Bike wise

When it comes to cycling, most of us tend to think its just a matter of dusting off the wheels, getting on the bike and off we go. Unlike driving a car or riding a motorcycle, cycling appears relatively simple and many don’t see a need for any kind of training. So what’s the big deal about cyclist skills training and do you really need it? Bike Wise investigates.

More fun

At an individual level, cyclist skills training enable you to keep safe in all kinds of situations and have more fun with your bike. Dr Baker suggests seven major benefits from cyclist skills training in his e-book, “Skills Training for Cyclists”. He has coached cyclists for several Olympics and won more than 200 cycle races in America:

• Safety – learning cycling's key skills helps you avoid accidents
• Comfort – this has a mental component as well as a physical one
• Energy reduction – riding right means not wasting strength or stamina
• Confidence – many newcomers lack it; skill development creates it
• Drafting – the sooner you learn this skill, the better you'll ride with others
• Tactics – when you have the skills, you can use them to best advantage
• Fun – skilled riders have more!

Greater confidence

 It’s not just about getting the most out of cycling, gaining the right skills also means you’re  more likely to increase your cycling frequency and gain the confidence of going beyond short cycle trips around the park to cycling to work or school. There was a significant shift in cycling behaviour after a cyclist skills training trial at Takapuna Normal and Pukete Primary Schools in 2009, with two thirds cycling more after the training. More also expressed interest in cycling to school on most days.

A student from Pukete Primary School who has undergone cyclist skills training tells us why we should care so much: “I started riding again.” This has larger implications in the ongoing efforts to encourage and build a culture of cycling for recreation and transport in New Zealand. Cyclist skills training can lead to more people taking up cycling and gaining the confidence to cycle in all kinds of environments. Cyclist skills training is an important step in encouraging New Zealanders to consider biking as a viable transport choice for some of their weekly trips.

Three grades of training

 Essentially, there are three grades of cyclist training that you can do:

• Grade 1 is where cyclists learn to gain full control of their bike in non-traffic environments. It covers a range of basic skills and knowledge in handling a bike like carrying out bike checks, steering the bike safely to avoid objects and using the right signals when biking.
• Grade 2 is where cyclists learn to ride on the road in a variety of traffic environments. It enables cyclists to gain a good understanding of traffic conditions, be able to manoeuvre safely and confidently in a variety of traffic environments and respond appropriately to minor hazards.
• Grade 3 is where cyclists learn to deal with more advanced road situations. It is estimated to take two to eight hours, depending on the requirements of cyclists being trained.
  There is no requirement for cyclists in New Zealand to be trained in all grades. It is recommended to consider at least training up to grade 2. An important component of training is learning about New Zealand’s traffic law as it is essential when cycling or even driving on New Zealand roads.

Whatever age, ability or background, whether starting from no experience, returning to cycling after a break or already cycling regularly, it’s always better to be more prepared so cycling can be so much more fun and enjoyable along pathways or on the road.

Developments in cyclist skills training

 One of the key efforts in this area is to encourage cyclist skills trainers to deliver a consistent best practice approach in the delivery of their training to cyclists. The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has developed guidelines for cyclist skills training. Version three is now available. NZTA is also developing a national qualification standard to guide cyclist skills training providers in enabling suitable qualified instructors to deliver training effectively.