This is the entry point into the OBC’s training – The clinic is highly recommended for all new members.
Want to be a safer, more confident cyclist? There are three critical subject areas which will improve your safety and confidence on the road:
Being prepared: how to do basic mechanical checks to make sure your bike is safe and reliable, and what to bring with you on a ride.
Traffic Safety – The rules of the road, and how a cyclist should ride to stay safe… this course will the cover basic traffic safety on the open road.
Riding Skills – Basic skills to ride safely and stay “rubber side down”:
The Basic Riding Skills clinic introduces riders to a set of basic skills and knowledge to help them ride with confidence and stay safe. The clinics accommodates cyclists with a wide range of skills and experience – cyclists new to cycle touring or a rider with decades of experience – everyone will get value and learn from participation.
What to Expect at a Basic Riding Skills Clinic?
The focus is on “awareness rather than mastery” – it covers a lot of ground in a short session. The clinic will:
Introduce riding skills as “a thing” that’s worth being aware of and practicing for building confidence, comfort, and safety
Raise awareness as to how our riding affects our riding safely, and our impact on other road users.
Encourage a “learning culture” where everyone is comfortable talking about skills, procedures, and equipment within the group as a way of “raising our game” to be more comfortable and safer on the road.
We want you to approach the clinic “like a kid”:
The emphasis is on fun, and play, and “trying stuff”. We will challenge you to push your skills a little, but we won’t be bugging you to do things you are not comfortable with.
Be curious, think about why we do things the way we do. Ask questions!
Fun, simple, on-bike drills to help improve your riding.
Easy riding at a slower pace. No fast or “hairy” stuff. Much of the session will be in a parking lot.
Each drill will have a range of “progressions”, or levels. There is a very basic version for someone new to the skill, and a range of more challenging versions. Most of the drills we do are done individually or in pairs so different people can use different versions of the drill at the same time. If you are brand new, we have you covered. If you are an experienced, high-skilled cyclist, we can still challenge you. It’s up to you to decide your own comfort zone and challenge level. We expect “nervous beginners”. And we really encourage experienced “high skills” riders to attend and practice their skills…. everyone will learn something new.
Lots of discussion and interaction – there will be lots of time to ask questions and have discussions around riding skills, appropriate cycling equipment, traffic safety, etc., with a focus on staying safe on the road.
Small class size: Maximum 10 people per session, if there is demand, we’ll add more sessions.
Is there more information?
Clinic dates: Clinics will be announced in a club announcement post. You can also check the OBC Calendar for specific clinic dates.
Location: The locations for clinics may vary. We often hold the clinics at the Experimental Farm. The location will be provided in the calendar entry for the specific session.
Contact the Education Director for more information.
How do I prepare for a clinic?
Be an OBC member. The fastest and easiest way is to complete your application on-line. For insurance reasons, non-members cannot take part in OBC group clinics.
Sign Up. Please preregister for the clinic. Registration instructions will be in the OBC Calendar entry for the clinic, and in the announcement advertising specific clinics.
Bring your bicycle and make sure it is in good shape - brakes and shifters working, tires inflated, spare tube or patch kit available, water bottle topped up, kickstand removed. Bring a snack. [The water bottle is important; we will be using it in a drill!]
Dress for the season. It can be chilly in the first few weeks of the clinic schedule, so be sure to dress appropriately.
Come with your questions! Pretty much anything about bike handling, technique, riding procedures, and traffic safety is fair game. Especially the “what should I do when” kind of question.
Because we are doing bike handling drills, it’s better (but not essential) that you don’t have heavy or loose packs/panniers on your bike.