Lee Valley SQT Sessions

@pharoahsanders 6pm on Saturdays? I thought it was 6pm on Tuesdays...?

(runs off to check Saturday availability)

Whoops looks like you are right. Still curious about the numbers/session. Some of them show 38 available? I thought numbers were limited to 16 then expanded to 32.

Yeah it's just 6pm on a Tuesday.

If there are less riders than usual, then hopefully you get more track time. I did a couple of L2/L3 skills before they doubled the amount of riders. Two hours almost constantly on the track was exhausting, but great to do - I felt cheated last time around when I just had an hour.

If you look further into the future on the calendar, it says 40 available. I reckon that's the largest amount they're booking now - given that there are inevitably a few no-shows on the day itself, the actual number of riders will be smaller.

I know I'm in the wrong thread for this but it does occur to me @dubkev - you seem to be putting in a lot of effort and thought and time into sorting out time at LVV. You're based in south london not too far away from me - is there something putting you off Herne Hill? I thought LVV was great but HH is like right there and for me generates pretty similar fun/pain as an indoor track. Obvs very different tracks etc but its still track bikes and racing....

I'm not living in Camberwell any more Dan, living in Bermondsey, very close to Tower Bridge. Gmap pedometer tells me LVV is 5.72 miles, HH is 4.38 miles. Not a huge amount of difference. But also I prefer the wooden boards, shorter track, no head / tail wind, higher banking, dry surfaces, and a guaranteed rain and wind free activity in the depths of winter. Not trying to slate HH, but I just prefer being at an indoor velodrome during the colder months.

All those things are true, and are good points. All depends on what you enjoy which is why they have both kinds of velodromes. For example, I went to race training last night and I had more fun than most of the sunny days in the summer - which I think means you and I are quite different. Anyway best of luck getting it sorted.

Just my 2ps worth, but only able to get 1 Saturday off work a month has been a major issue with me for HH,
Whilst 8pm sessions or weekdays at LVV, even though I'm travelling from deep south J9, is far more accessible.
HH doesn't have many sessions open to the public.

I booked the Saturday 8 a.m. SQT sessions on Jan 17 and 31. That sounds like quite a nice time to be indoors instead of in the lanes. Still unsure about these large groups but will see how it goes.

Different strokes etc... I guess my first introduction to a velodrome was the indoor bowl of Forest City so I'd just gotten used to that concept in my head.

@pharoahsanders I think that the awkward times of those Intermediate SQT sessions will push down the numbers from the usual amounts.
Hopefully.

Good SQT this evening - loads of no shows though according to the coaches...there were only 15 of us riding on a fully booked endurance group (20ish max is it?). Only 5 riders doing the sprint side of things too...still, fun session!

49x15 (88.2") - track league, training

Pretty much the same as I recommended.

One question...why the discrepancies in various peoples GI calculations? I know it changes with tyre/wheel size etc., but for the example of 49x15, if we assume 700c wheels and 23mm tyres, I get 85.93 on every calculator I try...I have to put down 32mm tyres to get close - don't really see them on track! In another example, 50x15 is oft quoted as 90 inches, while I always get 87.68.

Anyhow, I haven't changed sprocket or chainring in months (47x14, 88.3GI by my reckoning!) so I guess it doesn't matter!

It is based on a nominal 27 inch wheel (not 700c), 50x15 = 90 GI. One tooth change on chainring = 2" while one on the cog = 6"

Thanks!

Has this shared accreditation partnership fallen apart ?

I've just moved to Glasgow, having got my accreditation at LVVP and they seem to be saying that they don't have any agreement on accreditation with other velodromes.

I also see that the LVVP website now says:
In order to validate accredited riders from other UK indoor velodromes, riders will bypass the first 3 stages, sign up as a Lee Valley member for free, and only take our stage 4 assessment. On successful completion, riders can then access the complete Lee Valley programme, including SQT’s, specific accredited training sessions and track leagues. We highly recommend that riders take part in SQTs prior to riding track leagues.

What happened ? Does anybody know ?

I live up in Glasgow, I am sure that people have ridden here and not gone through the accred process. Worth emailing someone at Glasgow Life/emirates arena.

Yeah, that's what I thought. I did email them and the reply was:

As far as I am aware, we do not currently have an accreditation recognition agreement in place with any other Velodromes, therefore, if you were to ride the track at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, you would have to join one of our Accreditation sessions at level 1.

Hopefully it's just not being aware....

This is the official flyer for the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome accreditation process:
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/scottishcycling/Velodrome_6pp_flyer_3Rd_proof.pdf

Clearly states:
Accreditation
This process produces safe confident track-cyclists who can train and compete on the track. Accredited riders can train and compete at velodromes in London and Manchester. Riders from Manchester and London, able to prove their status can train and compete on the Glasgow track.

Thanks for that

If that is the case, not much point in having 'UK Track Accreditation' on my BC license, as it means I am not accredited to ride any UK track until you pass accreditation. Go figure!

Edit. I found this on the BC website..

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/insightzone/features/article/izn20140915-Track-Starting-Track-Cycling-0

The interesting bit is sufficiently woolly that Lee Valley have not circumvented what the BC website says.

To progress you then have to work through an accreditation system. On passing this you’ll be qualified to take part in more advanced structured training sessions and to race.
With the introduction of a UK wide accreditation scheme for indoor velodromes, each venue will be providing data of accredited riders on existing customer databases to British Cycling Membership Services. Therefore if you are a current BC member, and have a current indoor track accreditation then you will get an endorsement on your BC membership card (UKIVA) that can gain you accredited access to other venues.
The exact accreditation process will differ slightly from venue to venue but the end result of making you a safe and competent rider will be the same

Well, this is what I'm trying to get to the bottom of. I was persevering with accreditation in London because I thought it would mean I was also accredited to ride on the Glasgow track when I moved up here.

I've been forwarding the material highlighted in this thread to Glasgow but no further word back, yet - I believe the person-in-the-know is returning from their holiday tomorrow.
Will post whatever I find out back to this thread.

I perceive this as an issue that BC should be resolve. The intention was and should remain to standardise the accreditation process throughout the UK. This is what the BC website alludes to.

So.... I just got off the phone to BC. Their view is that the national accreditation process IS in place - however it is up to the velodromes themselves to agree, manage and administer the process.
BC advised that I contact Scottish Cycling - which I am now trying to do.

In the meantime, I received an email from one of the managers at the Glasgow velodrome stating that the only agreement in place is that riders accredited in Manchester can proceed straight to a level 4 accreditation session.

Will update when I've done some more digging...

Their view is that the national accreditation process IS in place - however it is up to the velodromes themselves to agree, manage and administer the process.

This is almost ad-verbatim what I was told by a coach at LVV last week.