Bikeability

[Partridgewell]

Hi all,

Just wondering what your experiences have been for Bikeability in Year 6 for a not-so-confident cyclist? DS2 is doing Bikeability at the beginning of June. He can ride a bike, although he was late to learn as he is lacking in confidence physically. He regularly rides upwards of 10k and can perform a U-turn and look over his shoulder. Not so confident putting an arm out to signal yet, and occasionally struggles with working out how close he is to things!

He's never had need to go on a road, as we live right next to an old railway line which is now a cycle path, so he can do up to 20k there and back, with a stop at the pub at the end of the track. All well and good, but I realise it has not really prepared him for life on the open road! Any tips of what we should be working on to prepare him over the next couple of weeks?

Thanks very much 🙂

They assume they’ve not been on the road and teach them everything they need to know on the school site first. My daughter was similar, we ride our bikes load but usually on old railway lines or forests. As long as he can ride a bike, the road safety bit the instructor will go over them with, and they practise in small groups. My daughter was nervous but loved it. Don’t overthink it, am sure your son will be fine.

The biggest issue children in my daughters class had was turning up on bikes not suitable, too big in one case, and another which didn’t have working brakes!

That's great - thank you. I definitely feel reassured. I do have other kids, but they're ten years older, so I've kind of forgotten the finer details of things like this!

His bike is fairly new and it's just had a service. DH cycles 18 miles a day to work and back so he made sure DS's bike fits properly and is suitable.

If he can ride his bike 10k then he's a confident rider, he'll be fine.

I hear you, but it's really easy terrain - no hills and the only hazards are other cyclists and the occasional dog. I suppose a playground is pretty straightforward terrain too though! 🤣

Most of the kids at my school have never been on a bike at all! They are used to a wide range of abilities.

DS did his a few months ago and it was in stages. The first stage they were just in small groups in the playground and practicing signalling, turning, stopping, setting off, braking etc then those that were confident were put through to stage 2 to have a go on the roads, then this was done in two stages as well but I can’t remember exactly how it was split.

I remember DS saying they just rode round a local housing estate, signalling, riding along, turning, watching out for cars on the road and pulling out etc.

he isn’t a confident cyclist at all, definitely couldn’t signal beforehand, still put his feet down to stop etc and he still passed with just some bits to practice.

As someone who did bikeability breifly and was not too confident as a person some of the instructors were extremely kind and understanding to the fact that i could not ride well
However,the road instructor we had was one of the most horrible people ive met,he told me very publicly and loudly pausing the conversation with the kids who were already there that i was not good enough to ride with the group which was fair considering we were on the road but possibly the worst way you could word things to an 8 year old.
I also have freinds that did go on the road and were reprimanded quite harshly for their mistakes.
If he can ride well i have full confidence that he will be fine but please take into account that the instructors can be unkind