The Go-Ride Racing programme is celebrating its most successful winter period ever, reflecting the trend of more young people being active in cycling than ever before. The scheme's popularity provides great momentum as we head into what is sure to be an action-packed spring and summer cycling calendar! 

Darker nights and colder weather can be a challenge for both riders and volunteers, which usually results in fewer sessions being offer and fewer young people on bikes. However, clubs across the country have been changing this and the number of entry-level races on the calendar during the winter months has grown year-on-year.

British Cycling supported clubs to include Go-Ride Racing as part of their winter schedule of activities, by providing them with all they needed to hold a race series, while also including exciting events to look forward to in spring.

The winter months provide a chance to come together as a club in the community to celebrate seasonal themes, such as Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas. Many clubs hosted their own themed fancy-dress events.

Races provide young riders with the perfect chance to test their skills in a different environment, under different conditions and continue to give structure to club winter coaching programmes.  

Clubs that hosted races were given the opportunity to enter a team of riders into a new and unique closed circuit Go-Ride Racing event in both Manchester and London. There was a phenomenal demand from clubs with over 100 riders taking part across the weekend. 

Ranking points were not available at these new events with racing structured to be all about having fun, competing as a club team, celebrating being together and challenging the key cycling techniques required in all cycling disciplines.

The weekend provided a wonderful showpiece occasion and finale to a winter of cycling and the perfect way to start the spring season. Events such as these are only possible because there are now more and more clubs embracing Go-Ride Racing, with races appearing on cycling calendars more frequently, providing opportunities for young people to get active, cycle more often and test their new found cycling skills acquired at Go-Ride clubs.