Cyclecraft

10. Non-traffic hazards

Bad surfaces
Drains and inspection covers
Level crossings

Tramways
Camber
Slippery surfaces
Pedestrians
Other cyclists
Dogs
Horses
Insects
Fumes
Tiredness
Alcohol and drugs
State of mind

11. Cycling in town

Choosing routes
Traffic-jamming and filtering

Filtering

One-way streets
Shopping streets
Bus lanes
Traffic calming

Width restrictions
Road humps and cushions
Surface treatments
Environmental areas

12. Cycling in the country

Choosing routes
Narrow lanes
Bends on country roads
Hill climbing

How steep a hill can you climb?

Standing on the pedals

Stoppping and restarting

Descending hills

Check your brakes

Check your speed

Hot wheel rims

Are you in the right gear?

Long hills

Zigzags

The joy of the descent

Farms
Vegetation
Cattle grids
Fords
Ferries
Off-road routes

Riding rough tracks

Long rides

Minimising discomfot

Food and drink

13. Cycle paths and other facilities

Segregation

Cycle tracks

Cycle tracks and similar paths away from roads
Vehicular design of cycling infrastructure
Road-side cycle tracks
Shared-use footways

Cycle lanes

With-flow lanes
Contraflow lanes
Hybrid cycle lanes

Flank lanes
Exemptions
Cycle routes
Off-road cycle trails
Road crossings

Purpose-built cycle crossings

Toucan crossings

Other cycle crossings

14. Cycling at night and in all weathers

Cycling in the dark

Steady vs flashing lights

Unlit country roads

Lights of oncoming traffic

Tiredness

Wind
Rain
Thunderstorms
Cold weather, ice and snow

Ice

Snow

Fog and mist
Sun

Part III: Wider horizons

15. Carrying children and goods

Children

Child trailers
Child seats
Tandems and trailer-cycles

Dogs and other pets
Commuting

Pannier bags

Backpacks and shoulder bags

Shopping
Touring

Extra capacity

Specialist equipment
Riding with a trailer
Delivering newspapers

16. Tandems, tricycles and recumbents

Tandems

Riding together
Communication between pilot and stoker
Signalling
An extra brake
Navigating
Gaining proficiency
Moving off
Differences in riding technique
Riding with a visually-impaired stoker
Tandems with children

Tricycles

Advantages

Disadvantages

Learning to ride a tricycle

Recumbent cycles

Riding a recumbent

17. Cycling more often, more widely

Cycling with others
Riding in a group

How close?
Riding along
Road and traffic hazards

Riding with a group of children

Manoeuvring and junctions

Cycling for sport, fun and adventure

Further information

The national cycling organisations
Cycle training resources

Introduction Read this now

Cycling for health, enjoyment and you

How Cyclecraft can help you to cycle well

The National Standard for Cycle Training and Bikeability

Vehicular cycling

Who will benefit from Cyclecraft?

Part I: Before you ride

1. Getting started

Borrowing a bike

Cycle training courses and the National Standard
Where to ride
A structured approach

2. Advice to parents

Having the right attitude

Beware of pavement cycling

The early years

Riding with your children

Your riding position

Approaching busy junctions with children

Growing up

3. A safe and efficient bike

The importance of a good fit

Which type of bike?

Step-through bikes

Cycles for children: don't buy too big!

The parts of a cycle

Frame

Saddle and handlebar

Brakes

Gears

Transmission

Headset

Wheels

Tyres

A routine maintenance check list

M-check

4. Clothing and accessories

What to wear
Toe clips and clipless pedals
Being seen

Be perspicuous - not just visible

Visibility aids
Lights
Reflectors
Pedal reflectors

Helmets

Rotational injuries

Real-world performance

No substitute for cycling well

Buying and fitting a helmet

Bells, horns and sirens
Mirrors
Eye protection
Highway Code
Insurance

II: Cycling with skill and confidence

5. Basic cycling skills

Mounting and dismounting
Holding the handlebars

Straight handlebars

Dropped handlebars

Stopping and braking
Starting to move
Balance and steering

Balance

Steering

A closer look: Braking and skidding
Turning

U-turns

Avoiding obstacles
Using gears

Hub gears
Derailleur gears
Trigger shifters
Grip and thumb shifters
Bikes with dropped handlebars
Non-indexed gears
Multiple chainrings
All systems

Cadence and sprint speed
Looking behind

Control with one hand
Signalling
Listening
Collision avoidance techniques

Braking
Accelerating
Changing direction

Being prepared

6. Sharing the roads

Attitude

Dealing with bad behaviour

Avoid being submissive

Judgement

7. Riding along

Starting off
Stopping

Stopping when you want to

Stopping when you have to

On the move
Observation and anticipation

Observing traffic and people
Roads and their surfaces
Responding to hazards

Positioning

The standard riding positions
Exceptions to the advice on positioning

Cycle lanes

Observation quiz

Forward clearance

8. Everyday movements

Signalling in traffic

Safety signals

Courtesy signals

When to signal

Overtaking

Overtaking stationary vehicles and objects

Overtaking moving vehicles

Being overtaken

High-sided and large vehicles

Oncoming traffic

Long vehicles
Passing side roads

Side roads crossed by cycle lanes

Turning left off a major road
Going ahead at junctions

Keep in the correct lane

Turning right off a major road
Leaving minor roads

Crossing dual carriageway

No-priority junctions
Traffic light signals

Positioning at traffic light signals

Obeying traffic light signals

Advanced stop lines

Roundabouts

Roadworks and diversions
Taking the wrong route

9. Busier roads and faster traffic

A standard system of cycle control

Information
Position
Speed
Gear
Acceleration

Negotiation

Overtaking by negotiation

Complex right turns

Roundabouts

Avoiding trouble at roundabouts
Single-lane roundabouts
Multi-lane roundabouts
Mini-roundabouts
Multiple roundabouts

Gyratories
Slip roads

Entry slip roads

Exit slip roads

Free-flow lanes and merges
Diverges
Deceleration lanes

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