[Closed] MTB race in Surrey for a 7 year old..?

Southern xcs are good with dedicated short kids laps. None actually in Surrey, but all nearish in the south. First is this Sunday at Checkendon near Reading.

You could try a  Go-Ride race, there are 4 a year in Woking, see https://www.charlottevillecc.org.uk/young-riders/ or search British Cycling for others

Not in Surrey but Brighton Big Dog has categories for little people and is a brilliant social event.

Southern xcs are good with dedicated short kids laps. None actually in Surrey, but all nearish in the south. First is this Sunday at Checkendon near Reading.

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Sadly we can't make Sunday as Jnr has a downhill race the same day @417 ....</span>

We are going to try and leave Sat in order to make registration and let Jnr get some practice...

There is also the mud, sweat and gears... and also the Bedgebury stuff.

Over the winter there was Beastway (predecessor to MSG) which is near Croyden.

MSG were also doing some GoRide intro races... but I think they are closed for the season now... (pretty much exactly what you are looking for as intro to racing ...)

Trails at Bedgebury Forest - Bedgebury Boars

For my 2c Southern XC is very professionally organised.  The standard will be quite high though and perhaps better as a second race  - it might be off-putting???

Bedgebury is the most welcoming in terms of social (in our experience)... though through no fault of theirs you get stung on the parking.  We always end-up riding with other kids and parents after the race... it's just a bit of drag getting up early.  Southern XC is just too big and lots of clubs so if you're not in a club and don't know other competitors it can be a bit non-welcoming compared to Bedgebury (No-one is rude or anything... it's just lots of parents and kids tend to stick in their own clubs but we could always have an unofficial STW .. I know Yeti saw me last year when I stuck out due to my broken arm)

You could try a  Go-Ride race, there are 4 a year in Woking, see https://www.charlottevillecc.org.uk/young-riders/ /a> or search British Cycling for others

Charlottesville had to cancel the last ones due to lack of resources.

Its a real shame as they are the only local one that don't make you be a member of a GoRide club to enter.

It's pretty much just for fun... they have 4 events with a TT and the last being a Handicap where they start in reverse order with time penalties.  (This gives everyone a chance).

You can get Rex's number off their website I think but if not pm me and I'll send it to you.

If it's going ahead and Jnr. doesn't have a competitive race we will come along as its on our doorstep...

This weekend is out due to the DH Race and if he wasn't doing that we'd be doing Southern XC  but we regularly meet friends at Swinley or Surrey Hills ... you could always come along and we can work out how to include your lad.  He'd probably ride a bit further with some similar aged kids...

The next scheduled GoRide race with Charlottesville is July 8th.

Bedgebury has a monthly (£1 entry for kids) .. depending where you are in Surrey the location combined with 09:30 registration is a pain... but once you are there these are great fun events.

The organisers and all the kids and parents are very friendly (compared to the huge Southern XC and MSG)... we wandered off with some other parents and kids after the race riding some trails and missed the awards.  When we hot back they had saved his medal and the "prizes" (just a reflector band but it's £1 entry)

http://www.boarsonbikes.co.uk/xc-racing/

• Event 2 Bedgebury Forest CC MTB XC Series Sat 19/05/18

Much as it's a pain getting a kid ready and then a longish drive I really enjoy these events because we go riding afterwards and its super friendly.

There is also one of the MSG beginner races (Aspire) Sat 5th May but its at Phoenix bike park (bit of a drag from Surrey)... and the MSG Race on Sun 6th.  You just missed the first one which was at Lee Valley Velopark (which is easier to get to)

Brilliant, thanks chaps.

Steve, that's a very kind offer - we go to Swinley reasonably often, so might hit you up when we are next headed over.

Cheers

John

The Gorrick 12:12 has some kids races before the main one - shortish lap but with some good singletrack.

Cats from balance bikes up to some serious looking youths.

Steve, that’s a very kind offer – we go to Swinley reasonably often, so might hit you up when we are next headed over.

Whereabouts are you? I'm in Woking which is pretty much equi-distant/time to Surrey Hills and Swinley.

When we meet our friends (who we met at Swinley one Christmas day) they come from North London and we tend to meet up either way... but we sometimes go North and meet them

Equally Bedgebury is really "nice" ... despite the distance its really good for the First Race experience because its much smaller than Southern XC or MSG.  Jnr's first race was actually MSG but in retrospect it might have gone either way... knowing what i do now I'd reckon on one of the smaller events being a safer bet for ensuring they enjoy it and ant to go back.

From our experience the kids love riding with other kids... they also make a bit more effort which I think is partly due to having someone they can reasonably compete (in a friendly way) with... as in "race you to the top of the next hill" ... and they are also comfortable with handicaps like giving a 20 sec start etc.

We also do Dad's vs Kids (where Dad's take the single track and kids take the fire trail) etc. but its the LAST to finish so the kids have to help each other.  (Good when the 6yr old younger brother comes along)

Thanks all, I'm in West Sussex but lots of great info in this thread.  Question, am I reading this right that the Bedgebury U8 race is 10min long? My boys love Bedgebury but a long way to go for a 10min race. I guess we could ride afterwards but still.  Was hoping to find something to "push" them. Have contemplated taking them to do the 25km ride at the next Scott Marathon - anyone tried this with U8's?

Thanks all, I’m in West Sussex but lots of great info in this thread.  Question, am I reading this right that the Bedgebury U8 race is 10min long? My boys love Bedgebury but a long way to go for a 10min race. I guess we could ride afterwards but still.  Was hoping to find something to “push” them. Have contemplated taking them to do the 25km ride at the next Scott Marathon – anyone tried this with U8’s?

Bedgebury is 10 mins (or last lap after 8) but the attraction is riding after with other parents.

It's also really good if they haven't raced before...

Southern XC does plenty in driving distance for you... these are more like 20mins but it's a 20 min sprint!

This is nothing like our "normal riding" ... we usually ride 10-20kms when we do "Big Days" we have done Penydd side twice back to back and Y Wal side the next day.. .. or we ride 25-30km with less climbs for a "big day" however you don't find kids races like this due to the practicalities of Marshalling for kids.  This means they have a limited track length much shorter than the adult one they do several laps on.

Both Yak and I were at Southern XC last year when one of the kids flew off into a gulley ... and the marshals and first aid were on it as fast as you'd like.

I was surprised that the 24/12 marathon has a kids event of 12/24 minutes!

It's really not worth turning up as an endurance race... even U16's are limited to 24 mins... and under 10's 12 minutes!!!  It's not even in the ballpark... 2/4 hours would seem an absolute minimum to claim it as some sort of endurance race..

http://www.twentyfour12.com/islabikes-junior-stage-race.html

<h6>Friday July 27th will feature 2 stages - A 2km Time Trial and a Dirt Crit with the final stage being the traditional 12 and 24 minute races on Saturday morning. Categories are spilt down into age groups and based on the child age on the day of the event:</h6>
<h6>Wolverines - U16's</h6>
<h6>Sabres - U12's</h6>
<h6>Storms - U10's</h6>
<h6>Rogues - U8's</h6>

Thanks Steve - all good points. Our "big day out" would equate to about the same and was looking for something more in the "challenge" than race mold but perhaps I'm overreaching (parents never do that do they). Will get along to a Bedgebury and if all goes well then a Southern or two this year. DO the more adventurous stuff on our own

Buzzard:  If you do find anything let me know....

To be fair for an "normal XC race" I can understand why the need the short courses.

The kids race is just a side event and they have the other 20 races with different Cat's to fit in and marshal and a lot of the volunteers then want to race themselves so it's got to finish early.

Also a lot of this is sorta British Cycling Philosophy... and I suppose their insurers etc. but they seem to have a philosophy that a 7-8yr old can ride about 3 miles before dying. (Perhaps I'm exaggerating but its not that much)

For an organiser to hold a ride under BC (and get insurance and stuff) they have to stick to the BC rules...

He wanted to do the London to Brighton last year... same thing no kids... and it practically goes past out from door.

Like you I suppose, we just go out and ride... a day is as long as we can make it and have fun.

There are also loads of routes we couldn't even do if he couldn't ride 20+ miles... and others we have to do a few loops.. but both my lad and his friend (also now just 8) both ride those distances.

I know my lad and his cycling buddy would both want to do a 8 hour endurance event if one was available.

http://www.comptonpreschool.co.uk/bike/

Me and my lad are riding this in July if that helps boys ?

I also live about 100m from the local pub if that helps even more... Beers and BBQ etc are on after the rides. 🙂

You can always try an MBO Score event, you could both do it together in a generation team South London Orienteers have an event in the Surrey Hills on 10th June. Take a look here :  http://www.bmbo.org.uk/calendar/details.php?event_id=1005