The below is a simple comparison of some of the children’s bikes available in Adelaide, South Australia (Nov 2017). Features of: bike weight, handlebar & saddle height, and cost have been collated for your ease while looking for a new bike. Bike for kids – analysis (816kb)
In 2011 Ride-a-Bike Right came to life as the AustCycle provider for SA’s Healthy Communities Initiative program; working with local councils to deliver courses to adults to increase fitness and activity rates amongst the population. Initially working with Playford Council delivering cycling skills to adults and the disability sector to get people back onto the bike (then expanding into Onkaparinga, Holdfast Bay, Marion and Renmark-Paringa Councils when they started HCI) we have since delivered over 60 programs to groups of adults. Moving into the children’s cycling domain we have been delivering our school as well as community programs to over…
Many people get confused between the 3 styles of helmets available to buy Bike helmet, Skater Style Helmet (‘bucket’) and, Skate Helmet (‘bucket’) 1 – Bike helmets have in Australia have been tested to the Standard AS/NZS 2063. These are the helmets legally required for riders on bikes.Hard shell, usually lots of ventilation holes, polyurethane foam inner and padding. 2 – Skater Style helmets are those that look like a Skate helmet but are actually bike helmets with the rating AS/NZS 2063. Hard shell, a few ventilation holes, polyurethane foam inner and padding. 3 – A SKATE helmet has a…
Spring has arrived and with the lovely, sunny, warm days come nesting Magpies. If you’re a seasoned rider you will be familiar with these very protective, feathered parents and heard the many ways to avoid the dreaded swoop from above. Here is a video of a swooping Magpie There are numerous ideas on how to deter the swoop, or limit its ability to get near your head/face. And I bet you’ve seen people riding with long cable ties attached to the top of the helmet; this has been used for many years as a deterrent but does it actually work?…
Over the weekend my partner and I decided to get out of Adelaide and go for a ride – it was a lovely winter’s day so we headed up to the Woodside to ride the Amy Gillett Bikeway. Starting at Charlseton (playground and amenities available) we headed south along the pristine path – there were a few couples/families also out on that afternoon as well, but most of the time it was a un populated path to ride along. About 3.5kms into the trip there was a required detour to sample some of the Hills famous food produce –…
Bike for kids – analysis (816kb) The year is hurrying along and I’m sure several of you are already getting a “Santa’s List” and many may include the ever popular new bike. Having taught many children over my time as a cycling instructor, I always feel the pleasure for children as they say when/where they got their wheels, but all too often it is bike that is not suitable for the child’s height or weight. Size: while kids might be able to wear a jumper that they can grow into, a bike is not the same. Children need to be…
There’s a reason past eras referred to many tasks as ‘trying’, as its through trying that we learn how to succeed Over the past five years I’ve worked with many people who want to learn how to ride a bike and/or improve their current cycling skills. Since March this year Ride-a-Bike Right has been delivering a four-week program in school to children from Reception-yr 4. As someone who has been riding since I was four years old I always want to see young children being able to control and ride their own bikes; one of the goals in our schools’…
While it may be the official end of Summer in 2 days, here in Adelaide the sun is hotter than ever and the UV index is still very high to extreme. Many people want to keep themselves protected from the sun and will SLAP on a hat under their helmet as they head off for a ride… but this isn’t best practise. My opinion, as a professional cycling teacher is that a hat under your helmet is not the best way to protect yourself while cycling. 1) Helmets are designed with holes to aid air flow and cool the body…
Sometimes we are unaware of the impact that we have on others we interact with. I know that through my teaching of cycling skills with Ride-a-Bike Right I really do make a difference in confidence and safety in the general cycling population, whether by teaching the fundamental cycling skills so an 8 year old can be equal with his/her peers and ride a bike, or opening up a new fitness possibilities for adults who’ve not been active in a while – all these changes in my clients lives are lovely to be part of. Last week I heard of a…
