Services for individuals and families
Our approach
At Wobble Cycling, we believe the best way to improve your cycling skills is practise them in the environment that you ultimately aim to use them in.
Except for beginners, this will usually be on roads. It makes sense really: you wouldn’t try to learn how to drive a car by doing circuits of a car park, but this is how cycle training has often been delivered in the past.
Of course we won’t throw you out onto a busy dual carriageway. We will select roads that are appropriate to your level of ability and confidence. If you’re not ready to go out on the road yet, that’s fine too.
All of our training is based on the National Standard for Cycle Training (published by the Department for Transport and the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency), so you can be assured that our training follows the latest best-practice guidance.
Example training packages
Outlined below are some sample training packages that we have found meet the needs of the majority of our clients. Please remember that these are examples only, and our training will always be tailored to your particular needs. Below each package is an indication of the number of hours of training that is typically required to meet the learning objectives.
Absolute beginners
This is for those people who never learnt to ride a bike (or perhaps haven't been on one since they were a child). This is all about confidence building and takes place in a quiet area away from the road.
These sessions are usually run for individual learners, although it is possible to run them for groups of 2 or 3. Most people should be confident enough to undertake basic manoeuvres in a traffic free environment after 2-hours of one-to-one training.
Basic bike control skills
This course is for those people who can already ride a cycle and develops the basic skills needed to control it safely on the road. Subjects covered include basic cycle safety checks, starting and stopping, using gears, looking behind and signalling. This training takes place in a quiet area away from the road.
The course can be taught to individuals or groups of up to 6 learners at a time. Most people should be ready to move on to training on quiet roads after 2-hours of one-to-one training.
Building confidence on the road
This training is undertaken largely on quiet streets, with the level of traffic and complexity gradually increasing as confidence and skills build. The training focuses on road positioning to maximise your visibility to other traffic and your ability to see the way ahead. By the end of the course you will be confident and competent to cycle independently on lightly-trafficked roads. The course can be taught to individuals or groups of up to 6 learners at a time.
Most people should be competent to cycle independently on lightly-trafficked roads after 2-hours of one-to-one training.
Advanced techniques
This training is for those who are already reasonably confident cycling on quiet streets but would like to be able to tackle busier roads, faster traffic, and more complex road layouts. It is also suitable for experienced cyclists who wish to improve their skills. The training is customised to the needs of the individual and is usually undertaken on a one-to-one basis with the instructor.
The amount of time taken will be dependent on the individual, but is likely to be a minimum of 2 hours.
Cycle skills for families
Many parents would like to cycle with their children, but may lack confidence in their own skills to keep their children safe. This training will be designed around the particular journeys that you would like to undertake as a family (for example, from home to school).
The content will depend of the existing skills and experience of the family members. One common scenario is where children have received Bikeability training at school, and parents wish to enhance their own skills to facilitate family rides. Parents can also be trained in 'shepherding' techniques for moving children with very basic skills on lightly-trafficked roads.
This training is typically delivered in two sessions: a 1-hour session in an off-road environment, followed by a 2-hour session on lightly-trafficked roads.
Cycle skills and awareness for motorists
Most motorists are thoughtful and considerate people, but a lack of awareness of the needs of cyclists can sometimes leave them feeling vulnerable. This training is largely practical and undertaken on quiet residential streets. By experiencing and engaging with traffic whilst cycling, the learners will become more aware of, and sympathetic to, the needs of cyclists.
The course can be taught to individuals or groups of up to 6 learners at a time. For one-to-one delivery, it will typically last for 2-hours.
Basic cycle maintenance and repairs
Being able to keep your cycle in a roadworthy condition and undertake basic repairs is an important skill. Equally important is being able to recognise when more complex work should be left to the specialists at your local bike shop.
This training will be entirely practical and based around your bike. Typical contents will include:
- identifying the key parts of your cycle
- daily checks (the 'M-check')
- checking and adjusting brakes and gears
- drive-chain checks
- removing/fitting wheels and repairing punctures
- identifying work that is best left to professionals.
What does our training look like?
Each of our clients is an individual, with different levels of confidence, skills and experience. This means that our training will look different for each of our clients. That being said, there are certain things that are the same for all of our clients:
Before your training:
- When you first contact us we will discuss with you what you are aiming to achieve and outline how we think we can best meet your needs. We will answer any questions you may have about how we work and the services we offer.
- If you are still interested, we will then ask you to complete an online questionnaire. This will include a self-assessment of your existing skills and experience, and provide more detail about what you want to achieve during your training.
- When we receive your questionnaire, we will put together a tailored training package based on the information you have provided. This will include the number of hours we expect your training to last, and the cost. Most of our clients will be able to achieve their objectives within this timeframe, but this will depend on your existing skills and rate of progress.
- If you decide to proceed, we will ask you to agree to our standard terms and conditions, and we will agree when and where your training will take place.
During your training:
- Your training will begin with a check of your bike and equipment. We will be able to fix any minor problems, but reserve the right not to continue your training if we do not consider your bike to be safe (you may wish to get your bike professionally serviced in advanced if you don’t feel confident doing this yourself).
- We will then undertake an assessment of your existing skills. This may take place in a traffic free environment, or on minor roads, depending on the individual.
- We will then proceed with your agreed training. We will provide continuous feedback on your progress, and will make adjustments to the planned training based on your individual needs (subject to your agreement).
After your training:
- Once your agreed training is complete, we will provide a written statement of your progress and achievements. We will also provide suggestions on next steps, should you wish to undertake further training.
How much will it cost?
Our standard charge is £18 per hour of one-to one training. Some training may be delivered to small groups, which will reduce the cost per person. If you don’t have a cycle of your own, we may be able to loan you one for a small additional charge (subject to availability).
The number of hours required will be different for each client, but an indication of the typical number of hours required for different types of training, when delivered on-to-one, is indicated against each or our example training packages higher up this page. Everyone is different, so please contact us to discuss your requirements.
F.A.Q.
Do you have questions about our training? You might find the answer below, but if not, please get in touch.
We are based in Loughborough and can deliver training across Leicestershire and the southern parts of Nottingham and Derbyshire. We may be able to travel further afield where this is economically viable. Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss training delivery outside of our local area.
For the same reason that there’s a lot more to learning to drive than knowing how to operate a car’s controls, there is more to being a proficient cyclist than just being able to ride a bike. Wobble Cycling specialises in helping adults and families gain the practical skills to cycle confidently and safely on today’s roads. Even experienced cyclists can benefit from our Advanced techniques training to improve their road skills. Our training is always tailored to your specific needs, and we will work with you to ensure that our training helps you get where you want to be, by bike.
We try to keep our fees as low as possible, but recognise that they may still be out of reach of some people who would like to access our services. One way of reducing the cost is to share your training with a friend or colleague. Alternatively, if you don’t know anyone else who is interested, we may be able to pair you up with other clients with similar needs.
Whatever your circumstances, please get in touch and we will do our very best to accommodate you, or recommend alternative training providers who may have funded places (e.g. sessions run by your local authority).
We may be able to lend you a cycle. Please get in touch, and we’ll do our best to help.