Coasters Academy is our group for secondary school aged children (Year 7 and above), run by Mark Stacey, one of our coaches. As the name suggests, it is all about enabling young people to develop into safe, confident cyclists who  then 'graduate' into our adult club activities.
Normal Coasters Academy sessions comprise a bike ride, possibly with an informal coaching element. The aim is to help the young people learn how to ride safely in a group and in the kinds of conditions that could be expected on an adult club ride. Academy members are working towards being  awarded their 'Club Ride Pass'. This will allow them to join in with WCCC club rides without a parent having to try and keep up with them!
PLEASE NOTE: all members of the Coasters Academy MUST be accompanied and supervised during our rides by a parent or someone acting in loco parentis.

programme

Coasters Academy activities vary according to the time of year: 
  • ​​​Academy road rides will start on 5th April, meeting in the Lidl car park for a two hour road ride.
  • Subject to sufficient interest and club resources, we may also run off road / mountain biking rides too. Please let Mark Stacey know if you'd be interested.
(Variations on these arrangements are publicised in the Coasters Kids Parents Facebook group.)
  • Coasters Academy members are encouraged to take part in the various races being held locally.
  • They are also welcome to join in any adult coaching sessions.

Essential requirements

Please note that under 18s MUST meet the all the relevant conditions listed below to take part in Coasters Academy. These are primarily intended to safeguard your child, but also the reputation of the club and its leaders. They are based on British Cycling's best practice and insurance policies.
  1. Coasters Academy members must be members of Wadebridge Coasters CC. Join here.
  2. Coasters Academy members must be members of British Cycling, which includes a Race Licence .
  3. Coasters Academy members must be accompanied and supervised by a parent (or an adult acting in loco parentis) on all rides (i.e. every week).
  4. Parental consent must be given by means of an Under 18s registration form completed for each child. Register here.
  5. ​Coasters Academy members must use the appropriate, properly maintained equipment, including a cycle helmet.
  6. Coasters Academy members must be secondary school age (year 7 and above). 
  7. Coasters Academy members  must have passed Bikeability level 2 (red badge). This is also for legal/insurance reasons and to help ensure their safety. Wadebridge Coasters CC cannot provide Bikeability training but if your child did not do it at primary school, they can access this privately through Cycle Training Cornwall.

Club Ride Pass

Wadebridge Coasters CC's club rides are the pounding heart of our club and what Coasters Academy members are working towards. WCCC run a wide variety of weekly rides, both on and off road. Children over 12 are invited to join in provided we are satisfied that they will not present a danger or be an unhelpful distraction to others - the Club Ride Pass is intended to provide assurance of this.
In order to take part in a Coasters club ride, all under 18s* will need to present their Club Ride Pass to the ride leader at the start of the ride. It is a small, laminated card which includes contact details for the child's next of kin. Normally, this will have been earned through a gradual development of cycling skills through Coasters Kids and Coasters Academy. An under 18 with a Club Ride Pass may take part in a club ride without parental supervision, although we always recommend parents come along too if possible.
​​ * exceptions MAY be made in some circumstances (for example holiday-makers who can demonstrate experience of riding in similar group rides elsewhere)
​In order to gain a Club Ride Pass, ALL the following criteria must have been met:
  1. The cyclist must be a member of Wadebridge Coasters CC.
  2. The cyclist must be a member of British Cycling.
  3. The cyclist must be 12 years old or over. This is for legal and insurance reasons beyond our control.
  4. The cyclist must have passed Bikeability level 2 (and ideally level 3 for road rides).
  5. Annual parental consent must have been given by means of an Under 18s Consent Form. Download here.​​
  6. Finally, Club Ride Passes are only issued on the explicit recommendation of club coaches and/or ride leaders.
As with adult participants, all under 18s must abide by the Coasters' Code of Conduct for Club Rides.​ This includes use of appropriate, properly maintained equipment, including a cycle helmet. WCCC retains the right to withdraw Club Ride Passes at our discretion.
ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR CLUB RIDE PASS! Please do not be offended if a ride leader refuses to take an under 18 on a club ride. This will be for the sake of everyone's safety (particularly the child's), the reputation of the club, and the legal security of our members and leadership.

CLub Coaching for 12 to 17 year olds

Cycle sport coaching similar to that delivered at Coasters Kids is also offered to adults and to children at secondary school.
  • Participants must be members of Wadebridge Coasters CC
  • Annual parental consent must have been given by means of an Under 18s Consent Form. Download here.
  • British Cycling membership is encouraged, especially for racing