HHV Women’s Newsletter – august
Women’s Gravel Club finale & Cyclocross season | Condor Women’s League | Rapha W100 at HHV | South London Grand Prix | LDN Academy Grand Prix | Lost Dot 101: New Women’s Ultra race
Hey HHVW community,
I felt particular joy putting this newsletter together. I feel proud to be at the centre of such a buzzing community of cycling and I really hope you find something that speaks to you. I know that marketing (including our own) sometimes gives a certain image of cycling - fancy gear, White, serious and racey – but I really want to emphasise that these spaces can be for everyone, whatever bike or experience you have. And we will continue to try and ensure that sessions and events present and feel that way – I am always open to feedback and thoughts on this.
That being said, Women is used throughout this newsletter but the following events are under BC-rules and therefore don’t include all women in their women’s race categories: Condor Women’s League, LDN Academy and South London Grand Prix’s and Brixton CC Dernyfest.
Thank you for being part of a brilliant season of women’s riding. The weather might be getting colder but I promise we’ll still be here if you too don’t want to stop riding.
With warmth
Megan
(She/they)
Women’s Cycling Development at Herne Hill Velodrome
Contact: mbarclay@hhvt.org
Instagram: @hhvwomen
Women’s Gravel Club FINALE
After a beautiful spring/ summer of Women’s Gravel Club we are bringing it to a close this Wednesday 27th August. It will be a normal (but special) final session followed by some casual social time afterwards to share a drink and chat about all things bike.
Whether you’ve come to any sessions before or not please come by!
Book the session 6:30-8pm and or just drop by to the picnic area at HHV from 8 for drinks, chilli, chats, and some Track League spectating.
Then Wednesday evenings become…
Women’s Cyclocross
Whether you're a complete beginner, or an experienced racer this session is for you. These sessions are a 5-week block that will cover all the basic Cyclocross skills that you need to take part in a race. You can come to 1, 2 or all 5 sessions and our coaches will meet you where you are: we will run two separate groups in the session to allow new / experienced riders to get the training they need.
Pay what you can supported by Brixton Cycling Club 🧡
Weds 6:30-8pm | 3,10, 17, 24th Sept + 1st October
South London Grand Prix
28-29th August!
This Thursday and Friday is our annual UCI race! With local and international track stars, it’s a different calibre of racing to our usual leagues and we’re super proud of the international talent that we get to host.
Expect the usual witty live commentary, music, and food and drink to keep you going.
Women’s Special at Herne Hill velodrome
Save the date for this triple-wammy of Women’s riding at HHV on Saturday 13th September.
Rapha Women’s 100, starting and ending at HHV – from 8am
The Rapha Women’s 100 is an annual event encouraging women from all over the world to ride 100km over the same weekend, whether for the first or hundredth time. It’s a beautiful showing of women’s cycling and we’re thrilled to be hosting the Rapha London event as they start and end their 100km loop at Herne Hill Velodrome.
The event is FREE and entry includes a hand-crafted route of Surrey (with the option of being in a guided group), refreshments and fuel support at the start, middle and end of the ride, and the chance to be part of hundreds of women riding together.
Women’s Track Taster – 3:30-5pm
Try track for the first time or brush up on your skills surrounded by other women and non-binary riders and coaches.
Condor Women’s League, THE FINALE – from 5:30
Another year of our Condor Women’s League comes to a close. We’ll have a classically diverse race programme with a Scratch, Devil, Points, Team Pursuit’s and everyone's favourite: a Marymour Crawl (we hope our riders have been practising their track stands)…All followed by a bumper crop of prize-givings and celebrations.
It’s one of your final chances to volunteer this year so please get signed up, no experience needed.
Brixton CC Women’s Dernyfest
The annual Women’s Dernyfest is happening this Sunday (31st)! If you have Derny experience, there is still time to enter or come on down to spectate this special sport – track bikes and french motorbikes, what’s not to love?
Racing from 11:30
LDN Academy Grand Prix
beginner-friendly road racing in East London!
Our friends at LDN Academy have the second of their Grand Prix coming up on Saturday 30th August. If you’ve never raced road before (or are a 4th category rider) then this event is for you.
We and they know how scary it can be to turn up to a race, but LDN Academy have done incredible work to relieve as much of this as possible.
Learn more about the event and sign-up here.
ONLINE ENTRIES CLOSE in 3 days
Lost Dot 101
New all Women, all Trans and all non-binary ultra race!
The organisors of the iconic Transcontinental Race (across Europe) have announced a new beginner-friendly ultra race. It’s a ~1200 km, free-route format across Spain starting 10th May 2026. Entries are open now until 30th October.
In the words of race director Hannah, the event aims to ‘create a race that is welcoming and accessible to anyone interested in getting into the sport, giving riders the time to discover the rhythm of ultra-racing without removing the challenge’.
If you are ultra-curious but very unsure, please reach out (to Megan) as I’d personally love to chat about it.
Women’s Sunday Session timings in Sept
Just a couple of session changes in September to make note of (also reflected in EvenTrac):
Sunday 7th 7-9pm
Weekend of 13th – No Women’s Session
Other sessions and events at HHV
Events
Convene ESG Track League – every Wednesday evening until September. Our famous chilli and local craft beers will keep you fuelled to ride or watch this iconic racing.
Vets League – Track racing for women aged 30+ and everyone aged 40+.
Speed League – A punchy event for the sprinters of HHV
Sessions
Women’s Track Sundays – skills + intermediate riders. Including Women’s League race workshops
Women’s Gravel Club – Wednesdays 6:30–8pm
Women’s Strength – Monday’s 6–7pm in the clubroom (drop-in)