Where you start your journey depends on the child. All the games and activities have been designed to meet the ability of individuals, not their age.
We recommend completing three sets of games in the Ready Set Ride series starting with Prepare 2 Ride, Skills 2 Ride - Balance using balance bikes and then onto Skills 2 Ride – Pedals.
Every activity card includes a list of things you may need.
Prepare 2 Ride – No specialist equipment is needed. Each game in this set is designed with equipment or things that you may use from around the home or in a classroom environment.
Skills 2 Ride – Balance will require a balance bike. If you don’t have a balance bike, please see our web page and short film on Turning a pedal bike into a balance bike.
Skills 2 Ride – Pedals will require a pedal bike. Remove any stabilisers as this will undo all of your child’s balance practice.
Wearing a helmet is a personal choice for your family. If you are going to use one, make sure it is fitted properly, otherwise it is uncomfortable to wear and children become distracted. More advice on correctly fitting a helmet can be found on our Helmet and clothing check page, and you can also see a short film.
No specialist clothing is required, although we advise you to wear clothing that is kept well out of the way of chains and spokes. For further advice, see the Helmet and clothing check page.
No, you do not have to do the games in a specific order. However, we would recommend progressing through all three sets in the following order: Prepare 2 Ride, Skills 2 Ride – Balance, Skills 2 Ride – Pedals.
No, children do not have to complete Prepare 2 Ride.
However, the games in this set help to get children ready to ride and are great fun activities to do anytime.
These off the bike activities develop core skills which will set a child up for an active life but have been created with cycling in mind.
Once children have had a go at the Skills 2 Ride – Pedals Challenges and feel that they have really mastered them, they will be ready to enjoy cycling for a long time to come. All of the challenges can be repeated and enjoyed as much as you want and you can go back to them at any time. Very experienced riders still benefit from having a go at all these challenges.
The most important next step is to enjoy being on a bike and maybe going for fun bike rides. Get out and explore your community, use the bike to get to school, football, and to the shops. If you can get out riding with your child, they will absolutely love to ride with you and show you how good they are.
Hunt out interesting places to ride, such as canal paths, the countryside, and rides between local parks.
As your child reaches the age of 10 and starts to become a more independent rider, they may want to consider Bikeability training. More information is available at bikeability.org.uk.
British Cycling provide a range of other opportunities for young people to continue cycling. For more information, visit britishcycling.org.uk.
If you don’t have a balance bike, please see our web page and short film on Turning a pedal bike into a balance bike and information on Buying a balance bike and what to look out for.
At the end of each set of games, there is a series of Challenges to successfully complete. Once you have successfully completed the challenges, log on and register to access certificates.
Take the stabilisers off, and then use our guide to take the pedals off the bike, then work through the Skills 2 Ride – Balance games until they are really confident scooting and gliding. Make this stage fun; it will last as long as it needs to. Once you are ready, use our 'transition' advice to put the pedals back on and have a go at pedalling again.
Whether it’s a spin in the back garden, splashing through puddles in the park or tearing around a local pump track, cycling is an essential part of growing up.
Embracing this approach, we created the HSBC UK Go-Ride programme – with over 350 children’s cycling clubs helping thousands of young people enjoy the freedom of cycling and develop lifelong skills.
Local kids’ cycling clubs are fantastic places to get out on a bike, with expert coaching, a gang of riding buddies and access to some amazing cycling facilities. Sessions are often weekly, plus we run cycling holiday camps where youngsters can spend the entire day on two wheels!
Read more at britishcycling.org.uk
You can find a club here.
