Safe cycling

Training session 1
1

Training session 1
Bicycle training for beginners (in a protected area)

Introduction  2

Exercises  5

→→ Part 1: Intake
Exercise 1: Experiences in cycling  5

→→ Part 2: Theory
Exercise 2: Different parts of a bicycle  6
Exercise 3: Important traffic signs  7
Exercise 4: Important traffic rules  8

→→ Part 3: Practice
Exercise 5: Bicycle training for non-cyclists/total beginners  9
Exercise 6: Bicycle training for beginners  10

→→ Part 4: Round-up
Exercise 7: Feedback and future  20

Main working materials

→→ Working materials for trainers
Trainer guide ‘All around cycling’

→→ Working materials for trainees

Worksheets
Worksheet 1: Statutory parts of a bicycle
Worksheet 2: Parts of a bicycle (extended version)
Worksheet 3: Traffic signs
Worksheet 4: Traffic rules on regulated crossings
Worksheet 5: Traffic rules on unregulated crossings

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Introduction 2

Training session 1
Bicycle training for beginners (in a protected area)

General guidelines when working with immigrants

When working with immigrants, please be aware of linguistic, cultural and gender issues. You
should not only think about specific needs of the course, but also about the approach, back-
ground and gender of your training staff. Some of the aspects you should consider, depending on
the culture and the individuals attending your courses are:

• If you are not totally familiar with your trainees’ skills take your time to interview them about
their experiences.

• Avoid bringing trainees into an embarrassing situation due to culture, gender or religion.

• Sometimes gender specific training is more appropriate.

• If you want to conduct gender specific training, then your trainers should be of the same gen-
der as the trainees.

((
 
You will find a table of culture specific values for cycling in the Annex of this training mod-
ule in which a relative comparison of cycling attitudes of various countries is given.

Aim of the training session

Many people with a migration background did not have the chance to learn how to cycle in a
way that allows them to feel comfortable enough to participate in real traffic or they even never
learned how to cycle at all. But as mobility is a key factor of integration into social life, cycling is
a viable option, especially considering the lower mobility costs. Bicycle training for beginners can
help people to learn how to cycle and can strengthen their skills.

The overall goal of this training session is to teach the participants how to ride a bicycle or
strengthen their bicycle skills as preparation for travelling in real traffic through conducting prac-
tical bicycle training in a protected area.

Generally, the training session consists of a combination of hard measures and soft measures.

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Introduction 3

→→ Learning objectives of this training session are:

• Learning how to cycle safely

&
• Learning about bicycle traffic rules and regulations in the (new) home country

• Improving language skills HARD MEASURES

• Social inclusion by engaging with the community
SOFT MEASURES
• Motivation for the topic of cycling and having fun

• Engaging with the topic of cycling and overcoming barriers

• Gaining insight into the cycling culture of the (new) home country

• Encouraging the initiation of own cycle activities

• Communication and enjoyment

((
 
See also the general Introduction of this training module.

Structure of the training session

This training session describes the implementation of practical bicycle training for beginners
which you can carry out with your trainees, and contains introductory and complementary exer-
cises divided into 4 parts:

»» Part 1 will determine the trainees’ existing cycling habits, experiences and wishes.
»» Part 2 will introduce the technical parts of a bicycle and will teach knowledge about basic
country specific traffic rules and signs, which are of high importance for cyclists.
»» Part 3 covers the practical bicycle training for beginners in a protected area.
»» Part 4 describes the round-up of the trainees’ experiences of the training session.

It is recommended that the suggested exercises are held one after another, but it is also possi-
ble to simply pick out selected ones. There is no right or wrong way. You can use the trainer guide
all around the topic of cycling. If necessary and appropriate, you will need to ask the trainees to
complete worksheets after selected exercises.

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Introduction 4

Specific skills and targets (for language teachers)

The trainees should be able to talk about their experiences with riding a bike. They should under-
stand the most important traffic rules and signs.

The language level and language skills are indicated with all exercises.

((
 
You will find a table of common European language levels in the Annex of TOGETHER on
the move.

→→ Language skills

L Listening
S Speaking
R Reading
W Writing

Materials in the training session

The following materials are recommended for this training session:

»» Bicycle/s
»» (Bicycle) map/s (of local area) (many cities or regions have their own bicycle map/s, please
ask the local tourist information)
»» Bicycle repair set
»» Clipboard
»» Coloured chalk
»» Declaration of agreement
»» First aid kit
»» Flip chart
»» Helmet/s
»» Trainer guide ‘All around cycling’
»» Insurance
»» Markers
»» Observatory/Evaluation form
»» Paper
»» Pens
»» Portfolio/s (optional)
»» Whiteboard
»» Worksheets for trainees

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Introduction 5

Portfolio
To ensure the practical use of the information given in the training session and to ensure that the
learning process continues afterwards, each participant is invited to produce a portfolio of what
has been done in the training session. This portfolio can be used as a means to assess the per-
sonal development of the trainees and will be filled with photos, useful sentences, pictures, maps
and so on. The participants will receive worksheets and practical exercises during the training ses-
sion which they can use to fill up their portfolio. By focussing on the personal needs of the par-
ticipants, it is possible to individualise the portfolio in the form of a personalised cycling-manual.

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 1: Intake 6

Exercises
Part 1: Intake

In this part of the session, the basic knowledge the trainees already have regarding cycling will
be explored. The starting point adresses the cycling habits, needs, wishes and experiences of the
trainees.

EXERCISE 1

Content Experiences in cycling

The trainees are asked about their experiences, skills and
wishes concerning cycling.

Didactical tools Group/personal discussion

Ask the participants before the training how experienced
they are in cycling to get a first insight of your training pro-
gramme.

Example/s:
• Did they ever cycle or try to cycle?
• What is the motivation of learning to ride a bike?
• Are they already able to ride straight ahead with their
hands on the bar?

Collect the answers on a flip chart and point out the needs
and wishes of the trainees concerning cycling.

Materials Flip chart/whiteboard, markers, paper and pens

Time needed ~ 5 min/participant

Language/CEFR-level and skills Level: all

(for language teachers) Skills: L, S, R

Total time needed for Part 1 ~ 1 h

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 2: Theory 7

Part 2: Theory

In this part of the training session important knowledge and tips and tricks for practical bicycle
training will be obtained. Hence, the trainees will gain insight into the different parts of a bicycle
and country specific traffic regulations for cyclists.

EXERCISE 2

Content Different parts of a bicycle

Didactical tools Group discussion and exercise

Let the trainees guess which parts of the bicycle they think
are statutory in their (new) home country and hand out
Worksheet 1 and 2.

After the exercise ask them if the regulation concerning

statutory bike equipment differs from their country of ori-
gin.

Materials Trainer guide ‘All around cycling’

The safely equipped bicycle, p. 3 f.

Worksheet 1
Statutory parts of a bicycle

Worksheet 2
Parts of a bicycle (extended version)

Time needed ~ 30 min

Language/CEFR-level and skills Level: all

(for language teachers) Skills: S (R, W)

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 2: Theory 8

EXERCISE 3

Content Important traffic signs

In preparation for the bicycle training, the trainees become
familiar with the most important traffic signs in a playful
way.

Didactical tools Group discussion/Quiz

Carry out a quiz with your trainees by showing different
traffic signs and let them guess the meaning of the signs by
providing Worksheet 3.

Summarise and discuss the outcome in a common group

discussion.

Materials Trainer guide ‘All around cycling’

Basic traffic signs for cyclists, p. 9 ff.

Worksheet 3
Traffic signs

Pictures of traffic signs

Time needed ~ 30 min

Language/CEFR-level and skills Level: all

(for language teachers) Skills: L, S, W

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 2: Theory 9

EXERCISE 4

Content Important traffic rules

The trainees become familiar with the most important
country specific traffic rules.

Didactical tools Exercise

Carry out an exercise with your trainees by raising the fol-
lowing questions:

• Do all trainees know about the traffic regulations in

their (new) home country?
• Do they know about the right behaviour on the street in
this country?
• Which kind of crossings do they know?
• What is a regulated crossing and which priority rules are
determinant in this country?
• What is an unregulated crossing and which priority rules
are determinant in this country?

Provide Worksheet 4 and 5 and discuss the outcome.

Materials Trainer guide ‘All around cycling’

Priority rules on regulated crossings, p. 12
Priority rules on unregulated crossings, p. 13

Worksheet 4
Traffic rules on regulated crossings

Worksheet 5
Traffic rules on unregulated crossings

Time needed ~ 30 min

Language/CEFR-level and skills Level: all

(for language teachers) Skills: L, S, R, W

Total time needed for Part 2 ~ 1 h 30 min

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 3: Practice 10

Part 3: Practice

The theory is put into practice. The practical part of the session covers the bicycle training in
a protected area (without motorised traffic) for non-cyclists and beginners. Protected areas for
training can be school yards, parking lots, sports fields, etc..

EXERCISE 5

Content Bicycle training for non-cyclists/total beginners

This training course aims at participants who ride a bike for
the first time.

Didactical tools Please use the following exercises for non-cyclists and be-
ginners which are described below, and accompany the
exercises with an observatory form (in the Annex of the
trainer guide), so that you can give feedback to the train-
ees.

Materials Trainer guide ‘All around cycling’

How to organise bicycle activities and training courses?,
p. 18 ff.

Observatory form
Trainer guide/Annex, p. 28 f.

Bicycles, helmets, coloured chalk, repair set, first aid kit,

clipboard, writing utilities, observatory form, further equip-
ment

Time needed ~ 2–3 h (for one unit)

Language/CEFR-level and skills Level: all

(for language teachers) Skills: L, S

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 3: Practice 11

EXERCISE 6

Content Bicycle training for beginners

This training course aims at participants who are able to
ride a bike by themselves but have troubles with coordi-
nation.

Didactical tools Please use the following exercises for beginners which are
described below, and accompany the exercises with an ob-
servatory form (in the Annex of the trainer guide), so that
you can give feedback to the trainees.

Materials Trainer guide ‘All around cycling’

How to organise bicycle activities and training courses,
p. 18 ff.

Observatory form
Trainer guide/Annex, p. 28 f.

Bicycles, helmets, coloured chalk, repair set, first aid kit,

clipboard, writing utilities, observatory form, further equip-
ment

Time needed ~ 2–3 h (for one unit)

Language/CEFR-level and skills Level: all

(for language teachers) Skills: L, S

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 3: Practice 12

→→ Starting exercises
These starting exercises address people who had never used a bicycle before. The trainees are
getting used to handling the bike for the first time and keeping their balance on it. Keeping the
balance on the bike is the most important point and a precondition for any further training exer-
cises.

EXERCISE 6.1

Warm-up You can start with a short warm-up exercise for keeping the
body balance (without bicycle).

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 3: Practice 13

EXERCISE 6.2

Walk with a bicycle This playful exercise can be done in different levels of difficulty:

1. Walk with the bike without sitting on the saddle.

2. Walk with the bike while sitting on the saddle (pay atten-
tion that the feet can reach the ground!).

3. Try to put one foot on the pedal while walking.

Adults also learn riding a bicycle best when starting with a

training bicycle (a bike without pedals). Here, it is already suf-
ficient to screw off the pedals of a bicycle and lower its saddle
so far that the ground can be reached with the feet.

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 3: Practice 14

→→ Easy exercises

EXERCISE 6.3

Getting on and off a bicycle Draw two lines with a distance of one metre next to each
in a specified track other on the asphalt. The course participants shall practice
getting on and starting to ride stopping, getting off and re-
peating this procedure within the two lines, without leav-
ing the marked line.

EXERCISE 6.4

Accurate stopping/braking Mark a (stop) line with chalk or a rope. The course par-
to a certain point ticipants shall ride quickly towards it and brake with both
brakes in such a way that they come to a halt with the front
tyre standing on the marked line.

The Exercises 6.3 – 6.15 were developed with the expertise of Dr. Sylvia Titze, Institute of Sport Science of the Karl-Franzens-University Graz

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 3: Practice 15

EXERCISE 6.5

The figure 8 The point of this exercise is to train turning left and right
as well as the sense of balance. The figure 8 is drawn onto
the ground with chalk. Again, the course participants shall
complete a few rounds of the figure without touching the
boundary lines. The circle radius is about 5 metres and the
distance between the lines is about 60 cm. This exercise
can also be completed using only one hand, whereas one
arm has to be outstretched as if giving a hand signal.

EXERCISE 6.6

Surfaces If possible, let the course participants ride on different sur-

faces. This helps them learn how to keep the control over
the bicycle.

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 3: Practice 16

→→ Intermediate exercises

EXERCISE 6.7

Estimating distances Fasten a rope between two trees or poles. The course par-
ticipants shall ride past it as near as possible without touch-
ing the rope.

EXERCISE 6.8

Hot lava Lay out a thin lane with two ropes or draw one with chalk.
The course participants shall ride through it quickly to be-
gin with, and then slow down more and more. You can im-
agine an adventurous world outside of the boundaries con-
sisting of hot lava.

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 3: Practice 17

EXERCISE 6.9

Riding a scooter Both hands are on the handlebar, the course participant is
standing next to the bicycle, one foot is on the pedal, the
other is used to move forward.

EXERCISE 6.10

Bicycle soccer Lay down some (tennis) balls on the ground. The course
participants now have to alternately kick them with the left
and right foot. You can also mark provisional goals on the
ground, through which the balls have to be shot.

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 3: Practice 18

→→ Advanced exercises

EXERCISE 6.11

One armed bandit The course participants drive straight ahead one at a time.
After approximately 5 metres, the trainer stands to the
right of the participant with a pen or a small wooden stick
in his/her hand. The course participants now have to take
this pen/stick with their right hand and do a wide right turn
with the arm still outstretched. This exercise can also be
done to the left. A wooden ladder from which the pen/stick
has to be taken can also be used when necessary.

EXERCISE 6.12

Response test Three objects (e. g. traffic cones or plastic bottles) are
placed next to each other on the ground. The course par-
ticipant drives directly towards the middle object and re-
ceives a visual or accoustic signal from the trainer just be-
fore he/she arrives at the obstacle, in which direction to
steer away.

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 3: Practice 19

EXERCISE 6.13

Snail race The course participant who completes a defined route in

the slowest time wins. Several course participants can start
at the same time. Choose a suitable route, especially for
training bicycles (without pedals).

EXERCISE 6.14

Overcoming an obstacle An obstacle (plank of wood, stick or similar) is placed on

the ground. The course participants have to drive over this
obstacle without loosing control of their bicycle.

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 3: Practice 20

EXERCISE 6.15

Scarf/cloth fishing In this exercise, a washing line is fastened for a stretch

of 20 metres and three scarves or cloths hanged in large
distances to each other from it (you can put the scarves/
cloths also on a fence, if possible). The course participants
ride alongside throwing back glances at the trainer, who
is standing behind them. As soon as he/she raises his/her
arm, the particpant has to grab the next scarf/cloth in line
and take it from the washing line (fence).

Total time needed for Part 3 ~ 2–3 h (for one unit)

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf

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Training session 1
Part 4: Round-up 21

Part 4: Round-up

The purpose of this part is to make a round-up of this training session. The trainees are invited to
talk about their experiences.

EXERCISE 7

Content Feedback and future

Didactical tools Feedback round

Ask the participants how they liked the course and if they
still want to do more exercises.

Give personal feedback to their skills and find motivating

words on how to proceed per person. Work with the ob-
servatory form.

Materials Observatory form

Trainer guide/Annex, p. 28 f.

Time needed ~ 45 min

Language/CEFR-level and skills Level: all

(for language teachers) Skills: L, S

Total time needed for Part 4 ~ 45 min

Total time needed for ~ 5 h 15 min – 6 h 15 min

Training session 1 (with one practical unit)

TOGETHER_Cycling_3_Training session 1.pdf