IN THE LOOP: HHV February NEWSLETTER
happy new chairs
HHV Trust, Trade co. & FHHV
FHHV Chair Feodora Rayner
The Year of the Fire Horse auspiciously rings in 3 new chairs for the velodrome. We are thrilled to welcome enthusiastic members of our community to leadership roles in the Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome, Herne Hill Velodrome Trust, and Herne Hill Velodrome Trading Company: Feodora Rayner, Simon Tucker, and Angus Dodd, respectively.
Here’s what they have to say:
"I'm really excited (and a bit nervous!) Big shoes to step into after all the work John has done, but I hope I can make sure all the hard work that Friends, Trustees, and Staff have done to get here continues to make this place as wonderful as it is for years to come."
~ Feodora Rayner, Chair of FHHV
Chair of HHV Trust Simon Tucker
“I’m really pleased to be taking on this role, which gives me the opportunity to give back to a place I love. I feel like I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. From the Save the Velodrome campaign to the new off-road trails, so many people have played a part in getting us to this point. In particular, thanks to Tim McInnes for his hard work building a robust governance structure around the velodrome - hard work that will be invisible to most but an essential foundation for everything that happens here. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next and how we can go faster, higher, stronger - together.”
~ Simon Tucker, Chair of HHV Trust
Chair of HHV TradeCo, Angus Dodd
“The Velodrome is in great shape after all the work put in by the previous chairs, Tim McInnes and Paul Merrey, the Trust and Tradeco boards and of course Iain and his team. It’s an exciting role for me and I really hope I can contribute in a small way to the Velodrome’s continuing success as a sporting and community facility.”
~ Angus Dodd, Chair of HHV Trading Co.
It bears repeating, a huge thanks to Tim McInnes, John Walter, and Paul Merrey for their years (years!) of service for the velodrome. We would not be where we are now without their hard work and dedication.
CYCLING AS A TOOL FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
The cost of living is on the rise, hate and division is dominating the media, and the world is literally on fire. Yet the simplicity of bikes remains.
Join us for an evening where we discuss how cycling can and is being used to address some of our most pressing social issues: the climate crisis, refugee integration, marginalised youth, and the genocide in Palestine. This evening will be one of hope in the face of difficult times, showing us that joyful tools like cycling and community can create real change for people and planet.
International Women’s Day TAKEOVER
Sunday 8 March
ALL DAY LONG
ALL SESSIONS PAY WHAT YOU CAN
A jam-packed day of activities aimed at celebrating and connecting women and non-binary people in cycling.
EASTER EGGS-TRAVAGANZA
Come on down to Herne Hill Velodrome this Good Friday, 3rd April, for some Easter and cycling fun!
We are hosting our fourth annual Easter Eggs-travaganza this spring designed for kids aged between 2 and 10 years old.
Let your kids run wild around our stamp hunt, located all over our off-road bike trails. After completing the hunt, come and join us to try out a specially designed cycling course on our inner track - we have helmets available and balance or pedal bikes for all ages of kids.
Zoe and the Facemakers will also be on hand with fantastic face painting, there will be the opportunity to get creative and get stuck into some painting and chalk drawing! We will also have hook-a-duck and cornhole. Plenty to get stuck into!
Useful information to note:
Short Track Showdown
We’re bringing the fun to the woods at Herne Hill Velodrome with a fast, friendly off-road race night!
Riders will take on a short, twisty trail packed with fun technical features in a time-trial format - individual starts make it exciting for seasoned riders, as well as welcoming if you’re new to MTB racing. Everyone gets at least three goes on the course, with your best results across the heats deciding your overall placing on the night — and counting towards a series podium too.
Expect great vibes, fun prizes, cheering spectators, and the café open to keep the energy high. Whether you’re racing, watching, or just soaking it all in, it’s a proper woodland race party.
BECOME AN SLGP SUPER SUPPORTER
Our Super Supporter scheme worked so well last year that we’re giving you another chance to help elevate grassroots track cycling at HHV.
In the spirit of supporting not only local but national and international cycling, we are proud to offer the chance for you, dear reader, to support an international athlete.
A Super Supporter ticket of £250 will see £200 going to an international athlete to be spent on travel and accommodation. The remaining £50 will go towards running the event itself.
In addition to warm fuzzies, Super Supporters will also get:
2 adult and 3 child tickets, or 4 adult tickets
1 reserved picnic bench
A digital shoutout in our communications
Pedal Cover mechanics Jon and Twaha have been fixing our bikes
Raise Funds for FHHV with Pedal Cover Insurance
Some of you may know Grant Georgiades as a Saturday coach, but his day job is running Pedal Cover Insurance. They have kindly offered to help us maintain our more technical bikes by having their claims team mechanics come here to volunteer.
They also want to offer newsletter readers a win/win discount:
Purchase a Pedal Cover policy using a secret 10% discount code (email us to get it) and they’ll donate an additional 10% to the Herne Hill Velodrome Trust. The offer applies to home insurance for cyclists, bike only and cycle travel insurance policies. Just follow this link.
Pedal Cover says:
“Pedal Cover offer precision-fit policies for cyclists with award-winning cycle claims service built in. One quick quote provides three options to insure your bikes, each designed for cycling households.
“Select from comprehensive home buildings & contents including bikes, a home contents including bikes (great if you live in a flat) or you might prefer a flexible bike only policy.
“Their Cycle Travel insurance is designed specifically for cyclists heading overseas to train, ride, or compete. Unlike many standard policies, it offers medical and trip protection even though cycling is the main purpose of travel.”
FHHV Volunteer Lunch
Saturday 28 March
12-3pm
Food by Lil Watan
The Annual Volunteers’ Lunch will take place on Saturday 28th March inside the HHV Pavilion from 12:00 to 3pm. Food truck regulars Lil Watan will be cooking up a feast!
A huge thank you to all those who gave their time last year, you made it one to remember. You’ll also have an opportunity to find out more about the year ahead.
Please follow the link below if you can come, and let us know if you have any special dietary needs.
SADDLE FITTINGS @ HHV 🍑
Jenni has restarted her saddle fittings & saddle library access at the Velodrome.
If you’re generally happy with your bike, but finding your nether regions are not, perhaps a different saddle could make the difference.
Your 90 minute appointment includes a consultation, sit bone measurement, and lessons on how to set up and swap a saddle.
OFF THE BIKE 💪
Don’t forget, we also have weekly yoga, pilates, and strength and conditioning sessions going on in the clubroom. And James Keen has started a weekly run club and outdoor gym.
And if you made it down this far, some boring price changes in the fine print: +45p on adult sessions, +25p on youth & kids sessions, +£2.50 on tasters (which haven't risen for at least 5 years!) We’re still your most affordable velodrome experience around.
That’s all for now friends.
Until next time, keep turning left!
The team at Herne Hill Velodrome