Learn to Ride

Nov 19 will be our last Learn to Ride/ Learn to Ride Further class day for 2023

Learn to Ride Course description

For our outdoor riding classes we are requesting that students wear masks when they are in close discussion, but they can be pulled down or taken off for the riding exercises.

Has it been your life-long dream to learn how to ride a bike? Or do you know how to ride already, but you don’t feel confident with some of the basics like turning or starting/ stopping consistently? Today is your lucky day!

We are pleased to now offer two different types of one-on-one lessons: Learn to Ride and Learn to Ride Further. Both offer free bike and helmet usage for the duration of the class.

Learn to Ride:

This class is ideal if you are starting as a brand new rider or haven’t ridden a bike for many years. In this lesson we will practice:
- balancing
- braking
- pedaling
- turning
This lesson will take place in a coned-off area of the parking lot by Cascade headquarters in Magnuson Park, North Seattle.

Learn to Ride Further:

This class is geared towards students who may already know how to ride, but who have trouble:
- turning quickly
- stopping/ starting consistently
- getting on and off a high seat
- shifting
- using turn signals
This class is also ideal if you would like to learn:
- how to ride confidently on a trail
- how to stay safe riding on a street
- tricks to stay visible to other road users
In this lesson we can either stay in a coned-off area of the parking lot or take a short bike ride around Magnuson Park on low-traffic streets.

When you schedule your lesson, you will have the option to choose if your lesson is ‘Learn to Ride’ or ‘Learn to Ride Further’. Our lead instructor will then reach out to confirm your lesson time, if you would like to borrow a bike or helmet, and any specific things you would like to work on in your lesson. We recommend that you only book one lesson per weekend. Outside practice is very important for your progress in learning how to ride a bike so it is best to give yourself time between lessons.

What if I/ the student has adaptive needs?

If you or the student has a disability, our friends at Outdoors for All have a disability specific Learn to Ride program with a fleet of adaptive bikes. Please contact rentals@outdoorsforall.org to schedule a private lesson.

Am I too young/ too old?

There is no age limit to learning to ride a bicycle! We have had students in their 70’s learn to ride for the first time.

Our lessons are geared toward adults and youth 10 and older. If you have a child who is right around that age and would like some advice in teaching them yourself, feel free to reach out to the contact info at the bottom!

How to prepare:

No classes or previous knowledge of bicycle riding are needed for this instruction. We can provide you with a bike/helmet if you do not have your own.

Take a look at our Learn to Ride videos. This is exactly what your lessons will look like.

The best way to prepare for your lesson is to borrow a bike to practice balancing on. If you can touch both feet flat on the ground while sitting on the seat and it has working brakes, it is a great bike to practice on. While keeping your eyes up, slowly push yourself around feeling how the bike balances beneath you. Don't stress about it, and don’t feel the need to peddle, just have fun! The more time you spend pushing around like this, the quicker your balance will improve, and the more prepared you will be for your lesson.

Class Size: One-on-one instruction

Price: suggested $15-$150 sliding scale price based on your income level

Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Location: Cascade Bicycle Club, 7787 62nd Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98115. We are located right off of the Burke Gilman Trail on the North side of Magnuson Park. We are just south of Magnuson Cafe & Brewery and Sail Sand Point.

Additional Information: