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.
Burgess Park, Southwark, London
Book hereWe run free women only and family learn-to-ride sessions in Burgess Park, Southwark behind Giraffe House, by the BMX track. We also run instructor-led rides for beginners.
We have bikes and helmets to borrow at this location.
Women only learn-to-ride: Fridays 09:30-11:00
Women only instructor-led beginner ride: Fridays 11:30-14:00
Family learn-to-ride: Saturdays and Sundays 10:00-11:30 and 11:30-13:00
Family instructor-led beginner ride: Saturdays and Sundays 13:30-15:00
Family sessions run on Saturdays and Sundays during term time and everyday (except Fridays) during school holidays.
Family learn-to-ride sessions and beginner rides are open to all, including adults without children.
You must stay with your child throughout the session. Young people over 16 are allowed to come on their own. Riders who arrive more than 15 minutes after the start of an instructor-led ride will not be able to join the ride.
Andover Estate, Islington, London
We run free women only learn-to-ride sessions in the sports area on the corner of Seven Sisters Road and Sonderburg Road, N7 7RJ.
Women only learn-to-ride: Mondays 09:30-11:00
This is open to all women, not just residents of the Andover Estate.
We have bikes and helmets to borrow at this location.
Somers Town, Camden, London
Book hereWe run free women only learn-to-ride sessions on Thursdays 09:15-11:15 in Somers Town, Camden.
There are bikes and helmets to borrow.
The meeting place is in front of Edith Neville Primary School on Polygon Road.
Rose Hill Community Centre, Oxford
Email usFree adult cycle training sessions at Rose Hill Community Centre from April to July 2025.
JoyRiders Oxford is running free adult cycle training in small groups with women instructors starting Monday 28 April and continuing during term time until the end of July.
The sessions will take place on Monday mornings from 09:30-11:30. Whether you're an absolute beginner or can already pedal and would like to improve your skills and control or join led rides to build your confidence, we have a group that's right for you.
Riders are welcome to come for as many sessions as they need to ride independently.
We can lend you a bike for the training and a helmet should you wish to wear one.
Please email oxford@joyriders.org.uk to register your interest - first come, first served.
Oxford University Hospitals Headington staff cycle training
JoyRiders is currently working with Oxford University Hospitals to enable staff based at Headington sites to learn to ride, and build cycling confidence in those who can already ride a bike.
Cycle skills sessions will be taking place during spring and summer 2025. If you work on-site at the John Radcliffe, Churchill or NOC and would like to find out more about this opportunity, please e-mail hereforhealth@ouh.nhs.uk
What to expect
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 or 2 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. Please try to arrive on time for the session starting.
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 come 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.
For more information about our learn-to-ride sessions, what to expect, what to bring and what to wear, visit our FAQ page.
Accessibility information
There are bikes available to borrow at all of our sessions. We have a range of sizes to suit adult 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. We would like to be able to use adapted bikes at our sessions. If you would like to donate a bike or storage space, email us at the link below.
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.
Learn to ride yourself:
Learn to Ride
Bike Safety Check
Steering
Emergency Stops, Looking Backward, Signaling
Using Gears
Starting a Journey by Bicycle
Turning Left
Turning Right
Using Cycle Paths
Safe Road Positioning