Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Topic started by: hatler on 14 April, 2008, 03:53:49 am

Title: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: hatler on 14 April, 2008, 03:53:49 am
OK. Say 'Aye' if you have done the Cycle Instructors' Training Course to the current national standard.

Just so's I know where/who you all are.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: Adam on 14 April, 2008, 07:10:03 am
No, but I'm looking to do this.  I've just found that Luton Council are looking for ad-hoc trainers, so I've just got to fill out the application form to start the process.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: orienteer on 14 April, 2008, 04:52:37 pm
 :thumbsup: Been instructing for a year now, mainly schoolkids for the council, but also some private work.

Why do you want to know?
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: hatler on 14 April, 2008, 06:44:31 pm
:thumbsup: Been instructing for a year now, mainly schoolkids for the council, but also some private work.

Why do you want to know?
For no reason other than to get an idea of how many there are on here.

If this DIY board develops enough 'mass' and it starts getting used for helping instructors find co-instructors, then the 'where ?' bit of the question will come in handy.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: woollypigs on 14 April, 2008, 06:53:58 pm
Aye
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: oldcobblers on 14 April, 2008, 06:56:18 pm
Aye!

Working with adults in the Bath area.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: Marmitegeoff on 17 April, 2008, 08:47:39 pm
Aye

working with Adults and children in the Midlands, on a part time basis.

Geoff
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: keepontriking on 17 April, 2008, 08:53:16 pm
Yes.
2000 trainee sessions last year.

lf anyone wants some work in the Hampshire area please get in touch.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: Dave on 18 April, 2008, 08:07:32 am
No, but I'm looking to do this.  I've just found that Luton Council are looking for ad-hoc trainers, so I've just got to fill out the application form to start the process.

Have you got a linky for this? I'm living in Luton and this sounds interesting...
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: Wascally Weasel on 18 April, 2008, 02:21:17 pm
No but looking into this too.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: Adam on 19 April, 2008, 02:02:30 pm
No, but I'm looking to do this.  I've just found that Luton Council are looking for ad-hoc trainers, so I've just got to fill out the application form to start the process.

Have you got a linky for this? I'm living in Luton and this sounds interesting...

Go onto this search link (http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/jobs_and_careers) on their web site.  Click on search for a job, and type in cycle trainer.  Sadly, the application form link that appears doesn't seem to work.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: Wowbagger on 01 June, 2008, 06:37:18 pm
I used to be an Instructor and Examiner for National Cycling Proficiency and still have the badges on one of my saddlebags to prove it!

Probably doesn't count any more...
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: Zoidburg on 03 April, 2009, 02:15:42 am
Just applied for a job on the council cycling city project so it will be part of the job if I get it. As part of the recycling project I do teach others the mechanical side and real world advice on bikes and equipment ,single speed and fixed has proved surprisingly popular!
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: Wendy on 03 April, 2009, 07:58:46 am
I did the same course as Woolly, but never went on to teaching.  I think I have my hands full with skating.  Really good course, I've taken some of the stuff and put it in my skate instruction.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: Ariadne on 03 April, 2009, 08:01:31 am
Me too. Though I haven't done any teaching for over a year - but I will get back into it
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: Speshact on 07 April, 2009, 05:28:32 pm
Aye - South and Central London.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: disrail on 28 April, 2009, 02:44:07 pm
Only half accredited. Will be getting my full accreditation shortly. I hope to get some flexible hours working with adults and children sometime soon in the north west.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: disrail on 29 April, 2009, 12:49:00 pm
Going to do my PCA (what does this stand for?) in two weeks to become an full national standards instructor. It will be the first time I've had to teach kids, as we taught the other attendees on the course previously, who pretended, and did a very good job of being, 10 year olds.

I've got a sneaking suspicion that real 10 year olds are better behaved. I've worked as a climbing wall instructor for many years and am also a Level 1 Ultimate frisbee coach, so hopefully have enough experience with the little darlings. Hope i don't loose my cool though when a bus or bin lorry approaches the training area.....
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: orienteer on 29 April, 2009, 03:35:13 pm
Most 10/11 year olds (years 5 and 6 in education jargon) are OK. They enjoy being out on their bikes, especially if they are missing maths! Have had a couple of problems with older teenagers messing around, and once took the whole class back to school on the first level 2 session, and had the main culprit removed for the 2nd session. The others were OK without him.

Professional drivers are OK, it's speeding mums that are the greatest threat. I don't hesitate to step out and wave them to slow down if they're a threat.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: gordon taylor on 08 May, 2009, 08:29:43 pm
Perhaps this should be in the "good news" thread?

My employer (a high school designated as a specialist sports college) has agreed to pay all £490 + VAT for my instructor course in the summer. They'll get the £300 bursary refund eventually, but the decision saves me a big wodge of money up front.

The money comes from a community cohesion fund (I think) with the view that if I run courses for kids and parents in the future it will be a GOOD THING.

Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: gordon taylor on 31 July, 2009, 08:33:57 pm
I've just done four days with Bikeright in Manchester and am now a provisional Bikeability instructor. I need to be formally observed teaching real trainees, to a good standard, in the next six months to achieve the full pass.

The course was excellent and I can strongly recommend it. My only comment (about the other students, not the organiser) was that I was surprised at the proportion of non-regular-cyclists among us. The data sheet at the beginning had 20+ miles a week as the maximum tickbox choice. Mind you, there wasn't any correllation between instructing competence and cycling mileage. Some of the grizzly all-weather commuters were too easily distracted into droning on about SPDs and Brooks saddles....  :-[    ::-)

Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: jellied on 01 August, 2009, 06:06:40 pm
I've just finished my training - hard work but very well presented.

I too was quite surprised at the lack of knowledge of some of the trainees; mechanical, on-road ability, awareness of current issues etc.

I was also surprised firstly how basic BikeAbility appears at first, but then as the course progressed how wonderfully simple and effective it becomes. So logical - slow cycle skill in lesson one used in later drills such as creeping over a give-way line.

Keen to start to do something but not easy with a full time job already.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: woollypigs on 01 August, 2009, 06:49:02 pm
Good on you both, Gordy and Jellied.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: juliet on 03 December, 2009, 09:33:42 am
I'm now working as a cycle instructor for the same org as Woolly :)  Still provisional, but I've been signed off by my mentors now so I guess at some point soon will be observed to get full status.

Final lesson with my first schools group is tomorrow!  How quickly time passes ekt ekt.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: clarion on 03 December, 2009, 09:43:50 am
Brilliant.  Glad it's going well.  As I said, I think you'd be good at getting the messages across, and a good role model, too. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: woollypigs on 03 December, 2009, 04:51:10 pm
I'm now working as a cycle instructor for the same org as Woolly :) 
And yet we haven't worked together. I'm in the north, west and sometimes in the south (yes I know that side of the river). Where Juliet is else where.
Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: juliet on 03 December, 2009, 06:20:58 pm
Well, so far I've worked in Hackney & Lambeth - but have only been there a month or so anyway!
Title: Welwyn Garden City schools training
Post by: JohnP on 22 January, 2010, 03:12:55 pm
Is anybody from yacf involved with schools in WGC?

Saw a wonderfull site this afternnon - between 12 - 15 young kids out on the public roads being trained.  Well dressed, well behaved.

Great advert for training and a great advert of the TRAINERS.

Title: Re: Hands up - cycle instructors
Post by: Auntie Helen on 23 January, 2010, 10:24:25 am
I and my husband are both Bikeability instructors here in East Anglia (we cover Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich and further afield) and I am the administrator for those regions for the cycling company for which we work.

As a cycle instructor you get nice long holidays! We've done nothing at all this month but it all kicks off again shortly.