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Courses For Individuals

Find a Class to Improve Your Riding

Whether you are brand new to riding a bike, or if you’ve been pedaling for decades, taking a class is a great way to brush up on your knowledge, practice your skills, and boost your confidence.

BikeMN and certified League of American Bicyclists Instructors (LCIs) offer a range of classes – from quick 30min primers, to multi-day seminars – that can help you take your riding to the next level. Learn More about current offerings and how to register.

BikeMN Education Programs

Bike Basics (short course)

Learn basic skills to prepare you to get on your bike and be comfortable. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)

People Friendly Driver

Learn to Ride

Hands on instruction for people of ages who are brand new to bicycling. Using established best practice approach, participants progress from walking with a bike, to striding and gliding, to pedaling on their own, to riding with a group.

Traffic Skills 101 — Smart Cycling (long course)

This traffic skills course gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques and includes a student manual. Recommended for adults and children above age fourteen, this fast-paced, course prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling.

Basic Bike Maintenance

BikeMN offers overview courses for basic bicycle maintenance and repair, for Educators leading bike lessons for students, and for individuals.

Bike Basics (short courses)

Bike Basics For All

Learn basic skills to prepare you to get on your bike and be comfortable. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)

Bike Basics for Students

Learn basic skills to prepare you to ride your bike to school. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for students who ride bike to school and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)

Bike Basics for Boomers

Learn basic skills to prepare you to get back on your bike and get comfortable. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for seniors and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)

Bike Basics for Families

Learn basic skills to prepare you to bring a baby with you on your bike. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for people who bring babies with on their bike and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)

Bike Basics for Women

Learn basic skills to prepare you to get on your bike and get comfortable. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for women and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)

Bike Basics for Business

Learn basic skills to prepare you to ride your bike to work. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for employees who ride bike to work and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)

Optional Modules

Fix-A-Flat

This supplemental classroom module introduces riders to the skill of repairing a punctured inner tube, aka a “flat tire”. After a brief discussion of the importance and application of this skill, the instructor will provide a step-by-step demonstration and allow time for guided practice.

Riding at Night

This supplemental classroom module introduces riders to the possibilities and challenges of riding safely at night. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional module explores how those principles are applied and additional considerations associated with the different riding conditions one is likely to encounter riding at night. Classroom instruction will include techniques and equipment recommended for safe and effective night riding.

Riding in Winter

This supplemental classroom module introduces riders to the possibilities and challenges of riding safely during winter months. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional module explores how those principles are applied and additional considerations associated with the different riding conditions one is likely to encounter riding in the winter. Classroom instruction will include techniques and equipment recommended for safe and effective winter riding.

Riding in a Group

This supplemental classroom module introduces riders to the excitement and challenges of riding safely within a group of other riders. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional module explores how those principles are applied in the context of group riding using examples and discussion, along with an explanation of the techniques and communication skills needed to do this successfully.

Commuting

This supplemental classroom module introduces riders to the possibilities and special considerations of riding safely for commuting. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional module explores how those principles are applied and additional considerations associated with riding as a commuter. Classroom instruction will include techniques and equipment recommended for safe and effective riding.

A-B-C Quick Check + Riding Skills

This supplemental on-bike practical module introduces riders to the skills necessary to check for equipment safety and ride safely on the road. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional lesson will help participants practice and develop basic preventative maintenance and bicycle handling skills in a controlled setting.

A-B-C Quick Check + Group Ride

This supplemental on-bike practical module introduces riders to the skills necessary to check for equipment safety and ride safely on the road. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional lesson will help participants practice and develop basic preventative maintenance and bicycle handling skills and apply safe cycling techniques on a guided group ride.

People Friendly Driver

A program and curriculum for educating all motorists on safe driving behaviors around people who are walking or biking.

Learn basic skills to prepare you to ride your bike to work. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for employees who ride bike to work and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)

Adult Learn to Ride

Hands-on instruction for adults who are brand new to bicycling. Using an established best practice approach, participants progress from walking with a bike, to striding and gliding, to pedaling on their own, to riding with a group. Sign up for the Adult Learn to Ride email list below for information on upcoming classes, open shop opportunities, resources, and more.

The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota complies with the Title VI Program and ensures that no person, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, are excluded from participation in, are denied the benefits of, or is subjected to discrimination under any of our programs or activity including Learn to Ride. Your rights under Title VI can be found here in other languages. The Title VI discrimination complaint form can be found here. You should use this form for issues regarding the Learn to Ride Program.

For more information on Adult Learn To Ride, or to partner with BikeMN, contact Helena — Helena@BikeMN.org

“I’d rather go by bike” and other quotes from past Adult Learn to Ride Students:

“Actually, it’s like a dream that I would like to do for long time, but I didn’t have time to learn. The main thing is to learn for my health concerns and it’s good to be fit. And then the other thing’s like I got two children, so I want to teach my son. That’s the second thing. Since I am old, I didn’t thought that I can learn this time. But you can learn, everything you can learn, anything you can learn.”

“I think the first thing is just that confidence to actually bike, because at first when I came to the class, I knew nothing. I could not balance. I couldn’t bike. I couldn’t even rest on the bike to save my life, but I mean now actually I really like biking and turning and so I think the class just gave me that confidence to actually bike. The tutors were very patient with me and just encouraging.”

“I think it’s just confidence, because I think what adults, when you’re learning new skills, there’s always a lot of fear, because you don’t want to fall, you don’t want to hurt yourself, you don’t want to look silly. But I think the space, the environment, that it’s other adults wanting to learn and all of the instructors and volunteers are so supportive and helpful. I think it just builds and adds to your confidence.”

“I want to ride the bike because if I have a bike, I can go to the job, to the shop, to do the training with the bike. I liked the class because if you learn English, it can be important for you. To know English very well, to teach somebody the new English, it can be good. If I want to go very fast, I cannot go to take the bus. I can get my bike and I go very fast.”

“I had a little bit of experience of cycling, but not with this cycle, with the gear cycles and all. So I was a little skeptical. So this opportunity, this gives me the exact, the learning that I need to know. And today, I think the volunteers here, they’re really helpful and they support it all the way. And now I am feeling really, really happy.”

“I definitely think I have more faith in my ability to do stuff like this. It’s possible to learn something new at any time in your life. That courage is a good thing to have because you can do more things. And also they do have bike racks at my apartment and at the office I work at. So I think there’s some motivation there.”

“I think having access to a lot of places, parks, being able to go places that I wouldn’t be able to go with my car. Groceries and riding with family or friends. This has given me opportunity to go places that I wouldn’t be able to go with my car. Freedom, most definitely freedom.”

“I have all the equipment that I need. I just need to practice, make sure I get the hang of it and just learn to trust. I’m already planning on doing it, when I get to the point that I’m able to ride long distances instead of going to places that we go that are close to my house. Either you go by car or you go by bike, I’d rather go by bike!”

“It’s always been something I am embarrassed to tell people I didn’t know how to do and now I have a three-year-old who’s got a balance bike trying to learn. We like to adventure as a family and that includes national parks and hikes and things like that, and I think being able to bike just gives us more opportunity for different adventures. It won’t take much for me to start replacing car trips with a bike ride.”

“I always had a goal for learning how to ride because of the convenience; however, after attending the class, I realized this was a necessity and went beyond the convenience. I found a community, I became a BikeMN volunteer and most importantly I am spreading the word. I found a freedom to be outdoor more and to explore the wonderful parks in MN. For as long as I can volunteer, I want to give this gift to others.”

“My kids always have a bike I never own my own bike thanks for this program finally I own one now this summer really enjoy are family trips at the park thanks to all the persons who make this program possible.”

“I gained a great means of getting around town and valuable experience riding a bike in Minnesota. Thanks to bikeMN for such a good program.”

“Thanks to the program, I have the opportunity to save time on the road to work and back, to the store and back home, and make good use of my free time. Also, when I want to walk in the park, my bike helps me a lot, I ride it and breathe fresh air. Without a bike, I wouldn’t be able to spend so much time walking. While I don’t have a car, a bicycle helps me a lot. Thank you.”

Traffic Skills 101 — Smart Cycling (long course)

This traffic skills course gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques and includes a student manual. Recommended for adults and children above age fourteen, this fast-paced, course prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling. Traffic Skills 101 is a nine-hour multi-day course and is a prerequisite to becoming an LCI.

Traffic Skills 101: On-line & Hands-On

This course covers all of the same material as TS101. However, it involves successful completion of the on-line course available at bikeed.org prior to a five-hour hands-on course focused on handling skills, emergency maneuvers, and on-the-road training. To help organize a Traffic Skills class in your community, contact us.

Basic Bike Maintenance

The basic maintenance training session for Walk!Bike!Fun! Educators and Ambassadors provides instruction and hands-on application on diagnosing and performing common adjustments and repairs, including flat tires, braking, and shifting systems.

BikeMN offers overview courses covering the fundamentals of bicycle care and maintenance as a 3-part series. Instruction for each topic includes discussion, demonstration, and individual practice. Participants are welcomed and encouraged to bring their own bike, or BikeMN will provide a bike to practice your skills on. Sign up for individual sessions or the whole series!

We are typically only able to schedule maintenance classes during the winter season. See our class calendar for current offerings.

Maintenance Basics – Walk!Bike!Fun! educators

This class provides an overview of basic bicycle maintenance and repair, including preventative checks, simple mechanical adjustments for braking and shifting, and flat repair.

Session 1 – Repair fundamentals, prevention, cleaning, basics of fit, and fix-a-flat

Included in this session is steps for a basic preventative maintenance check, effective cleaning techniques for different parts of the bike, how to adjust a bike for optimal fit, and repairing a flat tire.

Session 2 – Introduction to mechanical adjustments for braking and shifting systems

Included in this session is instruction on cable replacement, brake adjustment including rim- and disc-brakes, derailleur adjustment, chain care and replacement, and explanation of the tools needed for each adjustment.

Session 3 – Bearings (hubs, headset, bottom bracket), wheel truing

Included in this session is discussion and instruction of hubs, headsets, bottom brackets, freewheels, cassettes, and spoke-tension adjustment.

I didn’t realize how much more there was to know about riding a bike before I took a class. Very informative and helpful information, this was a great boost for my comfort and confidence — thank you!