The popular saying has it that: “It’s as easy as riding a bike.”  Great, but what if you can’t, and you want to?  You could get your partner to show you how – but this is fraught with the same sort of difficulties common when a partner teaches their other half how to drive – or you could book yourself on a training course.

There are a number of courses suitable for adults, and new ones are being created all the time.  Ask at your local council.

Patrick Field of the London School of Cycling runs a one-on-one tuition course.  York City Council have been operating their adult cycle training course for the past five years and it’s very popular with women. South Tyneside adult cycling training course lasts three hours and is run on a Sunday morning and costs £10.00.  Course instructors are experienced cyclists who are trained to standards recognised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Trainees are taught on a maximum of four trainees to one instructor basis.

Details:

London School of Cycling, Patrick Field, tel: 0171 249 3779

South Tyneside MBC, Traffic Services Road Safety Team, tel: 0191 427 1717

City of York Council, Ken Spence, tel: 01904 613161

The self-help options

Cycle skills training video

This is a parents’ guide to cycle training presented by Tony Robinson, best known as Baldrick from Blackadder.  In an informative 20 minutes the film covers what to look for in a bike to ensure it’s roadworthy and teaches basic cycling proficiency skills.  Of particular interest was the part where the camera tails Ken Spence, road safety officer at York City Council, cycling along city streets pointing out potential hazards.  Whilst aimed at children it would also be a good confidence booster for adults who can’t get to an adult proficiency course.

Bike to Basics is available from York City Council, 01904 613161, for £7.99.

Cyclecraft by John Franklin

Aimed at the adult cyclist, this newly revised book covers everything you need to know about riding a bike: from acquiring basic cycling skills to cycling at night in thunderstorms.  Plenty of explanatory diagrams break up the test.  It’s a comprehensive, albeit dry, self-help course in how to handle your bike on the road.

Available for £9.99 from bookshops or call 0171 873 9090

This article courtesy of http://www.onyourbike.com/.