Ride a straight lane, seated and standing
Ready when: Push, step, brakes (b4) done.
What you are learning
Riding a straight line in a narrow lane, first sitting and then standing on level pedals with soft knees and elbows. Standing is how riders take bumps; the straight line is how they stay safe on paths.
Words on this card Handlebars, Pedals level
- Handlebars
- What the hands hold to steer.
- Pedals level
- Both pedals at the same height, one forward and one back, so the rider can stand up evenly.
Set up
Two chalk lines 5 m long and 50 cm apart; cones.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Ride into the lane slowly, seated, looking at the end of it, and keep the bars almost still.
- Ride in again, stop pedalling, turn the pedals level and stand up on them.
- Knees and elbows a little bent, roll through the lane standing.
Your part while they practise
Stand at the end of the lane and watch the front wheel.
Step by step
- Ride the lane seated, looking at the end of it and steering as little as possible.
- Roll through it standing with the pedals level.
- Knees and elbows soft.
How much: 10 lanes each way 10 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Lane points
A point for every lane ridden with no wheel crossing a line.
Who plays: the child against their own best, or two children taking turns.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- 10 lanes seated, then 10 lanes standing
- You watch the wheels on each run
- Call "in" or "out" at the end of each lane
- Fair play
- A grown-up rides a lane 30 cm wide.
- Points
- 1 point for each seated lane in; 2 points for each standing lane in.
- Fouls
- No point for that lane
- A wheel crosses a line
- Sitting down during a standing lane
- Looking down at the front wheel
- Winning
- Beat your best from 20 lanes.
- 12 points for 1 star
- 20 points for 2 stars
- 26 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A wider lane; seated only.
A narrower lane, or one hand lifted for a moment.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child looks at the front wheel
Eyes to the end of the lane
Looking far ahead keeps the line straight. - the pedals are uneven when standing
Pedals level, weight on both
Both feet carry the same weight.
Self-check
5 lanes in a row standing without a wheel crossing a line.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains standing position, straight line.
awiseathlete.com/sports/cycling/cycling-b6