Chapter four of Bike Easy looks at one of the most basic requirements for a cyclist: the ability the ride a bike! And to ride it well. Most people are taught to cycle by a family member or friend. Then, beyond a spot of Cycling Proficiency in the school playground, they generally have no further training. But everyone would benefit from some expert instruction, and over recent years there has been a mushrooming of schemes offering adult cycle training.
For beginners there’s off-road training to instil basic skills and to build confidence. For more advanced riders there’s on-road training, learning to handle a wide variety of traffic conditions. Your instructor will show you how seemingly simple things, such as where on the road you ride, can have a significant influence on the way other road users perceive and treat you.
Before their training many people are somewhat sceptical. But afterwards they’re exuberant! The whole experience of riding in traffic suddenly feels so much easier. “I learned things I didn’t know I didn’t know,” was how one satisfied trainee summed it up.
The tips in this chapter come from professional cycling instructors. If they whet your appetite for improving your cycling skills, book yourself a lesson. You won’t regret it. More>>>
