Reading residents are being offered free cycling lessons for all ages and abilities, following Reading Council's Active Travel Scheme. 

Funded by Reading Council and delivered by Avanti Cycling, the sessions will be run in several locations across Reading, including Palmer Park, Prospect Park and the Weller Centre in Caversham.

The sessions are being sponsored by Reading Council and Cycling UK charity.

Reading Council member of staff, Victoria Nickless, said: “This is just one of the many ways we are hoping to encourage more people to cycle more, alongside the cycle lanes we are building along Shinfield Road and soon along the Bath Road, the new cycle hub in town opening this year and our walking and cycling maps.

“This is a partnership with Avanti Cycling, who deliver the cycle sessions for us. We funded them last year and they were so successful, we are now funding this year too. The courses range from complete beginners, to people who are just a bit rusty, to those wanting more confidence going out on the roads. They run at several locations, including Palmer Park, Prospect Park and the Weller Centre in Caversham. Avanti even have bikes people can hire if they don’t yet have their own.”

Read more - VIDEO: Sections of cycling lane in Reading nearing completion

The sessions are designed to help people of all ages and abilities:

  • Learn to ride a bike - Trained instuctors will help you learn from scratch. There is no age restriction, the instructors have taught four-year-olds to adults in retirement.
  • Building confidence for rusty riders - These sessions are for people who want to get back on a bike after many years. It will build skills and confidence – progressing from a training area such as a park to quiet neighbourhood roads before riding on routes with more traffic. 
  • Family group riding - Enjoy quality time as a family and learn useful skills, such as shepherding a young rider.

Avanti Cycling are also working with Reading Bicycle Kitchen to provide hands-on training in how to carry out minor repairs on your bike.

These sessions last around two hours and cover brakes, tyres, gears and punctures as well as basic maintenance tasks.