Your Cycling Journey in Harrow
Whether you are learning to ride for the first time or looking to build up to longer rides, Harrow Cycle Hub (HCH) offers activities and support to help you develop your cycling.
This pathway suggests seven stages, from learning to ride through to completing a 20-mile ride. Each stage describes what you might aim to achieve and the activities that can help you get there.
You don't have to follow the stages rigidly. If you can already ride, simply start at the stage that suits you. You can also return to earlier stages whenever you need extra support.
If you are following British Cycling's Sofa to Saddle programme, you can use HCH activities alongside it to practise your skills and gain experience riding with others.
Don't forget to subscribe to the Harrow Cycle Hub newsletter to be kept informed of future courses, rides and other activities.
The pathway will make you a more self-sufficient rider meaning that you can prepare appropriately, carry what you need, manage your own pace and deal with common minor problems, while still enjoying the support and companionship of a group.
Please remember a few points:
- The courses fees will be clear when you book
- Bike hire is available for courses, Beginner rides and Improver rides and fees will be clear when you book
- The activities on Let's Ride are free
- All the activities are delivered by volunteers. Any fees go towards bike purchase, bike maintenance and other costs incurred by the charity
The aim is simple: to help you enjoy cycling, build confidence and discover what you can achieve.
1. Learn to Ride
Outcome: Can balance, pedal, steer, start and stop independently in a safe traffic-free environment.
Activity: Harrow Cycle Hub provides learn to ride courses. These are bookable through their website.
2. Confidence Building
Outcome: Can confidently use the bike's gears and brakes to control the bike in a range of basic situations in a safe traffic-free environment.
Activity: Harrow Cycle Hub provides confidence builder courses where you learn basic skills. These are bookable through their website.
3. First Group Ride
Outcome: Can ride comfortably with other cyclists on a short, supported ride which will involve roads and light traffic.
Activity: Register yourself on the Let's Ride platform and join the Harrow Cycle Hub group on Let's Ride.
Activity: At the completion of the Confidence Builder course HCH arrange a short introductory group ride which will be tailored for new riders. If you are unable to attend you can join a Beginner ride and notify the ride leader that this is your first group ride so you get the right level of support.
4. Beginner Rider
Outcome: Can ride 3–7 miles comfortably with others, including dealing with road junctions, gentle inclines and light traffic in a confident and consistent way.
Activity: Join a Beginner ride using the Let's Ride platform. The ride name will vary but will start with the word "Beginner". Saturday at 2pm is the usual time slot.
Activity: Attend a Dr Bike session to get your bike checked and get advice. These are usually held at 1pm on a Saturday before the 2pm Beginner rides and are bookable on Let's Ride.
Activity: Join a Beginner Ride With Coaching where the first part of the session will cover a skill. You can request a skill to work on such as gears. Some skills are suggested below.
5. Improver Rider
Outcome: Can comfortably and confidently ride 6–15 miles over a range of terrain such as hills, compacted gravel paths, busy roads and major junctions.
Activity: Join an Improver ride using the Let's Ride platform. The ride name will vary but will start with the word "Improver". Sunday morning is the usual time slot with a variable start time.
Activity: If there is a specific area you feel you need help with message the ride leader (Beginner and Improver rides only) to ask for coaching and they will assist if they feel qualified to do so; not all ride leaders are qualified coaches.
Activity: Self study on group ride etiquette.
Activity: Self study on improving your bike skills.
Activity: As you improve you can make a note of the speed, distance, hills, stops and terrain affect how demanding the ride feels. Your ride leader should be able to tell you the speed. You can use this to check that future rides will be suitable for you by checking the ride description and if you are unsure contact the ride leader.
6. Self-Sufficient Rider
Outcome: Can prepare for a longer ride and deal with basic problems yourself, including fixing a dropped chain and repairing a puncture.
Activity: Read up on cycling accessories to ensure you can carry spare clothing, tools, water and snacks.
Activity: Read the full content of the rides you join on Let's Ride including any conversation. This will provide good information on what to take and the information will change with the seasons!
Activity: Harrow Cycle Hub provides a puncture repair course bookable through their website. These last around 2 hours and you get to practice on your own bike. Punctures happen and this can ruin your ride if you are not prepared.
Activity: Practice changing an inner tube until you feel confident.
Activity: Practice putting a dropped chain back on until you feel confident.
Activity: Join rides on the Let's Ride platform which could be "Beginner", "Improver" or a general ride of a suitable distance.
7. 20-Mile Rider
Outcome: Can confidently complete a 20-mile ride, managing your pace, bike, food/drink and normal minor problems during the ride.
Activity: Search for rides on the Let's Ride platform of around 20 miles, read the full description and contact the ride leader if unsure about pace, hills, off-road sections or other requirements.