Feature: Bikeability Training

Words: Oliver Lougheed | Images: Eddie Allen

Most regular cyclists would probably agree that riding a bike on roads, especially at commuter time, is difficult, uncomfortable and sometimes a little threatening. Now imagine how much worse it must seem for a non regular cyclist? Luckily all cyclists can now benefit from Bikeability training, the new cycling proficiency for the 21st Century, which aims to make cyclists more confident and safer at riding in traffic.

To give you an insight into what Bikeability is all about the intrepid office staff from British Cycling HQ were summoned from their underground bunker into the rain of Manchester for the start of a Level 1 and 2 Bikeability course.

5 soggy British Cycling staff met outside the Manchester Velodrome to perform a Bike, Helmet, Clothing check with Nicola, our Instructor. Having checked that everyone was dressed suitably and all the bikes were in good working order we headed over to a spare velodrome car park to start the Level 1 course.

Level 1 introduces basic bike riding skills much like a basic coaching session, aiming to build confidence in the trainees and help the Instructor assess that all trainees are ready to move on to Level 2. Most of the trainees were already cycling once a week at least but Mel hadn't been on her bike for many years and probably benefited the most from some confidence building practise in a traffic free environment.

"I wanted to take part in the Bikeability course as I haven't ridden a bike in years. I have a young son and think cycling is a great way to get outside and be active. Our Instructor really helped build my confidence and I'm really looking forward to the next session and getting out with my family."
(Mel, parent)

Once the Level 1 outcomes had all been reached and everyone was confident our Instructor judged it was time to move onto the local roads and begin the Level 2 training. Level 2 Bikeability is on quiet local roads, and introduces the basics of riding on roads with traffic. For all our trainees this was their first time being taught to ride on roads and everyone had slightly different ideas on how to do things.

For their first session of training our trainees tackled left turns into and out of a quiet side street behind the velodrome. They learnt to position themselves correctly to take control of the road and make themselves more visible, when to signal and how to understand what other road users were doing around them. Michelle who had been previously commuting on off road routes, but would like to keep riding in winter when these routes might not be suitable picked up some useful tips here.

"I've only just started riding a bike again after 20 years, mainly commuting to work a couple of days a week. I didn't feel confident riding on the road, so I was using mainly off road routes which are ok in good weather and daylight. I wanted to learn the rules of cycling on the road and also gain some practice with a qualified instructor. The training has given me more confidence to try riding on roads."
(Michelle, new commuter)

Before their next session the trainees were encouraged to practise riding on quiet by themselves or together so they build on their confidence ahead of moving on to perform right turns, passing parked vehicles and passing side roads.

We're hoping for better weather before the next session.

If you'd like more information on Bikeability near you visit go here or if you'd like to become a Cycle Training Instructor with a view to delivering Bikeability contact the Cycle Training Team on 0161 274 2129 or cycletraining@britishcycling.org.uk.