Background information

The Accreditaion process is for riders aged 15+ who want to get more involved in the sport, either by regularly training on our SQT Sessions, by racing at the Track Leagues, or to ride at other UK Indoor Velodromes (via endorsement on your British Cycling Licence).

If you’ve ridden a few Taster sessions and simply want to ride the track more often for general fitness without racing or training on SQT’s, then our Regular Rider Sessions may suit you better.

If you’re riding your own bike throughout the accreditation process, please ensure it meets our Track Bike Specifications.

With over 20 years of experience of accrediting riders, we can confidently say that those who commit to riding regularly (i.e. weekly), and visit numerous Stage 2 sessions during this process, are those that make the quickest progress through the process.

There is no better solution to gaining track experience than repeatedly riding sessions at the approriate level, and time spent on track riding with others whilst fully learning the skills and techniques will make for a much more positive experience riding in the larger groups on our SQT sessions.

From stage 2 onwards if you do not progress from one stage to another within six months  then you will need to revert back to Stage 1 sessions and commence the process once more.

Accreditation STAGE 1

For details of Stage 1 please click here

Accreditation STAGE 2 and Stage 2 PLus

The next, and biggest, step to enhancing your skills and overall fitness. These sessions focus on specific key skills and techniques designed to make you a fitter, safer and more confident track cyclist. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Pairing Up, Riding in Pairs & Leaving the Track from Pairs
• Chain Gang basics
• Advanced Manouvering ("Lumps & Bumps")
• Pursuit Changes
• Tandem Changes ("Taking the Gap")
• Manouvering ("Lumps & Bumps")

Please note, as these sessions are 1hr long and there's alot to cover we find that most riders need to visit a number of times before progressing to Stage 3. On average riders progress after 4 sessions, however this does vary from rider to rider and can be influenced by fitness, confidence, and prior experience.  Coaches will put riders forward when they observe them to be riding the drills confidently and competently within the group.

The Stage 2 Plus Session is a 2hr version of Stage 2, which allows us to focus in on the stage 2 drills in more depth as well as some of the SQT fundamentals, whilst also helping you to develop your fitness towards taking part in more intensive 2hr sessions.

Accreditation STAGE 3 

A two hour session building further on the skills and techniques developed at Stage 2. Here you’ll learn the necessary skills to be a fully accredited rider. A coach will be on track to lead and teach you these skills which will subsequently be assessed in the Stage 4 accreditation session. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Changing in Pairs
• "The Square Dance"
• Maintaining the Half Lap (in groups)
• Changing on the Half Lap
• Taking Half Laps (solo)
• Advanced Manouvering (" Random Lumps & Bumps")

Coaches will progress riders who demonstrate confident and competent riding of these drills. Pass the assessment to proceed to Stage 4.

Accreditation STAGE 4 

This is a test of track craft for candidates to demonstrate the skills learned so that they can safely ride the Structured Quality Training (SQT) sessions. You will need to prove your fitness by staying on the track for thirty five minutes whilst completing a series of drills learnt at Stage 3 in sequence.

Riders will also be introduced to Mock Racing, and where possible riding with the Derny.

Once Accreditation is gained, access is available to Structured Quality Training (SQT).

SQTs are for accredited riders aged 15 years or older. They are training sessions that will test your fitness and some sessions can prepare you for various types of racing. More details are available here.

Successful Stage 4 riders will be issued with full track accreditation, however any newly accredited rider who does not ride the track within six months of gaining their accreditation will need to attend a Stage 2 Improver session for re-assessment before booking an SQT session.

UK Track AccrediTation Scheme

If you are a member of British Cycling, following successful accreditation there will be an endorsement added to your membership card/licence as a UK Indoor Velodrome accredited rider, and this will give you access to Glasgow, Newport, London and Derby, but please check with these venues regarding registration.