// NEWS: SE NINE MAGAZINE
// SE Nine Magazine: October Edition
We were delighted to see the club featured in SE Nine Magazine this month.
You can read the article on the SE Nine website here or find out more about the origins and aims of the club below. Our resident wordsmith, Coach Grame, talks us through how and why the club was formed.
Limited Edition Cycling: Building Confidence, Community and a Love of Cycling
Limited Edition Cycling is a friendly, community-led cycling club based in Eltham. Every Saturday, children of all ages and abilities come together at Eltham Park South to build confidence, develop skills and, most importantly, have fun on their bikes.
The club started in 2010 when a mum, Ollie Golding, wanted a club that she could attend with her young daughter. A club that wasn’t a closed shop of life long cyclists, only interested in the traditional ways of old, but somewhere she could share the love she had of cycling with her daughter and other link minded folk. Somewhere to be supported and nurtured, not judged and pressured. Such a club didn’t seem to exist at the time, so Ollie decided to start a new club with this new concept. Limited Edition cycling was born, (the name coming from the fact that, inexplicably, the concept of a fun club for all abilities seemed to a niche idea)
At heart, we simply want children to learn how to ride with confidence. Anyone who rode a bike as a child will remember that sense of freedom. Flying down a hill at what was probably 12mph but felt more like 90mph. Exploring new parts of the neighbourhood with friends and family. Expanding your world just that little bit further with every ride. Those early adventures on two wheels create memories that stay with you for a lifetime.
Every Saturday morning, our team of six British Cycling-accredited, first aid-trained coaches leads 90-minute training sessions for members and newcomers alike. We are always delighted to welcome new riders, and the first two sessions are completely free.
Research shows that children learn best when they are enjoying themselves, so every session starts with a simple question: "How can we make this fun?" Whether it's riding under a limbo bar, mastering a new skill or preparing for the next race, we want every child to leave our sessions smiling and looking forward to the next one.
We cater for a wide range of ages and abilities. Some of our youngest riders are just four years old and are learning the fundamentals of cycling through games and activities. At the other end of the spectrum are our 10 to 16-year-olds, including members of our race team who are developing more advanced skills and challenging themselves at a competitive level. We typically start together as one club, split into ability-based groups for coaching, and finish with a fun activity that brings everyone back together.
One of the things we're most proud of is how accessible the club is. No specialist equipment is required. Any bike in safe, rideable condition is welcome (as long as it doesn't have a battery/Engine!), and children can join as soon as they are able to pedal independently.
We're also one of the host clubs of the annual South London Go Ride League. Designed as an introduction to racing, the league gives children up to Under-16 level the chance to experience competition in a safe, supportive and enjoyable environment. With nine races across the season, riders can test themselves on closed-road circuits while family, friends and clubmates cheer them on from the sidelines.
But we're about much more than cycling. We're a community of families who support one another both on and off the bike. Throughout the year we organise social events including post-training picnics in the park, trips to Ninja Warrior Adventure Park and even a recent club photoshoot at a studio! These events help create friendships and a sense of belonging that extends far beyond
Saturday mornings.We've come a long way since our early days as a handful of children riding in the park. Today, we regularly welcome between 20 and 30 riders every Saturday. While our focus remains firmly on enjoyment and development, some of our riders choose to take their cycling further. Last year we celebrated six South London Go Ride League champions, two South East and London cyclocross league winners, two riders competing at national-level events and five riders representing the club at the European Youth Cycling Tour in the Netherlands.
We are incredibly proud of those achievements, but success means different things to different children. For one rider it may be winning a race. For another it may be cycling independently for the first time or gaining the confidence to ride to school.
Whatever your child's goals, there's a place for them at Limited Edition Cycling. Whether they dream of becoming the next British Cycling champion or simply want to enjoy riding with friends, we'd love to help them. New riders are always welcome, and the first two sessions are free. Visit our website to find out more and book a trial session.
