Basic Cycle Skills

National Standard Level 1

Basic Cycle Skills (National Standard Level 1) is for those who want to learn to cycle or who can ride but need to improve their control skills.

In this session you will learn cycling basics that build your skills and help you gain the confidence to navigate local parks and cycle ways. Areas covered include starting, braking, riding one-handed, looking behind, signalling, dealing with obstructions and using gears effectively.

On successful completion, riders can progress on to Urban Cycle Skills.

National standard for cycle training

The national standard for cycle training is a statement of competent cycling and cycling instruction. It sets out the skills and understanding needed to cycle safely and responsibly and to enable others to cycle. The standard provides the basis for Bikeability and a range of adult cycle training programmes.

View the DfT document: Moving Britain Ahead

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Develop basic cycling skills such as signalling, braking and manoeuvring.
  • Demonstrate understanding of safety equipment and clothing
  • Carry out a simple bike check before starting off
  • Get on and off the bike and start off and pedal without help
  • Stop without help and stop quickly with control
  • Ride along without help for roughly one minute or more
  • Make the bike go where they want and use gears (where present)
  • Manoeuvre safely to avoid objects and look all around, including behind, without loss of control
  • Control the bike with one hand
  • Share space with pedestrians and other cyclists

I have always wanted to be able to ride a bicycle. Thanks to this training and the help and encouragement of a very good instructor I can see that this is something achievable. I'm making good progress towards my goal of taking to the road.

Course details

Who should attend

Adults new to cycling or those who want to work on basic cycling skills.

Delivery method

The training takes place off-road in a traffic-free area.

Our trainers

Our trainers include full-time staff, long-term contract staff and occasionally some short-term contract staff. All are accredited to the Bikeability National Standard and are DBS checked. However, these are just pre-requisites. Trainers are selected for their maturity, professionalism and their ability to relate effectively to clients, their colleagues and, not least, a wide variety of trainees. Regular assessment and feedback is supplemented by coaching and mentoring to ensure that they consistently deliver quality training in a quality manner.

Follow on courses

FAQs on cycling

How do you teach people to cycle?

Throughout the UK, 1 in 6 children and 1 in 8 adults have yet to learn how to ride a bike. We believe it is never too late to learn!

Our cycle skills training begins by developing the ability to balance. Children begin by learning to ride a ‘balance bike’ – a bike with no pedals and a lower centre of gravity than a typical pedal bike.

For adults, we have a fleet of specially build bikes, which also have no pedals. By removing the need to pedal, our coaching techniques enable you to grow in confidence by staying upright on two wheels. Once able to balance, the next step is to progress to using a pedal bike.

A fun and supportive atmosphere is encouraged by our instructors during our Learn to Balance and Ride sessions, where parents/guardians are encouraged to stay, watch and support.

Is it suitable if you have special needs?

We aim to make our cycling training programmes inclusive for all children and our fully trained instructors will be able to give children extra focus when needed. Learning the control, balance and co-ordination that is needed to cycle can be enormously beneficial and enjoyable to all children.

If you have any particular concerns regarding your child’s participation please get in touch with the co-ordinator for training in your local area, as alternative training may be available.

What age can my children start cycling with me?

You can start cycling with your children from when they are a baby (typically three months), transporting them in a child trailer. When children can sit upright, (nine months) front or rear child seats become an option and can accommodate children up to 5 years old.

When your child is able to balance and ride their own bike, (usually from three years), they can accompany you, cycling on the pavement or one of the growing number of off-road routes. By four years old, trailer bikes become an option for longer trips as do a child-back tandem. These allow the child to take part and pedal when they want to. Some children have well-developed ‘road-sense’ and are capable of riding on quieter roads, with an adult from about six years old, but this does vary.

Can I cycle on the pavement?

Strictly speaking no, it is illegal to cycle on the pavement. The exception is where there is a segregated pedal cycle and pedestrian route which is indicated by signs and markings displayed along the route.

Do I need a licence to ride a bike?

No you do not. Anyone can ride a bike on the road. We recommend however that children are supervised and before anyone takes to the road it is worth considering getting some cycle training.

Do I need to wear a helmet whilst cycling?

It is not compulsory by law to wear a helmet when cycling but we do recommend it for both on and off-road cycling. We insist on helmets being worn when delivering cycle training to young children. See our bike and clothing checklist.

How much can I expect to pay for a new bike?

You can pay anything from £50 to £5000 depending on the type of bike you wish to purchase. We recommend you focus on quality rather than price alone.

We recommend Raleigh Cycles who we believe offer the best mid-range quality cycles for the family, as well as offering quality folding bikes, mountain bikes and elite sports bikes. For quality children’s bikes expect to pay £150 to £250 and for a quality adult commuter bike expect to pay about £300 to £500.

Becoming increasingly popular is the electric bike, where prices range from £600 - £3000.

Have a cycling requirement?

Call us on 03300 241 783 or complete the contact form

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