Free cycling lessons for kids

The trickiest balance: helping kids become independent... and stay safe

Parents of primary school age kids are all too familiar with the thirst for independence that characterises the years before ten. All of a sudden everything is about "doing it myself"... which is all very well and good until the 'it' in question is cycling down the road without stabilisers. It's a tricky balance: we don't want to stifle our children, but we don't want to see them get hurt, either. What's a parent to do?

In the case of cycling, at least, we've got an easy answer: free lessons. To celebrate the launch of new Fruit Shoot Hydro, Britvic has teamed up with Cycle Confident to give away free cycling proficiency lessons for kids to ensure they are safe on their bikes this summer.

A parent's primer on Cycle Confident and Bikeability training

Cycle Confident has been providing cycle training since 2007. As a cycle training provider they have the capacity and expertise to deliver National Standards and Bikeability training to a wide range of trainees – children and adults, both able-bodied and with disabilities.

Bikeability training is designed to give the next generation the skills and confidence to ride their bikes on today’s roads. Courses encourage kids to learn, practice and enjoy Bikeability training. Children finish the course with skills of safe cycling and happy memories of using the bicycle. 

Here's how it all works

200 two-hour lessons will be offered in each of the following locations, with courses in Scotland running Monday-Friday from 8 August, and all other courses running Monday-Friday from 22 August:

• Aberdeen
• Kilmarnock
• Blackpool
• Bristol
• Cambridge
• Colchester
• Doncaster
• Durham
• Gatwick
• Leeds
• Manchester
• Milton Keynes
• Newcastle upon Tyne
• Norwich
• Nottingham
• Osterley
• Peterborough
• Plymouth
• Reading
• Rugby
• Swansea

We anticipate lots of interest in these lessons so we're giving them away on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve your child's lesson, please email fruitshootcycling@getsavvy.com and clearly state (a) how many kids you would like to register, and (b) which location(s) is most convenient for you. 

If there are still slots available in your location, we'll send you a code you can use to register on the Cycle Confident website to book the specific time of your kids' course. Lessons last two hours and there will be a maximum of 12 kids in each group. 

Well, what are you waiting for? On your bike!