herne hill velodrome: cycling for everyone - our opportunity funds

At Herne Hill Velodrome our aim is to provide a broad range of fun, safe and engaging cycling sessions for riders of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

We recognise that cycling is an expensive sport & hobby, so this page lists some of the discounts we offer to make it possible for more people than ever to be able to enjoy cycling at HHV.

If you’re an individual or company who wants to support any of our affordability schemes, please get in touch with Thea Smith: Cycling Development Manager tsmith@hhvt.org

A quick overview of what you’ll find on this page:

Apply for one of our opportunity fund discount schemes

student discount

 

Got a valid student ID card? Fill out our application form and get 15% discount on our cycling sessions.

 

  • We will accept a valid NUS card or University / College card.

  • If you want to ride track you’ll need to do a Track Taster first - then you can attend skills sessions. Adult Off-Road sessions are open to anyone, you don’t need a taster. We also have Road Bike Riding sessions if you just want to come and ride laps on your own bike.

  • We can’t offer extra discounts on yoga, pilates or strength sessions, or on bike hire or racing.

Apply Here
 

 

sibling discount

 

Cycling is fun when done together! Thanks to our funding from the Rapha Foundation, we are pleased to be able to offer a 20% discount when multiple siblings are booked on to the same session.

Email Tianne (tbell@hhvt.org) directly with the heading ‘sibling discount’ to access this scheme.

 

    • This is valid for all youth cycling sessions where multiple siblings are booked onto the same session.

    • It’s not valid for racing.

  • No, it costs us a lot to maintain off-road bikes so these aren’t discounted. Track bike hire remains free for track sessions.

  • Answer

 

opportunity funds for low income families & adults

 

We have created an Opportunity Fund to enable those on low incomes can still access cycling at HHV. This is a discretionary fund available to provide some relief from financial hardship to parents or carers of young riders, or to adults, who want to participate in cycling sessions at HHV.

The fund will provide discounted entry to cycling sessions, with 40% discount for individuals, and, for youths, an additional 20% for siblings attending the same session.

 

  • To be considered for the Opportunity Fund you must be:

    • the parent/carer/responsible adult for a youth rider (under 18) attending youth cycling sessions at HHV

    • in receipt of free school meals (Year 3 and above)

    • eligible for pupil premium at your child’s school

    • currently receiving one or more of the following benefits

      • Income support

      • Income-based jobseekers allowance

      • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

      • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

      • Child tax credit 

      • Working tax credit run on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

      • Universal credit 

  • To be considered for the Opportunity Fund you must be currently receiving one or more of the following benefits:

    • Income support

    • Income-based jobseekers allowance

    • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

    • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

    • Working tax credit run on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

    • Universal credit

  • Application for the fund (both for youth and adult schemes) is via this link. We will be in touch after you have received your application and ask for one of the following evidence:

    In support of your application you will need one or more of the following:

    • a copy of your letter from your local authority or school confirming your child’s eligibility for free meals at school (years 3 and above)

    • a copy of a letter from your child’s school confirming your child’s eligibility for Pupil Premium

    • Other documentary evidence of your eligibility for means-tested benefits eg Universal Credit or social care status 

    If successful, your discount code will be linked to your eventrac profile, which you can then copy and paste into session bookings.

    The scheme is reviewed on an annual basis, so please don’t be offended if we ask for evidence again in the future.

  • This applies to all our cycling sessions: track , offroad & road cycling.

    It doesn’t currently apply to any of our yoga, Pilates or strength & conditioning sessions.

    TBC on racing.

  • We regularly receive donations of good quality cycling kit from well-known cycling brands as well as from members of our community. Please speak to Thea and/or write what you need in the application form.

Apply here

 

Frequently asked questions

 

  • Track cycling means riding a fixed gear bike around a velodrome. It is one of the original forms of cycling; the bikes haven’t changed much since the 1890’s.

    Track bikes are different from road bikes: they don’t have gears and they don’t have brakes - your legs are the brakes! This actually makes for a safer cycling experience. We teach you how to use a track bike safely in our Taster Sessions.

  • Gloves, a water bottle and a snack.

    If you have a helmet, bring that, but if not you can borrow one of ours.

    You don’t need to own or bring a bike to take part! A hire bike is part of your Track Taster ticket.

  • You should wear whatever you feel comfortable in to do sport, as long as it’s not too baggy.

    We ask that everyone wears clothing that covers their shoulders, wears gloves or cycling mitts, and wears practical footwear (no sandals, crocs, sliders, flip-flops or high-heeled shoes!)

    Check the weather and dress appropriately: you may need a raincoat and/or layers to keep warm.

  • Not at all! In fact, you just need to be able to ride a two-wheeled bike in a straight line and look around you. Speed is not an issue here: you can go as slow as you like.

  • If you’ve ever ridden a spin bike at the gym, it’s a bit like that: as long as your legs are turning, the wheels are turning.

    We do a very gentle introduction to the fixed wheel bike and make sure everyone is comfortable with stopping before we go up onto the banked velodrome track.

 

  • Our cafe is open on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm, and at other times when we have racing events.

  • We’re an outdoor velodrome with an all-weather track surface, so we don’t stop for a bit of rain! Make sure you check the weather before you set off, and bring the appropriate layers.

    Having said that, if the weather is bad enough to cancel (i.e. storms, high winds or lightning), we will notify participants with as much notice as possible and move you to the next available taster.

  • We have plenty of bike parking racks if you’d like to lock up your bike. You can also bring it into the track centre with you if you don’t have a lock.

    We’ve a limited amount of free parking available on site but we encourage you to travel here by cycle or public transport where you can.

  • If you enjoy your track taster you can then take part in our Track Skills sessions and learn all the skills you need for safe and fun track cycling!

    There’s no one right way to do track cycling - plenty of people come along to participate as a fun and healthy activity, some people go through our accreditation pathway if they want to race.

    Click here for more information on track cycling sessions