Who we are

We are a volunteer led and community focused, BMX racing club in south London.  Established in 1981 by our founder Ken Floyde, we have been bringing communities and people together around a shared passion for riding bikes for 40 years.  

We were proud to see Kye Whyte win his Olympic medal in Tokyo this year.  Kye’s BMX story started with us when he was 3 (yes he was a fast 3 year old!).  Kye is a shining example of the great riders that have come into the sport at Brixton before climbing through the ranks to the top of the sport.

Brixton - a gateway to the sport

There are many other success stories to highlight alongside Kye that the club is proud about.  For example the achievements of CK Flash (MBE).  CK is founder of Peckham BMX club and mentor to Kye.   As a youngster, CK started with Ken in Brixton before going on to race professionally in the US and then forming sister club Peckham BMX.  Or there’s Charlie Reynolds, the BMX superstar from the 1980s, famous for pulling the biggest tricks and still winning his races in the UK and abroad.  Or Kye's big brother Tre Whyte, who is a former national champion and world number 3.  And Quillan Isidore, former World champ and current Team GB rider.   And many more still.

Brixton's tradition for bringing incredible riders into the sport continues with future stars like M14 national champion Lukah McKenzie who has been winning all season.

Watch the segment from BBC London news 19 Oct 2021

A safe and supportive community 

Looking beyond the riders that have achieved in the sport, there are also hundreds of people that have benefitted from being in or around the club.   There are so many personal success stories that all draw a direct line back to Ken and his vision to create a club and develop community, helping young people through sport.  

Brixton BMX Club continues to make a positive impact in the community.  

Who uses the track?

Our track is open to the public all day and is heavily ridden by children and adults from near and far.   Speak to anyone that grew up in the local area and chances are they enjoyed the thrill of riding a bike around the track when they were younger.  

During the pandemic, track usage increased a lot as indoor sports were shut down.  Lots of usage is brilliant but it has taken its toll and the track urgently needs some new surface.

Club activities

On weekend mornings, we use the track for BMX coaching sessions with a team of British Cycling qualified coaches teaching riders the skills for BMX racing.  

We run BMX Wingz, a program from our partners Access Sport for children with special educational needs or disabilities.

Getting more women and girls riding

We recently expanded our coaching team to include our first female coach and have seen our Women and Girls sessions growing.   

In the community

Through our community outreach program our coaches bring the club into the local community centres and youth groups to get young people riding and raise awareness of the sport and club.    

We host school groups that come to learn and ride on the track.  

You don't need a bike to take part in any coaching sessions at Brixton.  We have bikes and safety gear that we loan out.

Volunteer led

All of this happens around the track that volunteers manage and maintain in Brockwell park.   A track that we are looking to protect and improve in order to meet growing demand and continue doing the great work that the club does.  

What are we going to do?

For the past 2 years we’ve been working with the park and the council to develop a plan that will improve the BMX facility.  Our plan includes a new track surface, improved drainage, a new container with more bikes, water,  electricity and new pathways.  It includes a better and safer start hill, some landscaping, new fence and signage.   

That’s why we are raising money today.   We’ve set an ambitious crowd fund target of £30K which will cover the new container and allow us to plumb in water and electricity and if we raise a little more we will be able to fill it with bikes and gear to get more children riding.   

We are asking you to help us by pledging your support and enabling this club to continue growing and delivering for the community.

Project 

Total Cost £110K   Broken down over 3 phases.

Phase 1 (£25K)

Track resurface.  Heavy use and weather have eroded the features and the track is starting to degrade. In addition to adding new surface, some of the track features will be reshaped to improve track flow. 

Improve and repair the drainage to make the track more useable, especially in the winter.

Phase 2 (£50K)

Increase storage by putting in a second container next to the start hill to hold the start gate compressor and additional bikes and safety equipment.

Bring a water and electricity supply to the container.  This will help us to maintain the track and the bikes and run events more safely.  It will also power the compressor which will no longer need to be lifted out and set up each time we use the gate.

Reshape and resurface the back of the start hill, the finish line and a path up to the start hill. New drains will divert water away from flooding the finish line.

Phase 3 (£35K)

Put up fencing.  This will help reduce the risk of vandalism, keep dogs off the track and provide containment for when we host events (I'm afraid there is nothing we can do about the squirrel who plays chicken).

Install timing loops to bring the track up to a specification that could support regional races, and to provide coaches with data to support training.

What will we be buying?

• 270 meters of fencing.
• 200 tonnes of new track surface
• 1 new bike rack
• 1 new container
• 30 new bikes, helmets and pads
• 50 meters of timing loop wires and hardware
• 20 tonnes of asphalt
• 40 meters of water pipes
• 40 meters of electric cabling
• 6m of storm drains

Thank you for your support.

Charlie's story 

Charlie Reynolds didn't have an easy start and was brought up in the care home system in the 1970s. Eventually Charlie was spotted by Ken in Stockwell skate park in 1981 and invited to be in the new club. Ken would prepare the riders to compete in BMX races and arrange for a minibus to go to all the races. Charlie quickly became a big BMX star winning lots of races and being a great showman as he went, loved by all. Ken established a track in Brixton behind the police station in 1983 and later when the land was developed he secured the current spot for the club in Brockwell Park (in 1990).  

"Without Ken and the club, my life would have taken a different avenue" Charlie Reynolds

Charlie Reynolds and Ken Floyde on track during the making of the crowdfunder video.

Rewards

Pledge £25 or more and get this exclusive highres image. 

Shot and composed by Anthony Holland Parkin.