FAQs
Hopefully the F.A.Q.'s below should answer most questions from first time riders of Herne Hill track, but please contact us if you have any other queries.
Do I need to book in advance?
We do not take advanced bookings for any of our public sessions (except the kids holiday club). Just turn up on the day of your session, arrive 30 minutes before it's due to start. If there is a group of you we suggest booking a private session.
What clothing do I need to bring with me?
See our
clothing page
How old does my son/daughter need to be to ride on the track?
Riders must be eight or over and already be proficient 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?
See our
Wet Weather Policy.
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. See our session pathway, and session overview pages.
What do I need to do when I arrive? (for induction)
Come along on Saturday morning at around 11.30 am (for adults) or 8.45am (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.
VCL is the club that manages the velodrome and runs the vast majority of public training sessions. If you are enjoying track cycling and are considering joining a club, consider
joining VCL.
Can I ride my own bike?
You may ride your own track specific bike, provided it meets certain criteria. Please see our
bikes page for more information.
Can I hire a bike?
Yes, we have free stadium bikes, included in the cost of most training sessions (not advanced training sessions, or racing).