Viking's Spring Novice Program (number 26)

09/11/25 11:55 Filed in: Riding

A quick count reveals that last Spring's two novice classes were my 24th and 25th programs for the Viking's Club. That's a lot. After several years of running 3 classes per year, and then several more years of running 2 classes per year; this year a decision was made to modify things a bit. I admit apprehension at first - why change what works? Except maybe it wasn't working as well as it could. More coaches. More students. One class.

And it is brilliant. Three "head" coaches and three more "assistant" coaches means that individuals can get some one-on-one help while a bunch of up to 30 people can practice proper bunch riding skills. We took them out on the street for the final 3 weeks and it turned out there were never more than 21 persons present - AusCycling limits on road coaching are 7 students per coach. Perfect. Each group had an assistant coach too, so the ratios were actually lower than needed. We took 3 bunches out initially, based on people's experience and did 20 minutes on the road. The final two weeks were one big happy bunch. They did great too.

I love seeing people who came through the course turning up for racing. I think most of the assistant coaches came through the novice program in past years too.

CCC - my club - had a novice program once but for whatever reason does not do one currently. That leaves the Viking program as the only game in Canberra if you are interested in getting experienced instruction and practice for bunch riding/race skills. Starting every September - you're too late for this one (it's over). But there's always next year!

Michael Hanslip Coaching

If you want to go faster, you have to pedal harder

Viking's Spring Novice Program (number 26)