Cycling instructor Marilyn Northcotte coaches a student
through a riding skills exercise

Cycle Training

Our Vision

To see cycle training available to every New Zealander who wishes to ride safely and with confidence on our roads.

Cycle Training Network

• Learning how to cycle properly makes cycling more enjoyable and safer for everyone – children, adults and other road users.
• CAN’s network of professional cycling trainers aims to promote best practice cycle training.

What is cycle training?

Whatever your age, ability or background, cycle training offers something for everyone – whether you cannot ride a bike at all, are returning to cycling after a break or are a regular cyclist who wants to develop their skills further.

Cycle training works

An evaluation of the Christchurch City Council’s Cycle Safe Programme showed that trained students were significantly more likely to ride their cycles to school after completing training.

Cyclists trained by Cycle Training UK were surveyed on how the training had affected their cycle use. 81% said that they now cycled more often and more confidently.

Looking for a cycle trainer?

Contact us: cycletraining@can.org.nz and we can put you in touch with a trainer in your area.

Discussion forum

If you are a cycle trainer, join our discussion forum, at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cycletrainingnetwork/

The aim of this forum is to share best practice and discuss issues related to teaching people to ride bikes.

About national standards for cycle training

In a project led by Land Transport New Zealand, national standards are being introduced. CAN is represented on the advisory board.

About us

CAN members Marilyn Northcotte, Patrick Morgan and Simon Kennett are experienced, qualified cycle skills trainers. They have been teaching cycling skills to adults and children for more than 10 years.

Marilyn says she's keen to get more people cycling more often. Her background includes teaching Kiwi Cycling courses, managing Go By Bike Day events, consulting on cycle training, and running high performance cycling programmes …

Patrick is on a mission to share the fun and convenience of cycling. In 2007 he completed instructor training from Cycle Training UK. He has co-authored mountain bike guidebooks, written a guide for cycle-friendly employers, and led cycle tours.

Simon helped develop the NZQA unit standards for off-road cycling and cycle touring. He has run numerous training courses for off-road cycling skills and bicycle maintenance at Whitereia Polytechnic, Wellington Community Education Centre, and privately over a fifteen year period. He has helped establish many cycling events, including the BikeWise Kids Mountain Bike Jams series.

Simon is available to teach basic bicycle maintenance, and off-road cycling skills.

Last updated: Wednesday, 17 October, 2007