Cycle training

GoCycle are running Bikeability - Nationally Accredited Cycle Training - to ensure that cyclists are competent and confident to ride on road.

Cycle training ensures a level of competency of cyclists using the roads. The course focuses on learning the logic of the road and ensuring that the priorities of Controlling the Bike, seeing, being seen and a variety of ways of communicating can be put into action effectively at all times.

Bikeability is the all new cycling training scheme for the 21st Century which aims to get more people cycling, more effectively, more often. Many adults will remember doing their Cycling Proficiency Test. Bikeability is designed to give the next generation the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on today's roads.

GoCycle is applying to become an accredited provider of the scheme and is working towards the aim of providing every child in Leighton-Linslade and Heath and Reach with the opportunity to reach Bikeability level 2 by the time they leave year 7. All of our instructors are nationally accredited Cycle Instructors and are CRB checked

What courses are on offer?

There are three Bikeability levels:

Level one – off-Road Control Skills: This concentrates on controlling the bike and takes place off-road (e.g. school playground). It takes two hours and is usually taught as the first session of a level two course. By the end of the course children will be control their bikes effectively in the following ways - get on and off their bikes, start and stop their bikes, use their gears,
Level two – on-Road basics: This takes place on local roads and takes 8 to 10 hours and is aimed mainly at years 5 and 6 pupils. By the end of the course children should be able to make simple road trips such as the journey to and from school on bicycle.
Level three – on-Road advanced: This is aimed mainly at secondary school pupils and adults and involves some one-to-one instruction. It works up through levels 1 and 2 and continues to build confidence on busier, more challenging junctions such as roundabouts and dual carriageways. By the end of the course all trainees should be able to discover the full range of their cycling potential.

How can I apply for a course for my child/school?

If you are a parent, ask your child’s Headteacher when the next course is. If you are a headteacher or a school administrator and need to arrange a course please contact

Adult Cycle training

You can apply for one of the courses on the events page or contact us to arrange one-to-one Cycle Training for you.

If you have cycled for years, or if you are quite new to cycling, Level 3 Cycle training can be tailored for your needs and experience levels. It enables you to update your skills for newer traffic conditions, give out a consistent message from all cyclists to other road users about road position and general cyclist behaviour and helps promote cycling and cycle training - more cycle journeys, more people observing cycle training in action on the streets.

The courses delivered work on building confidence - our instructors will only move on to the next part of the course when you are ready to. You control the pace so you can spend more time on one particular junction or road area if you wish to.

This is what some of our adult Cycle Trainees have said to us:

“Before cycle training, I resisted cycling on the streets for fear of my own safety. Then came an opportunity for a couple of hours of training and still I resisted but went for it anyway.

Within minutes of the start of the training session I could feel a change happening. My bike was checked for roadworthiness, new life-changing habits revealed and with the support of trainers

and my fellow peers, I was off like a confident child, claiming my space on the road, cycling with joy and trusting in myself and other road users. Fantastic - I hope my new found confidence at being out and about again on my bike is contagious. With much gratitude to the GoCycle team!”.

“Having been a keen cyclist in the past, I had, over time, lost confidence in my fitness and ability to cope with the dramatic increase in traffic, Today's training helped me to realise that I can still do it - very practical and clear advice about feeling safe and happy on the road. Teaching was positive and encouraging without being pushy and at the end I loved being out in the fresh air and moving.”

“Thanks very much for the cycle training on Friday.

As you know, I have done a fair amount of cycling in the past in London, but I put myself down for the training, partly as an incentive to get back on the bike again and also because you're never too old to learn.

The training was great! I was pleased that some of my old habits, such as being confident enough to occupy a third of the carriageway were correct. It was, however, rather alarming to discover that I used to cycle around London without ever trying to make eye contact with motorists and definitely never looked behind me enough! It is an amazingly effective technique for making sure that cars know you are there and I've even had cheery waves from drivers since doing the training.

I'd recommend the training even to someone who is confident on a bike. It’s easily available through the GoCycle project at the moment and there's always something to learn.”