Avantidrome Team Members John & Roi Speed Win Gold!
If you’ve ever wondered when is too late in life to take up track cycling … the answer is, never!
John and Roi Speed, part of the Avantidrome coaching team recently won National Titles in the 70-75 age group at the Vantage Windows & Doors Age Group Track National Championships. They share their journey below.
We were invited to come along to the Avantidrome open day before it was officially opened by the Royals back in 2013. We stood at the top of the end banked corner and said to Avantidrome coach Foggie, “You would have to have rocks in your head to ride around there”.
Foggie talked us into doing a Have a Go session which is a one hour, absolute beginner’s session and we enjoyed it. From here we carried on to do our accreditation which involved a series of coached sessions to gain the skills required to ensure we could safely ride the Avantidrome unsupervised. From here we just kept riding and were regular attendees during daytime Open Roll sessions and the evening VeloEquip sessions.
After a few months, we were asked to train as coaches ‘because we spend so much time on the track we may as well teach others how to do it too’. We completed the Cycling New Zealand Track Coaches course and then, with much trepidation, began our journey as coaches at the Avantidrome.
Now we love that too!
These Age Group Track Nationals are the first ever sporting competition we have done in our lives and yes, we waited until we were 70 years old!
When we started riding on the track, it was for the fun, then it was for fun and fitness. We were never ‘sporty’ types and did not even own road bikes. For us, it was the people we met that completed the whole circle and cycling has now become huge part of our lives – fun, fitness, and social.
So, what you are you waiting for?
Book in your Have a Go sessions today… you never know, you might also just get hooked too.
Call reception on VELODROME to enquire.