London learner

antgel said:

Hi all,

What with the recent events in London and general frustration with
traffic, I'm tempted to take up cycling. In order to placate my worried
parents, I'd like to do some sort of proficiency course. However, after
looking at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cycles/safety-security/training.shtml, my
borough doesn't do one. Is my only resort a commercial training company,
and can somebody recommend one? (I can ride, having had a BMX as a kid,
but need to learn how to ride safely on the road.)

First thing to do is contact the LCC. Give them a phone.
http://www.lcc.org.uk

Your local LCC group might help with a 'bike buddy' to come along on
your route to work for the first few days.

That's no substitute for training though.
Two companies come to mind:
Cycletraining UK http://www.cycletraining.co.uk
If you book a lesson, they will send a trainer to your door, or place of
work

London School of Cycling
http://www.londonschoolofcycling.co.uk

Several London boroughs fund an hour of training.
The information may not be on the DfT website - may we ask which
borough you are in?

On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 11:00:00 +0100, antgel wrote:

http://www.cycletraining.co.uk/training/individual_training.php

If you live in Ealing, Hammersmith, Haringey, Lambeth or Southwark
you get free or subsidised lessons.

antgel said:

Hi all,

What with the recent events in London and general frustration with
traffic, I'm tempted to take up cycling. In order to placate my worried
parents, I'd like to do some sort of proficiency course.

I think Cycle Training UK or London School of Cycling would be accepted
as competent trainers by most of urc. Many would also recommend a copy
of CycleCraft (http://www.lesberries.co.uk/ccraft/ccraft.htm) as the
bible of on-road cycling

best wishes
james

John Hearns said:

Several London boroughs fund an hour of training.
The information may not be on the DfT website - may we ask which
borough you are in?

Tower Hamlets.

antgel said:

John Hearns said:

Several London boroughs fund an hour of training. The information may
not be on the DfT website - may we ask which borough you are in?

Tower Hamlets.

No subsidised lessons, AFAIK. But look at
http://www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk/

antgel said:

What with the recent events in London and general frustration with
traffic, I'm tempted to take up cycling. In order to placate my worried
parents, I'd like to do some sort of proficiency course. However, after
looking at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cycles/safety-security/training.shtml,
my borough doesn't do one. Is my only resort a commercial training
company, and can somebody recommend one? (I can ride, having had a BMX
as a kid, but need to learn how to ride safely on the road.)

The CTC website has links to some cycle training companies in London,
together with a CTC contact number. Quoting the CTC website:

CTC also runs the National Cycle Training Helpline in conjunction
with this site.
We can provide Cycle Training information for your area.
call 0870 607 0415 (office hours)
or email [email hidden]
Please supply details of your postcode, Local Authority, contact
details and any special requirements when contacting us by email

There's also a list of instructors at
http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3543

Which has 7 cycle training organisations in London.

cheers, Phil

--
http://www.kantaka.co.uk/ .oOo. public key: http://www.kantaka.co.uk/gpg.txt

On 07/11/2005 11:00:00 antgel said:

Hi all,

Quoted message said:

What with the recent events in London and general frustration with
traffic, I'm tempted to take up cycling. In order to placate my worried
parents, I'd like to do some sort of proficiency course. However, after
looking at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cycles/safety-security/training.shtml, my
borough doesn't do one. Is my only resort a commercial training company,
and can somebody recommend one? (I can ride, having had a BMX as a kid,
but need to learn how to ride safely on the road.)

Quoted message said:

Also, given that I want to nip round London and perhaps take the odd
recreational ride at weekends, do I go for a folder or a hybrid, or do I
just wait until I go to the shop and see what I like?

You should hook up with some of the folks from on here and ride with them,
that way you get the benefit of their experience, you obviously have a
sensible attitude that will mean you will do well.

--

Buck

I would rather be out on my Catrike

http://www.catrike.co.uk

Thanks everyone for your encouragement and advice. Unfortunately the
olds are making it very hard for me to go and buy a bike. I'm trying to
convince them but it's not looking good. Unfortunately a family member
had an accident on one many years ago, which left lasting effects, but
there is a large difference between his situation and mine - for
starters he was a child and I'm 28.

"antgel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks everyone for your encouragement and advice. Unfortunately the
olds are making it very hard for me to go and buy a bike. I'm trying to
convince them but it's not looking good. Unfortunately a family member
had an accident on one many years ago, which left lasting effects, but
there is a large difference between his situation and mine - for
starters he was a child and I'm 28.

In which case you are an adult and can make your own decisions???

Cheers, helen s

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 09:54:33 +0100 someone who may be antgel
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately the
olds are making it very hard for me to go and buy a bike. I'm trying to
convince them but it's not looking good.

Perhaps some of the figures in http://www.cyclehelmets.org would
help. Although the focus is on helmets there are also some figures
relating cycling in general to other forms of transport.

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately a family member
had an accident on one many years ago, which left lasting effects, but
there is a large difference between his situation and mine - for
starters he was a child and I'm 28.

This might be a difficult one to talk through. However, most people
damaged themselves while children and that does not mean they don't
do things like walking, though they may well walk more carefully.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me by using the RIP Act 2000.

wafflycat said:

"antgel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks everyone for your encouragement and advice. Unfortunately the
olds are making it very hard for me to go and buy a bike. I'm trying to
convince them but it's not looking good. Unfortunately a family member
had an accident on one many years ago, which left lasting effects, but
there is a large difference between his situation and mine - for
starters he was a child and I'm 28.

In which case you are an adult and can make your own decisions???

Easy for you to say.

"antgel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In which case you are an adult and can make your own decisions???

Easy for you to say.

Then act as an adult and make your own decisions. Coming from a family where
I had a very, very difficult, demanding and overbearing mother, who put the
fear of god into a regimental sergeant-major (my father), who also had a
penchant for violence (she once tried to choke me for real amongst other
little charms she had), I do understand how difficult families can be. But
let's face it, in the course of difficult decisions one has to make going
through life, whether or not to buy a bike is not exactly one that ranks as
one of the most difficult to make...

Cheers, helen s

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 09:54:33 +0100, antgel wrote
(in article <[email hidden]>😉:

Quoted message said:

[...]Unfortunately the
olds are making it very hard for me to go and buy a bike. I'm trying to
convince them but it's not looking good.

I would have thought that at the moment particularly an emotionally pointed
case at least as effective as family accident history could be made for using
a bike rather than tubes or buses :-(

Matt.

wafflycat said:

"antgel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In which case you are an adult and can make your own decisions???

Easy for you to say.

Then act as an adult and make your own decisions. Coming from a family
where I had a very, very difficult, demanding and overbearing mother,
who put the fear of god into a regimental sergeant-major (my father),
who also had a penchant for violence (she once tried to choke me for
real amongst other little charms she had), I do understand how difficult
families can be. But let's face it, in the course of difficult decisions
one has to make going through life, whether or not to buy a bike is not
exactly one that ranks as one of the most difficult to make...

Ditto my previous post.

Making my own decisions doesn't equate to doing what I want with no
regard for anyone's feelings but my own.

Just because a decision isn't one of the _most_ difficult doesn't mean
that it isn't difficult.

antgel said:

Quoted message said:

In which case you are an adult and can make your own decisions???

Easy for you to say.

I sense there is a lot not being said here.

My tuppence worth is that if you manage to join up with a local cycling
group you will make friends.
If you are really pushed, you might be able to borrow a bike for rides.
You can certainly hire bikes in the area.
This reminds me of teenage girls going round to friend's houses to change
for clubbing, so maybe we should leave it at that.

Antgel, you are right and you will have to find some way around this.

Cycling is far more likely to add many years to your life than it is to
end it prematurely. This is proven, though I don't have a reference to
hand.

Very, very few cyclists are seriously injured, and very few of those
have lasting injuries.

The perception of cycling as dangerous is widely-held, but is not
rational: for example, many people are hurt in car accidents, but only
rarely would that stop all members of the family from making a car
journey ever again.

Cycling in London is often perceived as dangerous by those who have
never tried it. I would contend that as an adult, with proper training
and alertness, with a properly maintained bike and aids to visibility,
London is one of the safest places in the country to cycle. There are
three good reasons for that: 1. the average speed of the traffic is
lower; 2. drivers are alert and concentrating; and 3. there are a great
many cyclists which means drivers are used to sharing the road with
them.

Good luck convincing your parents - I imagine it will be hard.

"antgel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks everyone for your encouragement and advice. Unfortunately the
olds are making it very hard for me to go and buy a bike. I'm trying to
convince them but it's not looking good. Unfortunately a family member
had an accident on one many years ago, which left lasting effects, but
there is a large difference between his situation and mine - for
starters he was a child and I'm 28.

Per mile, cycling is safer than walking, it's a very safe thing to do.

antgel said:

Unfortunately a family member
had an accident on one many years ago, which left lasting effects,

You are a relative of Fat Eric MP and ICMFP!

--
Tony

"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't"
Anon

antgel said:

Unfortunately a family member
had an accident on one many years ago, which left lasting effects,

You are a relative of Fat Eric MP and ICMFP!

--
Tony

"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't"
Anon