Without doubt one of the relatively few benefits of the Covid-19 pandemic has been the noticeable increase of riders on bikes.
Riding bikes and being part of a cycling community has huge benefits not only in terms of fitness, but also socially.
Cornwall BMX Racing Club is reaping the rewards of this resurgence, and has seen its membership almost double in the past eight months with more than 60 families turning up to a recent club open day.
Read more: European and national standard £7million cycle hub for Cornwall given green light
The club is now hoping to move into a national standard facility which will set its stars on the route to worldwide success.
One of the aims of the club is to promote the sport of BMX racing and it has certainly been helped by the recent success of Team GB in the Tokyo Olympics who put on the most spectacular of shows.
Britain’s first BMX Olympic medal winners Bethany Shriever, 22, and Kye Whyte, 21, taking gold and silver, respectively, among others have raised the profile of the sport and helped inspire the next generation of top riders.
With regular coaching sessions, teen BMX, after school clubs, BMXexercise, female-only sessions and regular club racing, the club is not only seeing a lot of smiling faces but also a fantastic improvement in riders bike and life skills.
Club chairman Roy Major said: “As with all things in life there are a lot of preformed misconceptions about the ability of athletes based of their gender and age, but the club works really hard to be diverse and inclusive to all, to ensure that everyone has fun, learns bike skills and race if they wish, all to the best of their abilities with help and encouragement from the club coaches and volunteers.
(Image: Cornwall BMX Racing Club)
“We’ve secured new coaches and the Olympics has brought even more people to us. At a recent race we had over 20 novices and 38 people racing, for many of them it was their first go. We have riders from age three to 60 and anyone is welcome to have a look. We offer free goes and can provide all the kit.”
Several years ago the club planned to build a national facility in the Carn Brea area but the proposal was scrapped following opposition from local residents.
Now the club is working with Cornwall Council and is poised to submit formal plans to build a national standard track at Newquay Aerohub.
The club has a number of riders making waves in national competitions but the nearest national standard tracks are in Birmingham and Manchester.
Roy added: “It will be a multi-discipline site. Not just a BMX track but also a velo track for road cyclists, cycle cross facilities and an undercover coaching area. There will be resident full-time coaches and it will be floodlit so can be used at all times.
(Image: Cornwall BMX Racing Club)
“We’re currently in Blackwater on rented land. It’s been great but we’re limited as there’s no onsite water and electrical facilities. We have to bring our own water and use a generator.
“The national facility wouldn’t just be for elite riders but for everyone. The school stuff we have run so far has all been really successful. It really would be the gateway to the Olympics. We have good pedigree with a number of our riders on the talent pathway and doing well nationally but this would open up so many new opportunities for us.”
Cornwall BMX Racing Club welcomes anyone from elite riders to those wanting to improve their fitness or volunteer their time to help with something productive.
The more expert riders of the club have travelled throughout the country this year as soon as restrictions eased to take part in the HSBC National Race series.
(Image: Cornwall BMX Racing Club)
This year’s race series has been a great season for some of the female riders within the club with a number ranking highly nationally and qualifying for the World BMX Championships, being held in Nantes, France. Three young female riders from the club also obtained podium placings at the British BMX Championships that have just taken place over the bank holiday weekend at Leicester.
For more information about the club click here
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