On Your Bike! Avanti Cycling is a cycling organisation that delivers Bikeability courses in Wokingham schools and provides adult training, leads rides and gives advice. Cycling is a hugely enjoyable activity: you get out in the sun and gain complete independence from the restrictions of traffic and cars. It is cheap and fast. You get free exercise and enjoyment from the experience. We all love cycling both to get around and for pleasure. When we train children in schools it is a completely transformative experience for them. For the first time in their lives, they get asked to make their own decisions. Up to that time they have been told what to do and when to do it by parents, teachers and other adults. On a cycling course they can gain independence, learning how to make decisions on how to interact with drivers and where to go. It is an amazing experience for them and the instructors. 26
If you meet a group of children training, we apologise for any disruption to your day, but please drive normally, overtake where you can - children need to learn in realistic road conditions. Cycling instructors are an integral part of that experience. Teaching children is hugely rewarding and enjoyable. We get the children who really want to be on their bikes and want to learn. Children always return to their classes excited and having learnt lots. Instructors working for us are paid to do something they really enjoy, if you think you might be a good instructor please contact us - we’ll train you. Apart from training children and beginner adults, we organise rides around the borough, confidence improving sessions and other training and fun activities. If you are thinking about getting back on your bike, we can help. Roads are not dangerous and we can help develop skills needed to ride safely in all sorts of traffic conditions. Greg Woodford - Director, Avanti Cycling
WOKINGHAM LOCAL • SEPTEMBER 2022
