Cycle Training

how did it go?? rush hour could have been even better.......

The intentions were to minimize conflict on the road, undo bad habits and gain extra knowledge.

Initially we started in Hyde Park, being assessed on level 1 skills, such as basic check of the bike, getting on and off, stopping steering etc. The second part of level 1 was also done in the park, stopping quickly, swerving to avoid things, signalling and looking behind whilst signalling.

Though my bike control was rated as excellent I quickly discovered that especially when looking over my left shoulder that I wobble a fair bit, as such this is now part of my homework, to improve my rear vision whilst maintaining a line. One really useful tip was which ever shoulder you are looking over let go of the handlebars on that side and your shoulder will drop a little, thus expanding your horizon.

We then moved on to level 2. I was asked about my road position and explained that the reason why i was so far into the road was having recently seen the outcome of a car dooring incident. Surprisingly it was suggested that I should actually be more assertive in the lane, occupy the lane by filling it like a car would.

Level 2 is about basic road navigation and safety, when and where to signal, going from major to minor roads and vice versa, observing potential risks etc.

A useful tip when starting off is rather than pushing off from the kerb, it can be better to stand on the edge of the road (eg if there were parking spaces stand just a little proud of the edge of the cars. This starts to establish your presence, and you can see how cars slow down and start to give you a wider birth.

Probably my weakest area was road positioning at junctions, tending to take the corners too tightly. This gives cars the potential to over take me as they go round, and with left hand turns it means if there is a car parked around the corner then I will be forced into it. At junctions still behave as if I deserve a car size amount of room, do not shrink up in an effort to be nice, it just puts me at greater risk.

I was commended on my looking back however when following the instructor it became apparent that he looks back even more frequently. There was a "no surprises" ethos, so the more you observe the less likely anything is going to be a surprise.

Another weakness was after observing, and signalling I would execute turnings without taking a final glance, especially when pulling in to the roadside when stopping. This becomes more hazardous when you are taking a more assertive line as there are probably a lot of cyclists who may undertake you as you are slowing down.

It was stressed how important it is to make eye contact where possible, at night of course this will be more difficult so its important to take less risks. If they have not seen me then I should not behave as if I think they should.

Interestingly it appears that being more assertive may reduce my levels of conflict, by engaging other users more in the communication (holding line, signalling intention etc) this should mean there are less surprises for car drivers and less reason for them to use the horn sharply or similar.

I am also going to work on my royal wave and smile, instead of taking their use of horn etc as an act of aggression it is merely them acknowledging my place on the road, at least it means they have seen me.

All in all I learned a great deal and was actually quite reassured that I am doing a fair bit correctly. There is something for all of us to learn from the experience and I would suggest that anyone who is at all nervous should investigate the training route. The instructors are very very patient, I did levels 1, 2 and 3 in an hour and a bit, but they have been known to spend a couple of sessions per level with less confident road users.

As for my first journey afterwards, it felt really good. I was more confident about holding my line, as such it opened up a little more space in front of me and thus I could actually travel faster. I am also more content to wait than to filter up to the front of junctions.

My conclusion was that it was a valuable and constructive use of my time, and I would suggest it to most cyclists to brush up on knowledge and safety.

There was nothing I would contradict about what I was told and I feel that my confidence will increase whilst hopefully reducing the number of incidents where people try to kill me.

Just posted the above, fuck there are too many words for my attention span.

SIMPLY PUT, SIGN UP FOR TRAINING, IT WONT HURT AND WILL PROBABLY BENEFIT YOU

Excellent post.

I read it all, and realised that there's loads I do that is probably bad practice. Agree about taking the lane and making your movements absolutely obvious to other road users. I was watching the nodders riding across waterloo bridge at rush hour and there's very little understanding of holding a line.

Sounds really similar to my positive experience of it. The bit about using space as if you are a car is good. I was told to imagine I am the centre point of a car and allow enough distance to my left and right either side of me as if I was a car. Makes loads of sense and really useful when you start to put it in to practice.

Suprising isn't it when you feel you're being confident claiming your space being a bit out in the road and they tell you to be even more assertive!

How much was the training James? I have been thinking about something like this for a while

Tenner says you get into a punch up in the morning.

yep, i shall be looking out for some cunt on a brompton

@ Joe

Some boroughs offer this free or subsidised to people who live work or study in the borough (CTUK work in Ealing, brent, Haringey, Hackney, Redbridge, Wltham forest, city of London, and lambeth) other boroughs also offer similar, Islington and camden and southwark do, TfL website gives more info here

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/11689.aspx

Private lessons with CTUK cost £30 p/h minimum of 2 hours

If you contacted ctuk and asked nicely they may be able to give best advice as to who to approach if you have a choice of authorities.

Good luck, I don't work in Chiswick any more!

Though my bike control was rated as excellent I quickly discovered that especially when looking over my left shoulder that I wobble a fair bit, as such this is now part of my homework, to improve my rear vision whilst maintaining a line.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away there was thing mounted to every bike sold. It was called a rear view mirror.
There were also factory fitted lights and reflective pedals, but hipsters decided, that it's a square "dad's" look and thou shall to strip the bike from all distracting unstylish props...

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away there was thing mounted to every bike sold. It was called a rear view mirror.
There were also factory fitted lights and reflective pedals, but hipsters decided, that it's a square "dad's" look and thou shall to strip the bike from all distracting unstylish props...

But importantly by looking backwards you make the other drivers aware that you know they are there.

As such the mirror does not aid in communication in the same way. It does not enable eye contact so easily.

Brilliant, James, it would be really interesting to hear from you how you feel it has affected your enjoyment of riding after two weeks or so.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away there was thing mounted to every bike sold. It was called a rear view mirror.
There were also factory fitted lights and reflective pedals, but hipsters decided, that it's a square "dad's" look and thou shall to strip the bike from all distracting unstylish props...

Mirrors? Bollocks.

When were mirrors a common fitment on bikes?
They are shit and give you a limited rear view.
Headchecks ftw

1978

I learned to cycle from my dad - he was crap at it, but it means I never miss a pub when I'm out!

Hi James, good report. Thanks.

One thing that I thought of earlier (but too late to ask you about), was to seek an opinion on riding fixed. I am assuming that you went to the training riding fixed, was this mentioned? Is riding fixed considered to be more or less dangerous? - Note, I say considered before the obvious 'it depends on the rider, my bike handling skills are ace'' comments are made. It would be interesting to know whether those offering cycle training have an opinion on this. Whilst for those who post here, hipsterfixieskidderslave bikes seem ubiquitous, do they still constitute a niche concern? Or would it have been commented upon if you were brakless / had no foot retention mechanism / ss + fr brake etc.

Just a thought really. It is quite possible this wasn't even touched on!

my instructor is actually on here and was riding fixed, so no problems, however the bike needs to be legal

brakeless fixed will not do as it only has one effective brake

one aspect of the level 2 training is how you use gears, though of course for fixed riders that is not an issue

one aspect of the level 2 training is how you use gears,

I was riding back from watching the London stage of the Tour of Britain and tagging along with a couple of guys I met there. We stopped at a set of lights and one guy commented on being in the wrong gear. I said 'Yeah, me too. These shorts totally clash with my top'

Nice report BTW James. Well done!

this is fantastic to hear, because it shows how experienced riders can still really benefit from national standards training.
also good to hear that they are still as flexible and dedicated, providing the best standard available in the U.K.
when using the roads if you start thinking in terms of traffic streams, how they form, break up and form again- especially in urban areas you will be able to much better handle moving in and out of them, and, do it at a speed appropriate to the bike youre riding. (probably fast)
thanks for filling us in on how it went and nice one.

I really want to get into this, I'm just trying to find a way to cover costs.

Mirrors? Bollocks.

When were mirrors a common fitment on bikes?
They are shit and give you a limited rear view.
Headchecks ftw

When I was a kid a copper came to our school to give us a briefing on cycle safety. He showed us pictures of a kid who'd got impaled on his mirror following a crash. He didn't need to recommend that we didn't fit them.

Plus you look like a twat.

He looks like Hippy.