• Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Start Here
  • Our Story
  • Meet Uju
  • Connect
  • Press and Media
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Babes About Town

Love. Play. Eat. London.

  • London
  • Kids
  • Life
  • Books
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Weekends
  • Search
  • Start Here
  • Our Story
  • Meet Uju
  • Connect
  • Press and Media
  • London
  • Kids
  • Life
  • Book
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Weekends

Mobile Menu

Buy Now

Free Cycling Lessons for London Kids (and Trendy Toddlers)

April 3, 2012 //  by Uju//  10 Comments

Ezra learned to ride a bike yesterday. I can’t describe the feeling of pride, awe and joy that swelled up inside as I saw my little boy cycle off on his own.

I’d signed him up to one of Islington Council’s free cycle training courses that are run over the holidays.

The beginner’s course is a 2 day, 1.5 hour session led by 4 enthusiastic cycling instructors. Day 1 was all about the basics – learning to check your A (air), B (brakes), C (control) and Ds (dangly bits!) – before you set your pedal and give that first big push.

Ezra was wobbly at the start but within the hour, and after not that much instruction, he was actually riding. I couldn’t believe it!

Ezra was stoked to be an official ‘biker boy’ and spent a couple more hours in the park later practising his new-found moves.

Day 2 was about building confidence. Ezra was promoted to the ‘riders’ group in the session and they spent the day learning to turn around a mini obstacle course, improving their braking and picking up some signalling skills. Afterwards, Ezra was able to ride part of the way home (on the pavement only).

What a wonderful service provided by the council (check in your area for free cycling courses near you) and an amazing achievement to kick off our Easter holidays. They also run courses for adults and I’m thinking of signing up as it’s been years since I was on a bike and it would be fun to ride out as a family.

I’m super proud of Ezra and of course he looks ultra stylish in his cycling gear. His helmet even matches his spring jacket!

Style Check
Ammaco MX18 Bike – Park Royal bike shop
Helmet – Park Royal bike shop
Jacket – Marks & Spencer
Jeans – Gap
Shoes – Next

And below is a clip of Ezra in action!

Check out more Trendy Toddler fashion every Tuesday now at Very Busy Mama blog!

Photobucket

Share
Pin
Tweet
Share

Category: Best Of, Islington, Life, London, TravelTag: activities, events, family, fashion, green, health, holidays, kids, Life, north London, sport, toddlers

About Uju

Uju Asika is a writer, blogger and creative consultant. She is the author of Raising Boys Who Do Better: A Hopeful Guide for a New Generation (DK/Penguin Random House), Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World (Yellow Kite/Hachette UK) and the delightful picture book A World for Me and You, illustrated by Jennie Poh (Hachette Children's Group). Uju's books are available at Bookshop.org, Amazon, Waterstones and other good bookshops. Follow Uju @babesabouttown on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram.

Previous Post: « Top 10 Easter Egg Hunts in London 2012
Next Post: Easter with Kids in London: Top 25 Picks »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex

    April 4, 2012 at 8:59 pm

    Clever little man! And he looks so cool doing it..

  2. Kerri

    April 6, 2012 at 3:13 am

    Looks ready to ride!
    Visiting from Trendy Toddler Tuesday!

  3. Uju

    April 6, 2012 at 11:35 am

    Hi Alex, he certainly feels cool too. We’re very proud :-)

  4. Uju

    April 6, 2012 at 11:36 am

    Hi Kerri, he’s having a lot of fun on his bike. Thanks for stopping by!

  5. Maria @verybusymama

    April 7, 2012 at 4:20 am

    You go E! Little M just learned to ride a scooter and I was all giddy about that. He looks so cool – you know I love this little guy. That pose is just priceless!

  6. Laura

    April 8, 2012 at 8:31 am

    Brilliant! Am going to sign my eldest up right now. Thanks.

  7. Uju

    April 11, 2012 at 11:38 am

    Good luck with it and let me know how you get on, we were thrilled with the results!

  8. Uju

    April 11, 2012 at 11:43 am

    I saw Little M, how cool is he on that scooter? It’s a whole new world once they get their first set of wheels (that you don’t have to push)! We’re very happy with Ezra’s bike training and there’s no holding him back now x

  9. Alexander Residence

    April 13, 2012 at 7:28 pm

    Wow! He’s so cool and so talented. I so want one of these schemes here in Notts, have back ache from trying to teach L!

  10. Uju

    April 17, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    You should lobby your council. Not that they probably care much about that stuff now with all the cuts and stuff, but it really is a fab service. Very impressed with the results! Perhaps you should just try with someone else who’s a cyclist but not L’s parents – it appears to make a dramatic difference, I don’t know why kids often listen best to other people, not mum and dad!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

I’m Uju, author, blogger, screenwriter. I curate cool finds and experiences for city families. Read more…

Get the Book

Buy Now
Buy Now
A World for Me and You cover
Buy Now

VuelioTop10Badge2021 VuelioTop10Badge2022 VuelioTop10Badge2023

Footer

  • FAQS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • Competitions

Copyright © 2025 · Blog Design by Shauna Callaghan