The Maindy Flyers Youth Cycling Club was created in 1996.  Working with Maindy Leisure Centre, senior cycling clubs agreed that all riders under the age of 16 would be guided to the Maindy Flyers Club to train and race in a safe, traffic free, youth specific environment.

Once they turned 16, the riders would go back to the senior clubs as fit, competent and enthusiastic riders, able to train and compete alongside the adults.

The first coaches were Debbie Wharton and Derek Williams.  They devised the original structure and timetable for training.  Cardiff Council funded the purchase of a number of track bikes, Derek cobbled together a selection of road bikes and hey presto! The Maindy Flyers Club was born!!

Within a year the club had over 20 members and in that early contingent were riders who went on to win many Welsh, British and World Championships-including Geraint Thomas (pictured), the Olympic Gold Medal Winner in the Team Pursuit in Beijing in 2008.

Andrew Davies was also an early member of the club-he now coaches the new riders of today.

A regular ‘guest coach’ was a young Sir Chris Hoy, who would combine racing on the track with running sprint classes for the Maindy Flyers.  On one occasion, he lost to Ross Sander in a 200 metre unicycle race!

Whilst the coaching and the facility have moved on from those early days, the ethos remains the same-to take young people from Cardiff and the surrounding area, introduce them to cycling and racing, and to develop them into the club, national and international riders and coaches of the future.

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Club information

The club provides opportunities for young people between the ages of 5 and 16. All coaching activities are provided by qualified coaches, who have attended Good Practice and Child Protection training.

We welcome parents to all cycling activity sessions and value your support.

Below is some information about session times and dates for new riders. 

(There are other sessions for experienced riders and sessions
for complete beginners at 5pm– details at www.maindyflyers.com)

We would like children to arrive on time and be collected promptly at the end of a training session or competition.  If your child needs to borrow a bike please arrive 10 minutes before the session is due to start.

Maindy Flyers club kit is available to purchase either from Don Skene Cycles or by placing an order with the club committee.

The club has a small membership fee of £10 per year, payable in January.

Benefits of becoming a member include: subsidised kit purchase membership of the British School Cycling Association discount at Don Skene Cycles guidance in joining British Cycling fun practice sessions and exciting events social activities introduction to all different types of cycling making lots of friends whilst having lots of fun learning how to race being part of a fun and friendly club