Year 5/6 children at schools in the Kennington area may be offered Bikeability (cycling proficiency) training this term. Hopefully this guide may help more pupils participate, and get more out of the course.
Getting a bike
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Correct size:
6 – 9/10 year olds will feel at home with a bike with 20 inch wheels; bikes
with 24 inch wheels will suit those aged 9/10 to 12. Children must be able to
touch the ground with the balls of both feet.
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A suitable bike: make sure it’s in roadworthy condition. Mudguards are
recommended. Suspension and lots of gears aren’t needed to cycle in north
Lambeth, and many pupils prefer a lighter bike.
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Buying a second-hand child’s bike:
A) Ask neighbours or parents of older children.
B) Local shops (inclusion does not equal a
recommendation!):
http://www.re-cycling.co.uk/ 110 Elephant Road, SE17 1LB. 020 7703 7001
Bob’s Cycles at 9 John Ruskin Street, SE5 0NS. 020
7708 0599
C) Covent Garden Car Boot Sale http://www.saundersmarkets.co.uk/New_Covent_Garden_Car_Boot_Sale.html
D)
Online on https://www.gumtree.com/bicycles/london and http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Bikes-/177831/i.html
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Buying a new child’s bike:
www.Decathlon.co.uk – a good place to start with, in my view
Southside
Shopping Centre, Wandsworth, SW18 4TF. 020 8870 5135
and
Canada
Water Retail Park, SE16 2XU. 020 7394 2000
Edwardes
Cycles (see second-hand)
Brixton
Cycles (see second-hand),
http://www.evanscycles.com/ 77-81 The Cut, SE1 8LL 0207 928 4785
http://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/pages/balfes_se11.html 338 Kennington Rd, SE11 4LD 020 7820 0028
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Advice on inclusive cycling for disabled children and
adults:
http://www.wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/ 020 7346 8482
Getting your bike up and running
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All the shops
above service bikes as do http://www.londonbicycle.com/ Shop 2-3, Benson House, Hatfields, SE1 8DQ; most will
allow you to use a pump – and there’s a public pump at the junction of
Kennington Road and Lambeth Road outside the Three Stags pub.
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Adults can learn
basic cycle maintenance skills on an £18 one-day course run near the Oval http://www.cycleconfident.com/courses/maintenance/
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You can maintain
your own bike, with some parts and help available, at the volunteer-run https://56abikespace.wordpress.com/about/ 56a Crampton Street SE17 3AE
Learning to ride
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The courses are
for children who can ride – if a child (or a parent/guardian) can’t yet ride,
free lessons are available from Lambeth http://cycleconfident.com/sponsors/lambeth/
Getting the most out of the course
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Practice your
bike control skills before the course starts – can you look back while going in
a straight line? Can you take a hand off the handlebars for three seconds while
going in a straight line?
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Practice riding locally with your
parents/guardians – If they don’t have a bike, they can borrow one from Lambeth
at the Oval http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/parking-transport-and-streets/cycling/try-before-you-bike-loan-scheme; or use Santander Cycle Hire https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/santander-cycles
