There are a number of courses offered by Bike North.
The courses are heavily subsidised by Bike North, though a small fee may be charged to help cover the costs of venue hire, food and drink at courses. We offer the bike riding and bike maintenance courses listed below:
- Essential Cycling Skills
- Safe Commuting and Road Cycling
- Essential Maintenance
- Intermediate Maintenance
See the sidebar to see what courses are coming up soon.
| Who should do this course? | This course is designed for those people who can ride a bike, but who would like to improve confidence and basic skills to enjoy riding more often. |
| Pre-requisites? | You just need to be able to balance and ride a bike. |
| What’s in the course? | The course covers the basic skills required to ride a bike on shared user paths or cycleways and quiet back streets, with practical emphasis on increasing confidence. Starting, stopping, cornering, one handed riding (for signalling) slow riding, manoeuvring…There will be a session on basic maintenance where everyone will get the chance to change a rear tyre, and topics such as cleaning the bike and checking it for problems will be discussed. At the end of the day a Q&A session with the coaches should help to consolidate the information from the rest of the day. |
| How is the course structured? | There are three parts to this course. A single day course to assess your skills, teach you how to improve and practice them, a session on maintenance and a short ride 2 separate Buddy Rides. Each Buddy ride will take 1-3 hours, will be one-to-one with a coach (sometimes two-one) and will involve intensive coaching and practice of your new-found skills during a real bike ride. In some ways this is the most important part of the course. We also encourage you to attend a Bike North Easy graded ride after completing your Buddy rides. Chat to your Buddy ride coach about which rides are suitable. It may be possible to have a coach attend the ride to help you out in the group. |
| Do I need to be fit? | As this course is designed for people who wish to improve and increase their cycling, only limited physical fitness is expected to complete the course. During the course you will spend several sessions riding around on a flat surface, practising skills. The buddy rides will stretch you a little further, though they often include a “coffee stop” for a break and to discuss anything which has come up during the ride. |
| What do I need to bring? | A mechanically sound bicycle and an Australian Standards approved helmet. |
Who should do this course? | For those people with good basic skills but who need to develop skills and knowledge associated with riding on roads and commuting by bicycle. |
Pre-requisites | You should have basic skills such as starting and stopping, cornering, signalling (one handed riding), looking behind etc. Puncture repair and basic maintenance. |
What’s in the course? |
Dealing with intersections both controlled and uncontrolled and including roundabouts, manoeuvring in tight spaces, how to cope with motor traffic, equipment, tools and strategies for safe commuting… Maintenance to keep your bike roadworthy and safe. |
How is the course structured? | A single day course. |
Do I need to be fit? | It is assumed that you will have average or slightly better fitness. During the course you will be riding on (quiet) roads including some climbing and descending. |
What do I need to bring? | A mechanically sound bicycle and an Australian Standards approved helmet. In addition you may wish to bring any toolkit you normally carry on rides. |
Who should do this course? | Learn to replace an inner-tube on a ride after a puncture. Deal with simple on-ride mechanical issues such as realigning a slipped chain. Keeping your bike in reasonable running order, cleaning and chain lubrication. Learning to spot wear and other problems. |
What’s in the course? | Conduct a basic road side repair – tube repair and replacement Cleaning your bike including chain clean & lube Conduct a bike inspection Use simple bike tool kit accessories. |
Is there something particular you want to learn? | The course form provides a space for you to let us known if you have something you particularly want to learn about the mechanics your bike. The mechanics and BN volunteers on the day may be able to cover this. |
What do I need to bring? | You can learn on the bike the bike shop supplies or bring your own to practice on. |
How is the course structured? | 2 hour session. Learn the principles and actions involved, then try them with the assistance of professional mechanic / BN volunteers. Bikes stand & tools provided. |
Who should do this course? | If you are wanting to able to make adjustments to brakes, gears or wheels, and handle on-ride mechanical adjustments. |
What’s in the course? | Conduct inspection on the bicycle to identify worn or damaged components eg brakes / crank bearings / chain rings / cassette, derailleur or chain wear. Make adjustments on your bicycle including Improve the “True” of a wheel Front and rear derailleur adjustments for optimum gear shifts Brake adjustments including cable and brake pad replacements |
What do I need to bring? | You can learn on the bike the bike shop supplies or bring your own to practice on. |
How is the course structured? | 2 hour session. Learn the principles and actions involved, then try them with the assistance of professional mechanic / BN volunteers. Bikes stand & tools provided. |