is suitable for this session?
Most off-road bikes with wide, knobbly tyres (usually 28mm+) - these can be Cyclocross-specific bikes if you have one, but can also be Gravel or Mountain bikes. Unless you specifically plan to race Cyclocross competitively, we don’t necessarily recommend buying a specific CX bike.

Can I hire a bike for this session?
We have very limited number of adult Cyclocross bikes available - please get in touch via email (info@hernehillvelodrome.com) in advance of the session to reserve one. We offer MTB hire for all off-road sessions for just £4, but do check with the coach if this will be suitable for cyclocross-specific sessions.

Where do I go when I arrive at HHV?
Please arrive 10-15 mins before the session and wait outside the pavilion, the coach will meet you there. Latecomers will have to find the group on the trails.

Will the session run in bad weather?
Cyclocross is designed to run in all weather conditions, however we will endeavour to let all participants know via email at least 2 hours before the session if we need to cancel; if you don’t hear from us, please assume the session will go ahead!

Introduction
Herne Hill Velodrome is a welcoming and friendly place for all, and we expect all participants, visitors and staff to follow the behaviours set out in our Code of Conduct.

We have additional advice and guidance for children, young people and parents, please read the policies relevant to you and the activities you take place in.

Code of Conduct for all visitors and participants

HHV Code of Conduct

Pricing
Our aim is to ensure that as many people as possible can access our sessions and for this reason we try and keep prices as low as we can. Typically, kids/youth sessions are £5, adult track sessions are £11 (with an option to donate an additional £2) and adult track tasters are £20.

For youth sessions, sibling discounts apply where more than one sibling is booked into the same session. For more information please contact Tianne (tbell@hhvt.org). We also operate an Opportunity Fund for families who may need financial support.

If you join the Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome, you can also get discounts on our the majority of our adult sessions. More information can be found here.

We are in the process of introducing discounts for students and those on Universal Credit. Please contact info@hernehillvelodrome.com if this is relevant to you!

Youth and Parents
Please see our policies around safeguarding, anti-bullying, and codes of conduct for young people and their carers.

HHV Safeguarding: a short guide for parents and guardians

HHV Code of Conduct for Children and Young People

HHV Code of Conduct for Parents and Carers

HHV Anti-Bullying Policy