ERC coaches on CPD

Kasia Faraday

I am the Youth Convenor for ERC. My involvement stems from being a proud mother of two young ERC riders. I have participated in all aspects of volunteering, from race sign-on and organising the Christmas party to being an enthusiastic and all-around supporter. It is early days for me in getting involved with coaching, but I am starting to work through the qualifications and am keen to be even more ‘active’ in my involvement with the club.

David Brown

I started riding to school in London when I was 13 and have ridden in France mainly in the Pyrennees where we have had shared houses. I started coaching after I retired and created Go-Ride activities and evening rides for youngsters, first at North Cotswolds and then in Winchcombe where we created a Go Ride club for Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Winchcombe. On arriving in Edinburgh after Covid I restarted Go-Ride North at Davidsons Mains and have run a few trail rides for Go-Ride riders. As an academic I have been more interested in helping younger riders to develop their basic skills and independence and become competent riders and encouraging parents to embark on the coaching road than racing myself.

Douglas Cook

I've loved supporting the club that’s given so much to my own children, getting involved with the kids' sessions and helping wherever I can. While I have a love for all types of bikes, I’m a mountain biker at heart and this is where I have enjoyed supporting the club the most, particularly in helping the older kids develop their skills and confidence as they take their first steps into competitive racing. Though, over the winter you will find me dabbling in a bit of cyclocross racing and coaching

My background in cycling runs deep. From contributing to early mountain bike fanzines back in the early days of internet journalism, to organising large-scale community events on the indoor platform Zwift, I’ve always found ways to stay involved in the cycling scene beyond just riding a bike so volunteering for ERC was inevitable eventually!

Phil Darby (GRS) has been part of the youth setup almost since its inception. He is qualified to coach at Go-Ride as well as more special disciplines of road time-trial, track (velodrome) and mountain biking. His aim is to ensure that kids have fun on bikes and have opportunities to progress in the sport. Phil has held many posts in the club and has a wealth of knowledge and experience he can share with other volunteers and parents.

Sean Doak

I’ve been helping at ERC since 2018, first with the Go Ride North sessions, and now with the mountain bike section which I helped develop and now manage. I am a mountain biker and it’s great to be able to help lots of children find the sport and grow. I have both coaching and mtb ride leader qualifications. We coach at various locations and rides are mainly in the Pentlands. It’s great to be able to get out into the hills on our doorstep

My main personal interest is in riding for enjoyment. I want to make sure that kids are having fun while gaining skills and developing themselves too. It’s great watching them go from being unable to ride over roots, to jumping and riding faster down hills than I can! My top tip is to always bring sweets to keep the kids in check, they all know I have bags of peach rings from Lidl

Joe Faraday (GRS).

I embarked on my cycling journey in cyclocross and gravel thanks to my children joining ERC. Now, I'm thrilled to be an active part of the club, regularly coaching and coordinating the youngsters' cyclocross sessions. I'm also excited to be expanding the adults' group. My goal is to make cycling an enjoyable and inclusive experience, where the thrill of racing is all about having fun and, I must admit, embracing a bit of healthy competition. I’m also keen for ERC to have a strong social component. On a great day, you'll spot me on the front grid at a Scottish cyclocross race, and on a not-so-great day, you might find me in a pile of mud. But no matter what, I'll be smiling, and full of energy.

Douglas Kyles

My main coaching focus is Cyclocross and XC, having competed in both (with very minimal success) on occasion.

I started coaching not long after my daughter joined ERC when the club supported me through my coaching qualifications. My main focus is trying to bridge the gap between Go Ride, and getting children involved in racing CX or XC.

From my experience as a parent these are the most fun and accessible formats for children keen to try their hand at racing, challenging them not only physically but also helping to improve their bike handling skills. With a large group of children racing for ERC, they are also guaranteed to have some fun with their friends and teammates.

Ryan Sweeney

My main sport was Underwater Hockey where I competed for Scotland and Great Britain, but in recent years I've dived into the cycling world. I have moved my Underwater coaching to Go Ride North cycle coaching where we have youths from 5 to 11 enjoying riding their bikes.

Since my son started with Go Ride, ERC have supported me in my coaching journey, from off road to now going through my road coaching qualifications. This year I've really jumped into the deep end to get a more hands on approach and have started racing with ERC, competing in Road, Crits and a touch of Gravel.

I enjoy the freedom that cycling gives me and the adventures that are available. If I can pass that onto the children that I coach, then I know they will gain something far more than riding a bike!

Allez, allez, allez