What a difference a day makes: Vivienne Parry learns how to cycle to work without stress

THE PUPIL Vivienne Parry

THE PROBLEM She’s a menace to other road users with her new bike

THE EXPERT Eric Gauster of Cycle Training UK

THE LESSON

Vivienne

I’m the original Mrs Wobble, weaving about in traffic with my coat flapping behind. I used to cycle a lot in my (flat) home town of Portsmouth, but my husband banned me on the ground that I was a danger to other road users. Thirty years on, I’ve just given up my car (along with the husband) and bought a bike. Speeding off from a standing start is a real problem, and I tend to use my bike like a scooter at traffic lights.

Eric was enormously patient. He told me to put on the brakes when I was starting off, so making me stable. Then I had to stop and start until it became automatic for me to lean on my right leg, put the left pedal up and then, to push away with my left foot. This was so simple, but transformed my confidence levels.

Another tip was putting the bike into a low gear when coming up to a stop so starting was easier. After this, on-road riding was a breeze.

Eric

Vivienne had better bike control than she thought. By observing her basic control skills off-road and improving them in a structured way, her abilities were given a fantastic boost. On-road training then gave her the skill and confidence to manage road situations. She had a bit of a problem with gears, but at the end of our lesson she was able to use them much more.

THE FOLLOW-UP

Vivienne

I’ve done lots of cycling à deux with my partner over Christmas. The ultimate confidence test was going to a New Year’s Eve party by bike. I arrived in anorak and cycling hat and, retrieving my stilettos from my basket, stripped off before my astonished hostesss to reveal my poshest frock. And I cycled two miles home at 1am, uphill all the way.

THE EXPERT’S TOP TIPS

Develop good bike control skills. You should understand how to shift your body weight when making an emergency stop, be able to swerve safely, use your gears efficiently, keep good control of the bike while looking behind, and confidently ride one-handed.

Join the club and get into shape in 2008 at The Times Health Club. Visit timesonline.co.uk/healthclub Ride with your fingers on your brake levers. Adjust them if this seems uncomfortable.

Think positioning! If you have enough space for drivers to overtake you comfortably (on wide roads) ride away from the kerb, never in the gutter, and be aware that drivers tend to leave you the same room on your right as the room you leave for yourself on the left.

Ride in the stream of traffic when you can match its speed or when you need to avoid car doors or the mouth of a side road. Ride slowly if you are close to parked cars or in slower traffic, so that you have time to react to hazards such as an opening door. Check behind often, especially before changing position on the road. Looking behind attracts the attention of drivers as well as letting you know what is happening around you.

Make your intentions clear with hand signals. Don’t signal without looking behind first; it may be unsafe to signal if someone is overtaking, or it may be unnecessary if no one is there.

THE DETAILS

National Standards Cycle training from Cycle Training UK (£20 an hour). Cycle maintenance courses also available; www.cycletraining.co.uk .

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