New York Bicycling Coalition (NYBC) #2017bikesummit

1. September 14,
2017
Teaching first-time cyclists

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Bike New York promotes and encourages
responsible, skilled bicycling as a practical, safe,
and healthy means of transportation and
recreation.
We reach thousands of New Yorkers and more
through the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour and
similar events, a range of free education classes
including on-bike learning, and partnerships with
community organizations.
Bike New York

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Target Audiences
• Since 2011 over 18,000 people have attended a Bike New York Learn to
Ride Class
• Women: 79% of adult participants are women

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Target Audiences
• Low income, immigrant, and refugee populations
• Children and families: Learn to Ride makes a great family event.
• Active Living & Anti-obesity programs

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Providing Bikes
• BYO Bike and helmet. This works with kids classes in middle & upper
income neighborhoods; not well in low income neighborhoods
• Adults who don’t know how to ride are unlikely to own a bike; Bike New
York provides bikes & helmets for teen/adult classes.
• Having bikes that are inappropriate, wrong size, or in poor condition is
sometimes an issue with BYOBike

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Marketing
• Who is your target audience (kids? immigrants? Low – income? Women?)
• How do you reach them and make them aware you are offering class?
• DO work with community partners interested in working with your target
audience and spreading the word.

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What you need for a Learn to Ride Class
Large Flat Paved Space

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What you need for Learn to Ride

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What you need for Learn to Ride
Volunteers

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30 minutes before class
• -Arrive 30-45 minutes early; hang banner;
locate waivers, name tags, pens, clip board,
helmets, first aid kit.
• -Remove bikes and line them up by size
small - large;
• -Remove pedals from bikes and store them
in “Left/Right” buckets.
• -ensure that the instructor and all volunteers are
wearing Bike New York t-shirts; Volunteer
sign-in sheet!

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30 minutes before class

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30 minutes before class

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Class sequence
• Set up pre-ride activities in stations for LTR-K:
Waivers – pedals/seat/training wheels – pump
tires – Helmet fitting
• Go through Helmet fitting/ bike selection/fitting
at the start of class for LTR-Adults.

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Remove training wheels
• Use adjustable or 15mm wrench
• Remove only one axle nut at a time to keep
wheel centered & chain tight.
• Give training wheels to parents.

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Lower the seat
Loosen the bolt at the top of the
frame (where the seatpost goes into
the frame) to raise and lower the
seat. It may have a standard hex bolt
(use a regular wrench) or an allen
bolt (a six-sided hole requiring an
allen wrench).
Counter-clockwise to loosen
Clockwise to tighten
If the bike frame has a quick-release
lever, just flip the lever open to move
the seat.

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Remove Pedals
Right Pedal
For best leverage in removing the
pedal, position the crank arm and
pedal to point forward. Attach the
wrench to the pedal flats to point
backward (more or less), so that you
can push down on the wrench to
loosen the pedal.
Counter-clockwise to loosen
Clockwise to tighten

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Remove Pedals
Left Pedal
Left Pedals are always
reverse-threaded:
Clockwise to loosen
Counter-clockwise to tighten
For best leverage position the crank
and pedal to point forward. Position
the wrench on the pedal flats so it
points backward (more or less).
Push down on the wrench to loosen.

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Remove Pedals
Left Pedal
Left Pedals are always
reverse-threaded:
Clockwise to loosen
Counter-clockwise to tighten
For best leverage position the crank
and pedal to point forward. Position
the wrench on the pedal flats so it
points backward (more or less).
Push down on the wrench to loosen.

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Helmet Fitting
• The front of the helmet should cover your
forehead, not tilt back. The helmet should
be one or two fingers’ widths from your
eyebrows.
• If the helmet tilts back, tighten the fore
strap and loosen the back straps.
• The fore and back straps meet at a side
buckle, and should form a V right below the
ear lobe.
• Adjust the chin strap so that it is snug but
comfortable. You should be able to fit only
one to two fingers between the strap and
your chin when the strap is properly
adjusted. Always buckle the chin strap
while cycling.

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Select Bikes (LTR-Adults)
• Line bikes up by height after pedals are
removed.
• Line adults up by height in the same order
as the bike sizes (ie: shortest on left to
tallest on right).
• Assign students to pick out specific sizes of
bikes.

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Balance First Method
• Always explain AND demonstrate what
you are explaining.
• Sit on the saddle, with feet resting flat
on the ground
• Keep look at an object in the distance
(not at the ground in front of the bike).
• Scoot the bike forward with your feet;
pick up some speed.
• When the bike has some speed, lift
your feet off the ground & coast/roll.
• Steer in the direction that you lean.
• You can put a foot (or both feet down)
to prevent a fall.

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Balance First Method
• Don’t replace pedals until student can demonstrate
coasting along in a straight line, under control, without
putting a foot down.

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Re-install Pedals
WARNING: Installing the pedals
incorrectly (wrong side or
cross-threaded) can be VERY
dangerous to cyclists.
Make sure left goes in left crank
and right goes in right crank (L &
R when seated on the bike looking
forward).
Left is reverse threaded
(counter-clockwise to screw in).
Both pedals thread towards the
front of the bike.
Use the wrench for final tightening
of pedals (don’t use massive
force!)

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Introduce Pedaling
• Always explain AND demonstrate what
you are explaining.
• Demonstrate same method as
balancing without pedals:
• Sit on seat; feet flat on the ground;
look ahead; push the bike along with
one’s feet, picking up speed.
• When the bike has some speed, lift the
feet and put them on the pedals
• Most people will start pedaling on their
own at his point.

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Introduce Pedaling
• SOME PROBLEMS:
• 1. Seat is too low; students can bring
their knee through the top of the pedal
stroke. Solution: Raise the seat 1-2”
• 2. Coaster Brakes: Student puts first
foot on the back pedal, activates the
brake & stops the bike. Solution:
Show students to put first foot on the
front pedal.

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b Bike Maintenance 101– Learn how to keep your bike rolling!
b
b TD Five Boro Bike Tour, Discover Hudson Valley, Twin Lights rides
produced by Bike New York
b Volunteer with Bike New York for an event or an education class!
b NYC Century and various Borough Tours by Transportation
Alternatives
b Local Bike Clubs: Five Boro Bike Club, Social Cycling NYC, WE
Bike
b Whatever you do…
Grab Life by the Handlebars
What’s next?
Bike New York Classes

29. Thank You
www.bike.nyc