Learn to ride with JoyRiders

JoyRiders run free learn-to-ride sessions for adults and children in London and Oxford. Sessions are run by qualified instructors and are suitable for complete beginners as well as people getting back on their bike after a long break.

At your first learn-to-ride session, one of our trained instructors will tick you off the register and help you find a bike that's the right size for you.

If you need help getting onto the bike, an instructor will help you. You might find it uncomfortable at first, but we promise it gets better!

Every instructor has a different way of teaching. You'll probably start with practicing some balancing and then move on to pedalling. For some people, this happens straight away and for others it might take a few sessions to get used to.

Sessions are in small groups with people of different abilities. Instructors will help people individually and lots of people tend to do their own thing after a few sessions.

Sessions are usually 1.5 hours, but you don't need to stay for the full session. We will take regular breaks and you can take a break whenever you want.

What to bring

We have plenty of bikes and helmets at our learn-to-ride sessions, so you don't have to bring your own (but you can if you want!)

If it is your first session, you should try to arrive a little bit early, as our training spaces can be quite difficult to find.

Bring some water and a snack, sun cream in the summer and an extra layer you can easily put on/take off in the winter.

Check the weather because we'll be riding in rain or shine.

You should wear clothes that you feel comfortable moving in and shoes like trainers. Please remember that you will warm up when you get going, so make sure you can put on or take off any extra layers easily.

Please don't wear heels, flip-flops or sliders.

Accessibility information

There are bikes available to borrow at all of our sessions. We have a range of sizes to suit learners and riders typically 5'2" (155cm) to 6'0" (182cm). In some places we have a wider variety.

In Burgess Park we also have children's bikes and toddler-sized balance bikes available to borrow.

The bikes we use have been kindly donated by generous supporters or belong to the local council.

All of our bikes are conventional, two-wheeled bikes with a conventional saddle. Regretfully, we don't have any trikes or bikes that have been adapted to suit riders with one or both sided paralysis, a need for core stability support or any recumbent bikes. If you would like to try a wider range of bikes, we recommend contacting our friends at Wheels for Wellbeing.

If you have any questions about whether we have a bike suitable for you, please email us at info@joyriders.org.uk or send us a message on WhatsApp.

Our learn-to-ride sessions are made possible due to funding from Southwark, Islington and Camden councils.

Bike Safety Check

Steering

Emergency Stops, Looking Backward, Signaling

Starting a Journey by Bicycle

Turning Left

Turning Right

Safe Road Positioning