This in from Alice on behalf of URGE Cycles. Ed
Helping to build confidence and get people back in the saddle, the Isle of Wight Council is running free bicycle training and bicycle maintenance courses for adults.
The training is aimed at helping people get to know their bike, carry out basic repairs and build confidence of how to cycle safely to improve health, the environment and to provide an alternative to many short car journeys.
Get to know your bicycle
The council has partnered with mobile bicycle maintenance company, URGE cycles to deliver Bicycle Island Training sessions. The sessions are being held at the Medina Leisure Centre, Newport over the next few Saturdays are free and delivered by trained instructors and bike mechanics.
Alice Henry from URGE cycles said the half day maintenance courses are aimed at helping people get to know their bicycle, equipping them with valuable skills on how to safety check their bike and how to deal with basic roadside repairs.
Cycle training
There are also two levels of short cycle training delivered by Bikeability qualified instructors.
The basic cycle training session gives riders the skill and knowledge to ride in a safe and responsible manner in a traffic free environment giving them more confidence to venture out onto the road.
The intermediate cycle training boosts cyclists’ confidence further introducing riders to basic road positioning, how to communicate with other road-users and how to undertake basic on-road movements, such as passing parked cars and turning at junctions. Cyclists can sign up for one, both or all three sessions.
Practical, hands-on course
Louise Hunt, who attended a recent bike maintenance session, said,
“The course was practical, hands on and it’s just brilliant to know I can now fix a puncture if I get one on my commute to work.”
Encouraging more cycling
The council is committed to encouraging more cycling on the Isle of Wight. The courses are designed to encourage cyclists who are new to cycling or who perhaps have not cycled for a while to feel more confident and enjoy the cycle paths and trails the Island has to offer either for commuting to work or for leisure.
For more information or to book a session visit our Website.
