Cycle skills and bike maintenance courses

Camden Cycle Skills teaches essential bike riding skills for all ages and abilities, from beginner and intermediate group courses and open community cycling, to individual training on busy roads. 

Anyone who lives, works or studies in Camden can register on the following for free:

• Adult Cycle Skills
• Children's Cycle Skills
• Community cycling clubs

Participants who have completed a course and require more training can ask their instructors for advice on registering for further sessions.  

All training follows the government Bikeability syllabus and all instructors are National Standards qualified, have received First Aid training, and hold current DBS Certificates as required for working with young or vulnerable people.

Register for a course

We recommend that trainees bring their own helmet if they wish to wear one. All training takes place outdoors.  

We offer training bicycles to those who state at registration that they do not have an own bike. 

For further information contact [email protected] or call 020 7974 1451.

Follow the CycleCamden Facebook page for regular news and updates.

We offer free training to suit your learning goals: 

• Learn to Cycle Never got round to learning to cycle? Want more practice with starting, stopping and balancing on a bike? We teach the first principles.
• Building Cycle Confidence Keen to boost your cycling skills before sharing the road with other traffic? We teach important bike control skills to prepare you for cycling safely on the road.
• Advanced Cycle Skills Individual cycle training delivered on the road. Sessions are tailored to suit each individual, improving hazard awareness and safe road habits of experienced cyclists.

We recommend you watch Transport for London's online Cycle Skills course before attending our sessions.  

Learn to Cycle

Group courses for beginners who have never been riding a bike or still want to improve their starting, stopping and balancing. 

Courses usually consist of two 45 minute sessions on consecutive days. Training is held in the traffic-free grounds of Haverstock School near Chalk Farm Underground Station.  View map.  

Training bikes are available to borrow.

Date and time for learn to cycle

• Sunday 12 January 2025
• Sunday 26 January 2025
• Sunday 9 February 2025
• Sunday 23 February 2025
• Sunday 9 March 2025

If you do not state your preferred training date when registering, you will be offered the first available course. Any places becoming available at short notice will be offered to those registered on later courses.

January, February and March 2025 session times

Sessions are from 12pm to 13.30pm. 

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Building Cycle Confidence

Group courses to prepare you for riding on the road. This course is for cyclists who can ride unaided.  Participants practice bike control skills such as cycling one-handed, changing gears efficiently, and stopping quickly in an emergency. 

Courses usually consist of two 60 minute sessions on consecutive days. Training takes place in a shared, traffic-free street close to the meeting place near St Pancras International Station View map or in the traffic-free grounds of Haverstock School near Chalk Farm Underground Station View map.  

Training bikes can be borrowed, but bring your own well-fitting, roadworthy bike if you can.  

Dates and times for building cycle confidence

Course A

• Sunday 12 January 2025

Course B

• Sunday 26 January 2025

Course C

• Sunday 9 February 2025

Course D

• Sunday 23 February 2025

If you do not state your preferred training date when registering, you will be offered the first available course. Any places becoming available at short notice will be offered to those registered on later courses.

January and February 2025 session times

Sessions are from 10am to 11.30am. 

Register for a course

Cycling Skills on the Road

These sessions are for cyclists interested in practicing their traffic skills. 

These courses are delivered at Haverstock School, NW3.  Training is offered individually or in very small groups, beginning on quiet streets and moving on to busier, more complex roads as appropriate.  

Participants must already have good bike control skills, such as cycling one-handed and stopping quickly in an emergency. 

Training bikes can be borrowed, but bring your own well-fitting, roadworthy bike if you can.  

Dates and times for cycling skills on the road

•    Sunday March 9 2025
Sessions take place between 10am to 11:30am.

If you do not state your preferred training date when registering, you will be offered the first available course. Any places becoming available at short notice will be offered to those registered on later courses.

Register for a course

Advanced Cycle Skills

These sessions are for cyclists interested in advancing their traffic skills on all types of urban road. 

This training is delivered one-to-one, or in very small groups, by a personal cycling instructor who will tailor the course to individual needs. This could, for instance, include your route to work or college.  Training will begin on quiet roads and progress to more challenging situations, which could include complex junctions, multi-lane traffic and busy roundabouts. You can see a Camden Urban Cycle Skills session in progress on YouTube.

Participants must have good bike control skills, such as cycling one-handed and stopping quickly in an emergency. Trainees should have their own bike, although the use of a borrowed or hired bike is possible.

Each training session lasts between 90 and 120 minutes. You can request a preferred training date, time and location during registration. Your instructor will get in touch with you individually to arrange your cycle skills session. 

Register for a course

Our courses equip children with the skills needed for cycling safely. 

Children Learn to Cycle

This course is children who are still learning to start, stop and balance. We prioritise children aged 8 (school year 3) and above. For web pages with suggestions of how to practice cycling with children of any age check these links.     

Courses usually consist of two 45 minute sessions on consecutive days.  Training is held in the safe playground area of Haverstock School, near Chalk Farm Underground Station.  View map.  

Some training bikes are available to borrow, but do bring your child's own well-fitting, roadworthy bike if you can.  

Children's training courses are subject to confirmation after sufficient registrations are received.     

Dates and times of Children Learn to Cycle courses

Course A

• Monday 17 February 2025
• Tuesday 18 February 2025

Course B

• Wednesday 19 February 2025
• Thursday 20 February 2025

The following session times are available:

• 11.30am to 12.30pm
• 12.45pm to 1.45pm

Register for a course

Children Building Cycle Confidence

Away from traffic, children can practice essential skills such as signalling, observation and stopping quickly. Aimed at young people and children aged 8 or above who are able to ride unassisted and want to improve their safe cycling skills.

Courses usually consist of two sessions on consecutive days. Training is held in the safe playground area of Haverstock School, near Chalk Farm Underground Station. View map.  

Some training bikes are available to borrow, but do bring your child's own well-fitting, roadworthy bike if you can. 

Children's training courses are subject to confirmation after sufficient registrations are received.     

Dates and times of children building cycle confidence

Course A

• Monday 17 February 2025
• Tuesday 18 February 2025

Course B

• Wednesday 19 February 2025
• Thursday 20 February 2025

Sessions take place between 10am to 11am.

Register for a course

 

Children and Families Urban Cycle Skills

This course is aimed at children and parents or guardians, teaching children to cycle safely on quiet roads, and teaching you to lead your child safely through traffic. This training is delivered in family groups by a personal cycling instructor who will tailor the course to your individual needs. This could, for instance, include your route to school. 

Your child will need good bike control skills including signalling, stopping quickly and observation. We recommend that children can practiced these skills first at our Children's Building Cycle Confidence group courses (see above). 

Training will begin away from traffic, moving onto quiet roads and busier situations as appropriate. Sessions last between 90 and 120 minutes. All participants must have their own, well-fitting and roadworthy bikes.

You can request a preferred training date during registration. Our instructor will get in touch with you to arrange your cycle skills session individually. 

Register for a course

Bikeability at Schools

Camden Cycle Skills training is also offered to many children at Camden schools, under the name of ‘Bikeablity’. 

Children in year 5 or 6 can learn road safety skills on quiet roads. Younger pupils are taught bike control skills within the school grounds. Pupils in early year groups can take part in scooter training and pedestrian skills sessions.

Contact your school directly to find out whether this will be available to your child. Schools looking for further information on Bikeability should email Camden's Road Safety Officer.

Our Essential Bike Maintenance course teaches skills for carrying out routine maintenance and simple repairs:

• bike overview: names of parts, roadworthiness
• tools: what's needed?
• preventative maintenance: cleaning and lubrication
• cycling in Comfort: adjustments for comfort and efficiency
• tyres and Punctures: repair, tyre and wheel removal
• brakes: different types, adjustments, replacing pads and cables
• gears: indexing and replacing a gear cable

The course does not cover hydraulic disc brakes, hub brakes, hub gears or suspension systems.

If available, bring your own bicycle and tools to work with.

Training takes place in an outdoor area at Haverstock School.

This course is not suitable for children. 

No sessions currently available

You can only book one session at a time. Please mention any special needs that the instructor needs to be aware of at the time of registration. Camden instructors will adapt training to meet each person’s needs and ensure their safety.

You must give at least 72 hrs notice in the event of your cancellation, but please notify us as soon as you can as we want to offer the place to someone else.

Contact us at [email protected] or call 020 7974 1451.

By accepting to receive training from London Borough of Camden, you agree that:

1. You must advise the instructor of any medical conditions that may affect the training.
2. London Borough of Camden will not be responsible for any injury or damage to property unless caused by the instructor's negligence. Personal belongings are brought to the training at own risk.
3. If you bring your own bike, it must be roadworthy and safe. The instructor will check the bike at the start of the session.
4. In accordance with the law, you can decide whether or not to wear a helmet. If you wear a helmet during training, it must be well-fitting and meet current safety standards. London Borough of Camden will not be liable for any injury or damage that may occur as a consequence of wearing or not wearing a cycling helmet.
5. The instructor may terminate the training where a trainee's actions compromise anyone's safety or are otherwise unacceptable.

If registering a young person under the age of 16, you confirm that:

1. You are the child's parent or legal guardian and consent that your child receives training under the terms and conditions as set out above.
2. You have provided a phone number on which you can be contacted by the instructor in case of queries or emergency.
3. A responsible adult will take your child to and collect your child from the training at the agreed times.
4. Helmets are not compulsory and it is for the parent/guardian to choose whether their child will wear one during training. We recommend that each child wears their own, well-fitting cycle helmet.

Additional conditions to prevent the spread of Coronavirus:

1. All cycle training activity takes place outdoors and a minimum distance of two metres should be observed. 
2. Do not attend training if you have Covid-19 symptoms or must self-isolate.   
3. Notify the course administrator as soon as possible on 020 7974 1451 or [email protected] if you cannot attend. 

If registering for bicycle maintenance training, you accept that: 

1. Training will take place in a workshop environment.  You will handle bicycle tools and parts safely in accordance with guidance provided by the instructor.
2. The instructor will assist in carrying out servicing and repairs to your bicycle. However, London Borough of Camden cannot guarantee that bicycles are restored to roadworthy condition.

How we use your data

1. The information you provide is protected and processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018.
2. All personal information is protected and processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018. Your data will be used to administer the training and will not be shared with anyone else. Occasionally LB Camden will send emails asking for public feedback on measures which affect cycling, such as new cycleways, cycle parking or traffic calming. If you do not wish to receive to receive such communications you can opt out at any time.

Register for a course