Consumer Expert Shares How To Save £225 On Cycling Tuition
- Learning to ride a bike or getting professional tuition can be expensive
- There are schemes across the UK offering free lessons
- Latest Deals reveals how to find these courses and save £100s
Learning to ride a bike can be nerve-wracking if you haven’t ever tried it before. However, the prices can be off-putting if you browse for classes and tuition fees. It can be easy to sign up for a course with an instructor you find on Google, particularly if you are feeling embarrassed that you can’t yet ride a bike, but there’s no need to pay out for this tuition.
Tom Church, Co-Founder of money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘There are many benefits to cycling more, whether it’s saving on petrol or improving your heart health. If you aren’t confident on a bike, there are plenty of ways to get free or cheap tuition - you just have to know where to look. Here are some of the best ways to get out on the road, free of charge.’
Save £225 On London Tuition - Try These Free Cycling Classes
London is easily one of the most expensive places to learn cycling. For example, the Bike Happy Learn to Ride course is priced at £225 for 2.5 hours of tuition. Although you’re getting a tailored session in a choice of locations including Battersea Park, Hyde Park and the Olympic Park, this price could pay for a small holiday. Similarly, Pedal Project is offering a course for children - where they learn over three one-hour sessions - in locations such as Wembley, Camden, Guildford and Catford, but the pricing is between £115 and £139. Are there any ways to get this training without the huge bill to go with it?
Fortunately, there are plenty of options if you know where to look. For example, Transport For London offers Cycle Skills training across all boroughs. Use the online form to pick your location, then you will be directed to the relevant provider. For example, if you select City of London, you can learn for free with Cycle Confident. They offer basic, urban and advanced training. Currently, training is available for those in Barnet, Westminster, Enfield, Haringey, Havering, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Greenwich, Kensington & Chelsea, Southwark and Waltham Forest. If you would prefer to learn online, TfL also offers an online course to help you brush up on your skills.
Avoid £40 Courses In Manchester With These Free Training Options
Don’t worry if you’re based in the North of England and keep seeing courses that will cost you more than you want to pay. For example, NCA Northwest provides 1-2-1 lessons with qualified instructors where they tailor each session to the individual, but an hour costs £40 and this may not be an option for some people.
Fortunately, there are options for those who want to learn to ride or fix their bicycle which doesn’t come with a fee. For example, Transport for Greater Manchester provides free beginner’s cycle training for those who are either new to cycling or haven’t set foot near a cycle in many years. Sessions are run in small groups and these courses include basic maneuvers as well as how to check your bike before you get pedaling. Those who don’t have their own bike can use one which is provided, and sessions last two hours. Plus, the scheme provides other courses such as Road Rider Ready, one-to-one sessions, family confidence training, women-only courses and rides, and bike maintenance courses.
Learn For Free With £5 Refundable Deposit In Bristol - Save £115
If you’re based in Bristol, you may have browsed adult cycle training and seen sites such as Bike Bristol, which provide an hour of learning for £45. There are bikes available to borrow without charge, and the lessons use progressive techniques to get learners comfortable with their balance control and confidence during rides. On-road training is also available, with the recommended package being two lots of 1.5 hours for £115. However, this may not be a financially viable option for some people.
A budget-friendly alternative can be found with Life Cycle UK. This scheme provides free one-to-one lessons for adults residing in the West of England. Instructors will work to build up riders’ confidence in the area they are targeting, such as finding a safe route to work or building up experience with cycling on the road. It’s recommended that riders bring their own roadworthy bikes, but if they don’t have one then they may be able to assist. Those in Bristol, North Somerset, and Somerset are able to claim up to three one-hour lessons free of charge.
Save More With These Discount Codes
Read More Money Saving Guides
It's funny I think I just assume all adults can cycle assuming they had a bicycle as a child but I guess many don't have that skill.
I think some cycles are harder to cycle than others. I think small wheels can be more twitchy and harder to cycle and lightweight bikes I find less stable. When I used to commute to work by bicycle I found the heavier bike I had was more stable especially as part of the route was completely open area dual carriageway with some strong winds.