Start here · Essential guide
How to Fall Off a Bike More Safely
Why riders fall, what instructors generally teach about falling, and why no technique can guarantee you avoid injury. A careful overview for beginners.
Riding Skills
Falling and Crashing Safely
Understanding falls, reducing their risk and what to do afterwards.
How to Avoid Low-Speed Tip-Overs
Why riders topple over at junctions and when unclipping from pedals, and how to prepare to stop so a slow-speed wobble does not turn into a fall.
How to Bail Out of a Trick Safely
How riders learn to step off or push the bike away when a trick goes wrong, practised slowly on grass with protection and in small, careful steps.
How to Check Your Bike After a Crash
A careful look at what to inspect on the frame, bars, wheels and brakes after a fall, and when to hand a crashed bike over to a shop for a proper check.
How to Choose a Bike Helmet
Helmet types, why a recognised safety standard label matters, and how to judge fit and comfort, explained without brands or prices for new riders.
How to Choose Protective Gear for Bike Skills
What knee, elbow, glove and body protection are for, and how to judge fit and coverage when practising bike skills, without brand or product picks.
How to Practise Falling on Grass and Soft Ground
Gentle, low-speed drills some instructors use to build familiarity with tucking and rolling on soft ground, with clear limits on what practice can do.
How to Recover from a Skid
What happens when a bike wheel skids, and how to ease off the brakes, stay relaxed and look where you want to go. General guidance for newer riders.
What to Do Right After a Bike Crash
Calm first steps after a fall: checking yourself, getting out of danger, knowing when to seek medical help, and looking over the bike afterwards.
When to Replace a Helmet After a Fall
Why bike helmets are generally designed for a single impact, how damage can hide, and why to follow the manufacturer's guidance on replacing yours.
Why Riders Fall: The Most Common Causes of Bike Crashes
The usual causes of falls, from grabbing the front brake to wet surfaces and obstacles, and how riders can reduce the chance of them happening.
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Balance and Control Staying upright, steering, braking and cornering. Riding Confidence Building calm, capable riding on real roads and paths. Group Riding How to ride safely and smoothly with other cyclists. City Riding Traffic, bike lanes, shared paths and bike share skills. Bike Computers and GPS Using cycling computers, sensors and navigation. Commuting Skills Skills and habits for riding to work and back every day. Cornering How to take bends on road and trail with control. Hands-Free and Limited-Control Riding No hands, one hand, feet and vision skills made safe. Advanced Skills Why advanced skills help in traffic, commuting and groups. Handling Variations Handling skills with different hands, brakes and seats. Riding Technique Body position, pedalling, braking and line-holding fundamentals. Advanced Riding Skills and tricks for experienced riders, with sensible limits. Style and Mastery Polishing skills, style and flow through deliberate practice. Speed, Agility and Flexibility Drills for quicker handling, faster riding and a more supple position. Handling Different Bike Setups How bar width, tyre size, stance and loaded bags change the way a bike handles. Practical Riding Fixes Riding straight, coping with a broken chain and riding well on little money. Reading the Road and Trail Seeing hazards early and choosing where to ride. Gears and Cadence Using the gears smoothly and finding a comfortable pedalling rhythm. Etiquette and Signalling Riding courteously and clearly with others.