[bikeqld] RE: Teaching new riders about gears?

[Cycling Promotion Fund]

Hi Anthony et. al, 

I did Bicycle Education training a year or so ago and can well remember
being taught about gears. 

The trainer got us on a large outside paved court, and had us ride around in
a circle, in a gear we felt comfortable in. For those who didn't know how to
find the right gear, he made suggestions and put it in what would presumably
be an OK gear. Then he got us, while still riding, to change up a gear in
the small chain ring and see how that felt, then again, then again. Then we
got it back to the right one and he got us to move down to feel what that
felt like. 

When we were in the 'correct' gear he talked about cadence and how many
revolutions per minute we should be doing. I'm pretty sure he said 70. He
had the clock and we did the counting. If we weren't doing 70, we were to
change our gears until we did (all the while, riding round and around in a
circle). 

This exercise is meant for school children, so I'm not sure if your wife
will agree to it. I was amazed by how many of the teachers hadn't ridden in
ages and much of this was a revelation to them.

I also teach adults to ride bikes from scratch and am certain that the
cyclists who don't indicate when turning and don't change gears are those
that don't have the confidence to keep their balance, pay attention on the
road and do an extra activity. That's simply requires practice. Make sure
you ride with those people as much as possible to enable their confidence
and stability to grow.

Hope that helps.

Happy cycling,


Kathy Brunning
Executive Assistant, Cycling Promotion Fund
PO Box 3052 Auburn Victoria 3123
Ph 03-9818-5400 Fax 03-9818-4535
www.rideabike.com.au
An initiative of the Bicycling Industry in Australia