Welcome to Harrogate Nova’s Youth Coaching!

Calling all young cycling enthusiasts aged 6-16! Harrogate Nova Cycling Club is thrilled to introduce our youth coaching programme. Our mission is to cultivate a nurturing and secure setting where young cyclists can hone their skills. We actively advocate for cycling among the youth of Harrogate, fostering affiliations with key governing bodies such as British Cycling, Cycling Time Trials, and cyclocross, enabling junior club members to engage in competitive racing.

Our inclusive ethos welcomes individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and aspirations, aiming to make cycling accessible to everyone. Through a blend of enjoyable activities and meaningful challenges, we tailor our offerings to meet the evolving needs of riders as they advance on their cycling journey.

Youth coaching sessions are priced at £50 (Group 1) or £80 (Group 2) for the 17 sessions, making it accessible for young riders to enjoy the benefits of our programme without breaking the bank.

Benefits of Harrogate Nova’s Youth Coaching?

Structured Training for Young Cyclists

Our coaching is crafted to provide a structured and engaging training environment, ensuring that our junior riders develop essential cycling skills in a fun and supportive setting.

Rest assured, our Junior riders are in capable hands! All Harrogate Nova coaches are British Cycling Level 2 qualified. They are all DBS checked and hold emergency first aid certificates.

British Cycling Registered Coaches

From riding in a group to mastering the art of navigating corners, our experienced coaches are here to guide juniors through the basics and beyond, laying a solid foundation for their cycling journey.

Learn Essential Skills

Juniors can take their skills to the next level with various racing opportunities, starting at closed circuits in York, Leeds, and Bradford. As they progress, they can even tackle the renowned Brownlee Circuit in Leeds every Tuesday and Thursday for just £5 per 2-hour session.

Exciting Racing Opportunities

FAQs

  • The sessions are run in two groups.

    Group one is for younger, less experienced riders. During the sessions the riders will learn key cycling skills such as bike handling, cornering and riding in a group. The group one sessions last 30 minutes (6.00-6.30) and the children tend to be 6 - 8 years old.

    Group two sessions are for older and more experienced riders. During the sessions the riders further develop their core cycling skills and also learn some more advanced skills such as racing techniques and sprinting. The group two sessions last 45 minutes (6.30-7.15) and the children tend to be 8+ years old. This is, however, a general guide. The coaches will assess the riders and make sure they are assigned a group to match their needs/abilities.

  • Training sessions take place on Tuesday evenings at Harrogate Army Foundation college Hildebrand Barracks car park :

    Group 1: 18.00-18.30

    Group 2: 18.45-19.30

    Spring/Summer term: April 18 to July 18 (break for half-term on May 30)

    Autumn term: September 12 to 10 October (approx.) No coaching after October to avoid the worst of the weather in the winter months.

  • Group 1: £50 per year (approx 17 sessions).

    Group 2: £80 (approx 17 sessions).

    All youths will need to be a member of the club either by themselves or as part of a family membership. This is paid for separately see www.harrogatenova.cc/membership

  • There are approximately 17 sessions during the period of April - October. Sometimes we have to call off a session due to the weather but this is rare (we tend to just wrap up well and quickly warm up through all the cycling).

  • All children who wish to attend coaching will need to be able to ride a bike without stabilisers.

  • All children who wish to attend coaching will need a bike which is suitable for riding on and off the road and a helmet which fits correctly.

  • If you are new to cycling and are not sure what’s involved in our coaching sessions, you are welcome to come for a free trial. If you decide not to come back there is no charge. If you would like to come again (which we hope you will), the usual coaching & membership fee applies.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch!

  • "My eldest daughter joined these sessions when she was 6 (she is now 9) and it has been great to see her progress. Learning cornering, mastering gears and changes of pace in a safe environment with coaches to show her the way has been invaluable. Also, learning to ride with others around her of differing abilities has really helped her understand the concept of group work, and she has made some friends along the way. Her younger sister is hot on her heels now. Totally recommend it for any ability, the coaches are really adept at tailoring the sessions to the students specific needs, which is great to see. A brilliant session that both my girls love"

  • "Both of my sons have attended the Nova youth training. The coaching and guidance enabled my youngest son to build his confidence and ability to ride a bike. My elder son took his interest to the next level and after he had honed in his abilities at the Tuesday night training he moved on and started attending the more advanced training sessions available to the young Nova riders at the Brownlee Circuit in Adel, Leeds. He's now 13 years old and regularly competes for Harrogate Nova in circuit races throughout the North of England and loves getting out to Dalby or Glentress in Scotland on his mountain bike."

How To Join

Curious to see if our junior coaching programme is the right fit? Juniors are welcome to attend a taster session before committing to join.

To get started, simply fill out our quick and easy form.

We'll need some basic information such as name, age, riding experience, and which session interests your junior rider. We've also included a volunteer section for those interested in supporting our community.

Harrogate Nova abides by the British Cycling’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures.