Cycle Training

Due to my frequent incidents on the road I was approached by a representative for www.cycletraining.co.uk offering me cycling lessons.

I had actually considered the training before but never got round to it. I have now enrolled and have my lesson booked for next week.

The hope is to find out more about safest positioning on the road, filtering etc. As such I am going in open minded on a fact finding mission.

If anyone has any questions they would like me to put to the trainer feel free to add them here.

If you wish to debate the worth of cycle training please refer to this thread http://www.londonfgss.com/thread6787.html

I can see there is some contention as to its worth but I am sure that in the 2 hour session I will learn some new things and be reminded of best practice.

It's not like it's going to 'hurt' is it? I can't see any problems with anyone attending cycle training.

Exactly, 2 hours of my life and I should learn something.

yeah, it's good, i've done it. even probably learnt a couple of things - although i can't remember what they were! mind you, it was 6 months ago so i've probably just absorbed them into my psyche now...

If you havent got youre tongue firmly in cheek then I might say this.

Did my instructor training with them in 05 and became accredited in 07, theres a few others like me on here too.
C.T.U.K teach 'National Standards' and are the BEST in the U.K. Its based on the oft quoted 'cyclecraft' by John Franklin. You should go virtually straight to level three stuff, and there could be some learning points for you.
Go with an open mind, I see new places, cities for the first time, and still fall back on the fundamentals learnt with them.
Enjoy it.
As an aside, whenever I pass through London (every couple of weeks) Im always
struck by how much pure fun it is riding in London, seriously, you guys that ride every day get habituated to it and forget.
I always say 'just gonna take it easy' and then inevitably get up to speed, start with the flow, road position, filtering, great buzz.

I'm signed up to do the training course to become a cycle trainer in November. If you ever feel like some more one to one action James, just let me know. So I can run....

Exactly, 2 hours of my life and I should learn something.

yahoo. keep us posted.

i would be interested to hear what it is like.

(i have been thinking about doing it as well. just curious you know what i mean.....)

you may be starting a trend.

good post.

talking to yourself again?

Yes.

But I wasn't typing it.

Why?

Shhh you.. they'll pick up on it and we'll be done for!

Oh do be quiet you two!

Ooooh! get her!

I did a 2 day course recently so I can volunteer with my local council to be a "Cycle Leader". I take groups of folk out on ride who've been advised to exercise by their GP.

The course was great, but all common sense really. I still think the most important thing you need to be able to ride a bike safely in traffic is a driving licence and lots of driving experience.

Hmmm.

I did a 2 day course recently so I can volunteer with my local council to be a "Cycle Leader". I take groups of folk out on ride who've been advised to exercise by their GP.

The course was great, but all common sense really. I still think the most important thing you need to be able to ride a bike safely in traffic is a driving licence and lots of driving experience.

and a big car to drive your bike around in..

Good one, James.

Did some training recently, level 3. Well worth it. Helped me to tweak and improve the points I was getting right, but strangely not being confident enough with (even though I considered myself a confident rider) and even approval of things you are already doing is good.

One of the main things it got across to me was to make it really obvious what you're doing to other road users around you. Eg. don't just swerve and pull out to the right at the last minute to get round a parked car and expect the car driving behind you to realise that's what you're going to do. Make a longer more obvious movement into the right position to pass the parked car, quite far in advance of passing it. Sounds obvious when you know, but when you're in a car you often have to guess what cyclists might do as it's easier to ride more erratically and make sharper movments on bike than in a car. To people that don't cycle this isn't obvious.

Loads of useful tips and info to be had from a bit of training. I'd recommend it to anyone who gets the chance.

Bump

training in an hour

any questions?

If some one cuts you up during training, how will you react?

Enjoy it.

What's a good long-lasting skid-resistant tyre?

Best GI fro training?

Should I change my handlebars for cycle training?

What colour straps should I use whilst cycle training?

What size bag do I need for cycle training?

Should I buy a Bianchi Pista or a Steamroller for cycle training

*seriously DJ, have fun and tell us what you learn