CAN-BIKE
Rural Cycling
Rural
Cycling is a new course that provides an in-depth look at riding
outside urban areas. The course is for the rural resident and the
urban resident who tours in rural areas.
This
one or two day course, depending on options chosen, helps you understand
the unique conditions of rural riding, including traffic dynamics,
bicycle touring, group riding, energy basics, riding conditions
and how to use trailers.
But that’s
not all! You'll learn about rural cycling issues related to gravel
roads, small bridges and cattle guards, pavement-gravel transitions,
road shoulder hazards, rumble strips and motorist overtaking errors.
You'll learn how to deal with situations from both the cyclist's
and motorist's viewpoint.
The Rural
Cycling course is taught in a variety of formats depending on the
abilities and needs of the participants and the amount of time allocated.
This course is accredited by the Canadian Cycling Association.
Course Objective:
Cyclists
aged 14 and up learn skills and build confidence to ride safely
on rural roads.
Course Outline
for 12-hour, 2-day course:
Classroom
Day
1
- Introductions
- Road
hazards – rural riding experience with emphasis on road and
shoulder type, sightlines and motorist actions.
- Traffic
dynamics – where to ride on the road.
- About
Helmets – fit and specifications, may be done outdoors.
- About
Bikes – bike fit and bike check, may be done outdoors.
Day 2
- Road
hazards – rural riding experience with emphasis on road and
shoulder type, sightlines and motorist actions.
- See
Topics Table. Refer to the topics not discussed on day 1.
- Traffic
dynamics – where to ride on the road.
- About
touring and group riding techniques.
- Energy
basics and riding conditions – overview for tourists.
On Road
- Handling
skills – a variety of drills to help you develop a better
understanding of what you and your bicycle are capable of.
- Group
riding etiquette and techniques – how to ride safely with
other cyclists.
- Riding
on rural roads – turning theory into practice. We try to
find as many local road features as we can to demonstrate as much
of the classroom component as possible. We will endeavour to demonstrate
Cyclists position from the edge of roadway, in left turns, over
railway tracks, through 4-way intersections, in merges and diverges,
near trucks, over road shoulder hazards, cattle guards, rumble
strips, gravel roads and transitions to pavement, while occasionally
stopping to discuss cyclist and motorist errors.
Next Steps
- Practice
tips to continuously improve you skills and knowledge.
- Other
courses in the CAN-BIKE Program.
- Recap.
- Verbal
quiz.
- Debrief.
- Course
evaluation.
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