Crossing the road

We realise that not all of you will be rushing out to race cyclocross, but much of what Mike tried to teach me is valid on the road, too… Better braking

Being able to stop quickly and safely is an essential skill on British roads, so taking time to finesse, or simply refresh, your braking technique in a safe, traffic-free environment is something we should all do from time to time – a bit like re-reading The Highway Code… Finding limits

We don’t necessarily advocate all-in-bike wrestling, but finding a safe way to discover the limits of your bike and your skills isn’t a bad way to spend an afternoon. It’s surprising just how far you can push a couple of skinny tyres by whizzing around in circles. Stunts aren’t silly

Skills like bunny hopping aren’t just for racers or kids in BMX parks. Learning to skip over obstacles without falling off your bike can come in incredibly useful. Even if it’s just so that you can leap onto a kerb at a pinch point…