FAQs

Young riders who can ride without being held and without training wheels have enough skill to participate at our events. They can also refine their skills at training sessions on Tuesday evenings.

If they rely on training wheels or need to be held, they will require one-on-one coaching through our Learn-to-Ride program.

We can help with that, Gay Watson (our Head Coach) and Ian Watson (our Mechanic) run a fantastic business that does provide one-on-one coaching and have taught thousands (literally) of children and adults to ride. Kids on Bikes will get you up and cycling in no time!

They also offer one-on-one learn to ride classes for adults.

No. All events run by Neo Cycling Club include insurance in the cost of entry.

No. Bring whatever bike you or your kids currently ride, plus a helmet. Balance bike, BMX, mountain bike, or road bike.

You don’t need the latest bike with materials used on the space shuttle. -Any bike will do.

WARNING

Parents often think of upgrading bikes as they introduce their kids to cycling. There is no need. -Plenty of kids ride with us on the bike they start out with.

If your child’s bike is due for replacement, please resist the temptation to buy a bike before talking to us. There are many traps that people fall into.

There are two kinds of parents;

1. Non-cycling parents
   They often;
   a) spend too much on the wrong bike. Throwing money at it doesn’t help you.
   or
   b) buy an entry-level unsuitable bike when a more suitable bike is available for the same budget.
   
2. Cycling parents
   They know their stuff, but may be too proud to ask the junior specific questions. Please talk to us anyway. -Important factors to consider for an adult bike are very different for a junior bike.

Ask for Ian, Gay or Blair at one of our training sessions or events. -There is nothing they don’t know about junior bikes. They can help highlight the traps when buying a junior bike.

Yes, Neo supports our riders in many ways.

Primary Scholarships

Riders from infants to primary school have an opportunity to develop their skills with Neo for free.

Scholarships typically include;

• free racing.
• free skills development and training.
• free access to club loaner bikes.
• pathway to UTS scholarship program.

Primary SuPPORT

Neo support young families entering the sport. It can be daunting navigating through the AusCycling way of doing things.

Support typically includes club coaching, club mechanics and shelter from the elements. Where space permits, we have been known to bring the club BBQ at junior tours and carnivals.

Secondary Scholarships

Many of our riders are high performers in their studies, sport, music and other extracurricular activities.

Neo and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) recognise that a healthy, balanced lifestyle means juggling competing priorities. Riders performing towards the top of the state are eligible for a bonus five marks on their ATAR for courses at UTS.

In our first year partnering with UTS (2022), one of our riders was eligible for an additional 5 marks. -He achieved the marks required to make it in to his course without any assistance, but it was good to know that UTS had him covered if he just missed out.

Secondary Support

Secondary riders, receive all the support that the primary riders do, as well as supporting riders competing at team events at any level including the Team Time Trial, Team Pursuit, Team Sprint and the Australian Junior Track Series.

All riders competing at a National Level, either in a team or individually in their Neo or State uniform are also supported.

Support typically includes, the cost of entries, catering, vehicle transportation of bikes for those who are competing interstate, subsidised accommodation, club mechanic, club coach etc.

Tertiary scholarship

UTS riders competing at an U19 or Elite level may be eligible for a $5000 scholarship.

We successfully supported a young rider with their application to become Neo’s first beneficiary of this scholarship within a year of partnering with UTS.

Tertiary Support

Riders competing in U19 and Elite events at a national level in AusCycling events as well as the University Games are also supported.

Where available, support typically includes, the cost of entries, vehicle transportation of bikes where space is available for those who are competing interstate, subsidised accommodation, club mechanic, club coach etc.

Adult Riders

Neo support adult riders across the spectrum. Whether it be riders starting out in free group rides, or riders wishing to try their hand at racing at an entry level, through to elite road and track events around the country.

Neo supports riders competing in team events at any level while wearing their club uniform including the Pairs Time Trial, Team Time Trial, Team Pursuit and the Team Sprint.

All riders competing at a National Level, either in a team or individually in their Neo or State uniform are also supported.

Support typically includes, the cost of entries, vehicle transportation of bikes where space is available for those who are competing interstate and subsidised accommodation.

Yes. Just register as a Junior or Adult Casual Rider.

Ignore the pricing and enter the discount code: FirstTimeFree

After your first event, you can upgrade to a season registration or remain as a casual for as long as you like.

Yes. Come and go as you please. – You may remain a casual rider for as long as you like, but its more cost effective to consider a season registration.

Casual Rates

$15 – Adults
$14 – Juniors

Yes. A season registration is significantly cheaper.

Adult Season Registration

$25 or upgrade from Casual Rider for $10

Benefits include;
– $2 off the cost of entry each week.
– 50% off training packages, or free if you train with the juniors, because we put you to work.
– Discounted cycle clothing and merchandise.

Two months before season end, the price changes to $35. It includes the remainder of this season and the following season.

Two months before season end, the price changes to $35. It includes the remainder of this season and the following season.

Junior Season Registration

$45 or upgrade from casual rider for $31

Benefits include;
– $7 off the cost of entry each week, excluding two championship rounds.
– 30% off the cost of entry at the Student Championship.
– 50% off training packages.
– Discounted cycle clothing and merchandise.

Two months before season end, the price changes to $60. It includes the remainder of this season and the following season.

Yes. -You could even miss half a dozen events and still be in front financially.

Adult Season Registration + Prepaid Entries

$190-$210 per season* (Saving around $100)

*Price varies from season to season depending on the number of weeks.

Benefits include;
– Free entry each week.
– Free entry to Club Championship.
– Free entry to Xmas Party. (Summer season only).
– 50% off training packages, and free if you train with your kids, because we put you to work.
– Discounted cycle clothing and merchandise.

Junior Season Registration + Prepaid Entries

$140-$160 per season* (Saving around $50)

*Price varies from season to season depending on the number of weeks.

Benefits include;
– Free entry each week, excluding Student Championship Round.
– Free entry to Club Championship.
– Free entry to Xmas Party. (Summer season only).
– 30% off the cost of entry at the Student Championship.
– 50% off training packages
– Discounted cycle clothing and merchandise.

Yes. Every school aged kid in NSW is entitled to two Active Kids Vouchers.

Your Season Registration + Prepay Package could be just $40-$60 with your voucher.

Yes. The club is fortunate to own a large collection of track and road bikes, which are available to members.

You can try them free for a few weeks at our events to get a feel for sizing, or rent them for the season.

Given how specialised track bikes are, many families will rent a track bike for a season or two, before purchasing their own.

No. We have some riders who only race, others who only train, but most do both.

Yes. Any rider with a season registration can train with us.

Summer Season – 1 Oct to 31 Mar

Neo offers training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Lidcombe Oval. The start times depends on ability check the schedule in our calendar.

Winter Season – 1 Apr to 30 Sep

Neo offers training on Wednesday evenings at Lidcombe Oval. The start times depends on ability check the schedule in our calendar.

All Year Round

Neo members also meet for group rides on Saturday mornings, however insurance is up to the rider.

Casual – $10 per evening.
Per Term (1 day/wk) – $70.
Per Term (2 day/wk) – $120.

No.

Adults

We can lend you one of ours! You can borrow one of ours for free on a short term or we can hire one to you in a long term arrangement.

Juniors

We run separate events for junior riders of track bikes and non-track bikes on Sunday afternoon’s and at training. You can stay on your regular bike for as long as you like, or borrow one of our track bikes for free if you want to give it a try.

No. They are easier.

It’s amazing how many times we hear “cafe pros” talk about it as if we need special cycling super powers. Yes, it is different, but it’s easier different.

If anyone tells you it is harder, ask them if they have tried it. The answer is almost always “no”, or “yes, but ages ago” -that’s code for “no, but I watched someone once and it looked hard”

No. They’re so cheap that even a not-for-profit club can amass a large loaner fleet of quality bikes.

Don’t believe me? Ask to borrow one for free.

What about spares? The club maintains a spares library. The main components are:

Stems – to address sizing and position issues.

Chainrings and sprockets – to address gearing issues as your strength and fitness improves.

All that said, like anything in cycling. There is always something better that costs more. We have plenty of high grade aluminium bikes ready to loan.

We don’t loan carbon bikes because they need an extra level of care that only the owner will ever give.

Here is a page to all the races that we run at club level.

No. Every event hosted by Neo is on a sterile course. That is, a course that is free of cars.

Winter is Road season. -We use a road that was purpose built for cyclists and is car-free.

Summer is Track season. -We use an outdoor flat velodrome (also car-free) which is ideal for beginners to learn the etiquette before venturing on to steep Olympic level velodromes.

Outside of Neo hosted events there are Neo group rides and external competition that use the road, but that doesn’t happen until they get their skills up.

Yes! The vast majority of our events are graded by ability. This means that newer riders are graded with other newer riders. As their skills and speed improves, they move up a grade when they are ready.

There are only two championship events towards the end of season which are graded by age and gender.

Rain

At a minimum, we aim to cancel due to weather with two hours notice from first event. Eg for a 3pm start we normally aim for;

1pm Weather announcement.
2pm Sign-on.
3pm First Event.

The wet weather announcement is normally by email as well as a post on Facebook.

If you need more than two hours notice because you travel from afar, you can reach out to the organisers for their opinion of what the announcement will be. -Just don’t hold us to it.

If the weather fines up after we’ve cancelled nothing changes.

If the weather deteriorates after first event, the next action depends on a number of factors.

Track Event
A slight drizzle with no sign of rain to come. -We’ll let it pass and press on. In summer there is normally enough heat in the track for it to dry in seconds.

Rain. -We’ll cancel.

Road Event
Light rain with a sign that it may pass. -We’ll press on.

Heavy rain. -If water is streaming across the road we’ll cancel.

Thunder / Lightning

Event is cancelled.

Yes. All Neo Cycling events carry their own insurance. It covers all riders including AusCycling riders, Triathlon Australia riders and riders who aren’t a member of any organisation (yet).

There is a misconception that only AusCycling affiliated organisations may conduct a bicycle race in Australia. This is not the case. Other organisations that allow riders to race without a AusCycling licence include ATTA-NSW and AVCC to name a couple.

Members from other clubs can race and train with us the same as anyone else, but you’ll need to register with us.

For AusCycling race licencing purposes – No – Neo’s policy is to encourage riders to race for the club of their referrer. We need all clubs to grow with us.

Be sure to tell your friend(s) to sign up to your club when they are ready to join the wider AusCycling model. They need to support your club with an AusCycling membership. -Be really clear on this. If they don’t tell us, we may unwittingly put them on the AusCycling path with us. –They don’t need to feel they are being rude. This is our policy!

Once we know where their referrer is from, we will continue to encourage them, but with the focus on your club.

A quick history lesson: Before re-branding as Neo we were running as “Junior Cyclist” for five years. In that time, we have encouraged a couple of dozen riders from at least a dozen clubs to stay with the club they are already with, or join the club that their mum/dad/uncle/aunt/friend (referrer) is with.

Riders were only ever signed to ATTA-NSW if they had no referrer.

Yes. Neo treats all riders equally. Discounts are based on how much you ride with us, not which club you might be a member of.

Yes. So is netball, rugby and swimming in the surf.

That said, here is the stuff the legal guys insist on:

Cycling of any nature, especially racing, involves risk of serious injury or even death, as a result of acts or omissions of the rider, other riders, other vehicles, spectators, pedestrians, obstacles or road conditions.

Riders (or parents on their behalf) accept those risks when competing or training.

The club maintains insurance, for club sanctioned events, including our club racing and club training sessions (only).

The club’s insurance DOES NOT COVER YOU WHEN undertaking any ‘personal’ riding or training, including Saturday bunch rides.

As such, on any ‘personal’ ride you may do, including group rides, you may be liable for any injury you may cause another rider, a pedestrian, or any property damage you may cause (such as running into a car door).

If you ride a bike outside of our events, then yes. Eg a ride in the park, commute to work, group rides, etc.

For additional 24/7 insurance coverage and benefits, including personal injury cover and your own public liability and third party property cover, we strongly recommend that you simultaneously join AusCycling as ‘Lifestyle’ member (at a minimum) or a ‘Race All Disciplines’ (especially if you wish to race in AusCycling sanctioned events).

You may also wish to insure your bike(s), for fire, theft, or damage through a specialist bike insurer, such as Velosure. As always, read the PDS before purchasing.

The age category is determined by the age of the rider on 31 December in the year the season ends.

Cycling age categories move up every two years eg U9, U11, U13 etc, so it means that every second year the rider will be older or younger than half the field they are entered in.

“Under ##” means the age must be under the number.

Eg Under 13 means the rider needs to be 11 or 12. -Not 13.

Here is an Age Calculator to help you figure it out.

This one is easy to figure out. We simply consider their age on 31 Dec in the current year.

Lets say we are entering an event for Jane, who is aged ten in Nov 2019 and her birthday is 5th Dec.

Jane will be eleven on 31 Dec 2019, therefore will be considered an U13 rider.

Here is an Age Calculator to help you figure it out.

The summer age category frustrates everyone because the season crosses over two years. That is, it starts in October and ends in March the following year.

Remember, the age category is determined by the age of the child on 31 Dec in the year the season ends. It gets confusing, particularly if the rider is born late in the year.

Lets say we are entering an event for Mary who is aged eleven, in Nov 2019. Mary’s birthday is 5th Dec. The track season for that year will end in 2020, so Mary’s age will be considered thirteen on 31 Dec 2020 (the year the season ends).

As Mary will be thirteen, she will be considered an U15 rider as she is no longer “under” 13. It seems unreasonable that an eleven year old will be racing as an under 15 rider, but rest assured, that the rule affects everyone in a similar way.

Here is an Age Calculator to help you figure it out.

AusCycling has gearing restrictions for juniors. Roll-out refers to the distance one revolution of the crank arm will propel the bicycle in a straight line, when it is in its biggest (hardest) gear.

As a club, we don’t enforce roll-out restrictions for our weekly racing, however we do enforce it for our Club Championships and Interschool Cycling Championships.

Please refer to the roll-out page for more information.