FAQ

My First Time At Herne Hill

Hopefully the F.A.Q.’s below should answer most questions from first time riders of Herne Hill track, but please email us at hernehillbookings@googlemail.com if you have any other queries.

Do I need to book in advance?

In most cases there is no need to book in advance, however if you are in a group of 5 or more, it is worth contacting us so we can look at a private booking.

What Clothing Do I Need To Bring With Me?

Experienced riders will be wearing cycling clothing, but don’t be put off if you don’t own any.

• Tight fitting layers of clothing are best

• Gloves are recommended.

• Long and loose trousers should be rolled up or tucked into socks

• Helmets must be worn and correctly adjusted

If you don’t own a crash helmet we have a number that can be borrowed free of charge.

How Old Does My Son/Daughter Need To Be To Be Allowed To Ride?

Riders must be 7 or over and already be experienced cyclists. Young riders will be taught track etiquette when inducted, but need to be physically able to hold themselves up and set off from the perimeter fence.

What If It’s Raining?

All track training at Herne Hill is subject to the weather, as we are unable to run track sessions if the weather is wet or icy. In hot weather the track does dry very quickly so don’t be put off turning up if there has been a light shower in the morning.

What Do I Need to Do When I Arrive? (for induction)

Come along on Saturday morning at around 1130 am (for adults) or 0845 (for under 16s) and report to the registration table. A form will be given to you to complete so you can take part in the induction session. Parental permission is required for all under 18’s.

Once the form is completed and you have signed on our sheet, you can collect a bike & crash helmet if you require them & you will then be asked to return to the track side and await instructions from the lead coach on how to ride safely around the track.

Once you have completed the induction, the coach will discuss with you whether they feel you are ready to ride the training session.

Do I need to be a member of VC Londres?

No not at all,  There are no membership fees or requirements to ride the training sessions, other than that they are not intended for those learning to ride a bike, some experience is required before you learn to ride a track bike.

Once you have completed the session/s please feel free to talk to any member of VCL team on duty that morning should you wish to join the club or enquire about competitive cycling or other sessions.

Can I ride my own bike?

You may ride your own track bike, provided it meets the following criteria:

• It must have a fixed wheel drivetrain

• Frame must have a bottom bracket height of at least 265mm (from ground to centre) with 165mm cranks

• If frame has braze-ons or fittings they must be padded and taped over to avoid injury

• It must have no brakes or extraneous parts (this includes the entire brake assembly, bottle cages, lights & brackets etc)

• It must have Drop handlebars

• Handlebars must be fitted with bar-end plugs and bartape or grips

• Tyres must be in good condition and pumped up hard

• Pedals should provide adequate foot retention (clips and straps or clipless pedals set to a high tension)

• Wheel axles should be of the nutted type (no quick-release skewers)

• Gearing should be between 82 and 88 gear inches for novice riders. (48 x 15 (86″) is ideal for adult riders)

If you are unsure about any of the regulations, please ask the lead coach in attendance at your session

Can I hire a bike?

Yes, we have free stadium bikes and newer Fuji track bikes which can be hired at extra cost of £2 per session (subject to availability)

Do I need to do an induction session?

Anyone who has not ridden the Herne Hill training sessions before must do an induction session first.

If you have none or very little experience of riding a track on a fixed wheel bike, then you may need to do a number of induction sessions before you progress to the main training session.

Even if you are experienced on other tracks, the numbers riding the main training sessions are so high that we have no option but to insist that everyone who turns up has done a Saturday induction session first.
This is the only way that we can ensure the safety of all riders.

Thank you for reading, we hope the FAQ helped to answer any of your questions