Cycle Skills
Cycle Skills
Our cycle skills training sessions are designed as a refresher for people who have not ridden in a while or for people who are just starting out with cycling.
What to expect
We currently have three types of Cycle Skills training sessions on offer: Learn to Ride, Traffic Free and Quiet Roads.
You can find out more about each of those below.
For all our sessions, at the start point, outside Greenbank Sports Academy main reception you will be welcomed by the trainers Stella and Neil, who will answer any questions you may have.
If you need to borrow a bike they will find a suitable one for you from the container at the back of the Sports Centre.
They will then do a bike, helmet and clothing check and a pre-ride safety briefing before you all set off for the training.
At most there will be four riders per instructor for the Learn to Ride and Traffic Free sessions and three riders per instructor for the Quiet Roads sessions.
Learn to Ride sessions
Suitable for anyone who has never learned to ride a bike or anyone who wants to build confidence in a safe indoor environment.
The sessions will take place in Greenbank Sports Academy Sports Hall.
You will learn how to:
* Fit and adjust a helmet
* Check your bike is safe to ride
* Get on & off your bike safely
* Use your brakes to stop
* Balance without the pedals by propelling yourself along with your feet
* Gradually introduce pedalling
* Set off using the pedal ready position
Traffic Free sessions
Suitable for anyone who has not been on a bike for a while or who wants to build confidence in a traffic free environment.
You will learn how to:
* Fit and adjust a helmet
* Check your bike is safe to ride
* Use your brakes and gears
* Cycle up and down hill
* Turn right and left, signal and turn to look behind
Quiet Roads sessions
Suitable for anyone who wants to build confidence cycling on quiet roads.
You will learn how to:
* Stop and start on road journeys
* Identify and respond to hazards
* Maintain suitable ride position on the road
* Communicate effectively with other road users
* Negotiate junctions
What to bring
Bikes and helmets are available to borrow for the cycle skills sessions.
If you are bringing your own bike, make sure it is in good working order with the tyres pumped up.
We recommend bringing a bottle of water to stay hydrated and a snack to keep energy levels up.
Refreshments
A free hot drink at the Wheelbarrow café is available at the end of the training.
Our cycle skills training sessions are designed as a refresher for people who have not ridden in a while or for people who are just starting out with cycling.
What to expect
We currently have three types of Cycle Skills training sessions on offer: Learn to Ride, Traffic Free and Quiet Roads.
You can find out more about each of those below.
For all our sessions, at the start point, outside Greenbank Sports Academy main reception you will be welcomed by the trainers Stella and Neil, who will answer any questions you may have.
If you need to borrow a bike they will find a suitable one for you from the container at the back of the Sports Centre.
They will then do a bike, helmet and clothing check and a pre-ride safety briefing before you all set off for the training.
At most there will be four riders per instructor for the Learn to Ride and Traffic Free sessions and three riders per instructor for the Quiet Roads sessions.
1. Learn to Ride sessions
Suitable for anyone who has never learned to ride a bike or anyone who wants to build confidence in a safe indoor environment.
The sessions will take place in Greenbank Sports Academy Sports Hall.
You will learn how to:
* Fit and adjust a helmet
* Check your bike is safe to ride
* Get on & off your bike safely
* Use your brakes to stop
* Balance without the pedals by propelling yourself along with your feet
* Gradually introduce pedalling
* Set off using the pedal ready position
2. Traffic Free sessions
Suitable for anyone who has not been on a bike for a while or who wants to build confidence in a traffic free environment.
You will learn how to:
* Fit and adjust a helmet
* Check your bike is safe to ride
* Use your brakes and gears
* Cycle up and down hill
* Turn right and left, signal and turn to look behind
3. Quiet Roads sessions
Suitable for anyone who wants to build confidence cycling on quiet roads.
You will learn how to:
* Stop and start on road journeys
* Identify and respond to hazards
* Maintain suitable ride position on the road
* Communicate effectively with other road users
* Negotiate junctions
What to bring
Bikes and helmets are available to borrow for the cycle skills sessions.
If you are bringing your own bike, make sure it is in good working order with the tyres pumped up.
We recommend bringing a bottle of water to stay hydrated and a snack to keep energy levels up.
Refreshments
A free hot drink at the Wheelbarrow café is available at the end of the training.
“Saturday’s Learn to Ride session was one in a million for me. I never learned to cycle or roller skate etc as a child. I saw the advert for the session on the NextDoor app and got in touch. It would have been so easy to back out but I turned up keen to try.
Getting sound advice about posture and technique made all the difference while I gained confidence behind the handlebars.
Lesson over, my wonderful supportive instructors began to re-group for an inclusive cycle ride with a strong nature/birdwatching flavour.
I still can’t believe that I was invited and set off on a borrowed bike, part of a sociable 17 strong bunch tackling hills, big puddles, uneven ground, even road junctions for 5 miles and I didn’t fall off once!
Approaching 70 years afraid to do something that most take for granted, the Learn to Ride session gave me a new lease of life and a new skill.
Amazing! If you’re rusty or a complete non-cyclist give it a go.
Highly recommended and many thanks.”
-Julie
“Saturday’s Learn to Ride session was one in a million for me. I never learned to cycle or roller skate etc as a child. I saw the advert for the session on the NextDoor app and got in touch. It would have been so easy to back out but I turned up keen to try.
Getting sound advice about posture and technique made all the difference while I gained confidence behind the handlebars.
Lesson over, my wonderful supportive instructors began to re-group for an inclusive cycle ride with a strong nature/birdwatching flavour.
I still can’t believe that I was invited and set off on a borrowed bike, part of a sociable 17 strong bunch tackling hills, big puddles, uneven ground, even road junctions for 5 miles and I didn’t fall off once!
Approaching 70 years afraid to do something that most take for granted, the Learn to Ride session gave me a new lease of life and a new skill.
Amazing! If you’re rusty or a complete non-cyclist give it a go.
Highly recommended and many thanks.”
-Julie