THE 38th Annual `Teach Them Young’ cycle programme, organised by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed and sponsored by the National Sports Commission, has indeed attracted quite a few newcomers to the sport.

The aim of the programme which got under way last Monday and which will conclude on August 31 is to teach interested persons the fundamentals of the sport with the hope that they will become active racing cyclists.
The activity, which was started by Mohamed in 1977, is open to anyone desirous of learning the art of competitive cycling, adjusting their gears and getting acquainted with the rules of competitive cycling.
Sessions are being held from Monday to Friday of each week, from 09:00hrs to 11:30hrs.
According to Mohamed, the current rainy weather has been hampering his programme and he is hopeful that it (weather) will improve soon so that he would be more able to impart his knowledge to the young enthusiastic cyclists.
As part of the programme, Mohamed will teach the youngsters how to care their cycles, how to change their wheels, their gears, how to set their saddles, their handles and what plate is best suited for them, depending on their height and arm’s length.
Mohamed who started his cycling career in the 1950s, attended cycle coaching courses in Russia and Mexico among other countries, and has accompanied several national teams to various regional and international championships.
Among the cyclists to have benefited from his expertise are: former national champion and Guyana Cycling Federation president Hector Edwards, former champion Leo Romalho, the James brothers Byron and Bertram, the Fiedtkou brothers Marcus and Noel, Tyrone Hamilton, Linden Dowridge, Godfrey Pollydore, Raymond Newton, Paul Cho-Wee-Nam, Junior Niles, Linden Blackman, Robin Persaud and current stars Geron Williams, Raynauth Jeffrey and Paul DeNobrega, among others.
Mohamed told Chronicle Sport that persons desirous of joining the clinic, event though it has already started, can do so by simply registering their names at the National Park, but they must have a proper cycle and a helmet.
The programme is being offered free of cost.