Sprocket Rocket is a foundation Cycling Skills Programme developed by Cycling Ireland in 2010 which is aimed at children from ages 5-11 and focuses on 4 main skills; Cornering, Pedalling, Braking and Balance. This year was a pilot scheme for Forestside working with eleven P7 pupils from St. Ita’s Primary School to develop their bike handling skills.  To date, over 5,000 children have benefitted from Sprocket Rocket and Forestside’s programme has been such a great success this year that we have decided to expand the programme for next year.

Our scheme took place over ten weeks from 3-4pm on a Tuesday afternoon in our enclosed multi storey car park and was led by qualified instructors Danny, Ernest, Marty and Roy and concentrated on balance, slow cornering control, starting and stopping safely and braking. All eleven kids graduated on Tuesday of this week and were presented with their certificates and helmets courtesy of Forestside.

The next levels for these guys will be road skills if they wish to carry on learning and Forestside is really pleased to announce that we will be starting a brand new Sprocket Rocket programme in the Spring of next year and we will be able to take on another 3 teams of 12 children.

Once they have completed the course, our graduates have lots of opportunities within Team Forestside. If they choose, they can join Danny’s Sunday morning Road Skills course which runs every alternate Sunday morning and has given invaluable experience to all of our current Team Forestside Youth riders. Or they can join our Off Road Cycle Track club which will be starting soon and will run every other Sunday at Knockbreda Football Club grounds on Upper Braniel Road.

Any young rider who has already mastered these skills is more than welcome to join Team Forestside as a Youth Pro Team rider where you will be eligible to take part in any of our Team Forestside Youth squad events.

Anyone interested in any of the above facilities, either individually or as part of your school group, please feel free to contact Lee, Centre Manager at lee@forestside.co.uk or on 02890 494990.