Want to learn to cycle as an adult? ‘ It is never too late’ says bike hub
MANY will have made a New Year’s resolution to start cycling or get back on a bike. Either as a form of transport or as a leisure and fitness activity, cycling is becoming more popular among people of all ages.
For most children, learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage and the theory is once you learn you never forget.
But, for one reason or another, many people didn’t learn as children and now want to take up cycling as adults.
Some may feel they have missed their opportunity but a cycling charity in Glasgow is telling them “it is never too late”.
Bike for Good is a Glasgowbased cycling charity and social enterprise that enables people to ride a bike.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “We offer cycling lessons, led rides, Dr Bikes, and practical cycle awareness training and we refurbish donated bikes and sell them again.”
At the Bike for Good hubs in the west and the south of the city, lessons can be booked for adults to learn to ride.
Bike for Good’s Claudio Pia, department lead for active travel, said: “We can have five or six or up to 10 or 12 people a week coming through. Some are beginners and others want to refresh their skills.
“Some are adults who have never cycled and have maybe seen their friends and family enjoying cycling.”
He explained some of the reasons why adults may be reluctant to learn.
Claudio added: “A lot of the time adults can be afraid or embarrassed, whereas kids have no fear.
“Adults maybe think they don’t have the balance.
“Some people need one to two hours, others eight to 10 hours.
“Some can jump on and then off they go. It’s a lot to get the courage to start off.”
He has noticed a big change in people’s travel habits, adding: “Covid had an influence.
“People wanted to travel by bike. There are a lot more people commuting by bike. It has gone up dramatically.
“People can enjoy the social aspect. It’s about how much or how little you want to do.”
Jill Herbert organises lessons for women at Bike for Good. The lessons are tailored to suit people’s needs. She said: “Cycling is becoming more popular. People are thinking ‘ maybe I could cycle’.
“We get a lot of people thinking they will give it a try and most people end up staying with it.
“We take them through a course, starting with getting on the bike then on the road and skills like route planning.”
“We get people saying more children have started cycling and they want to ride a bike.
“We run some family sessions. It’s never too late.
“You will always get there in the end, as slow or as fast as you want to take it.”
The team also does cycle lessons and group rides for women and non- binary people.
Bike for Good also trains people to look after their bikes properly.
It said: “We also offer the highest standard of cycle technician training in Scotland.
“Bike for Good is Cytech training Scotland accredited. Cytech is the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle technicians.”
Bike for Good operates from its West Hub at Haugh Road and the South Hub off Victoria Road.
Bike for Good contact details for lessons can be found at https:// www. bikeforgood. org. uk/