Quick stop and swerve
Ready when: Steering and slalom (b5) done.
What you are learning
Stopping quickly and swerving round something in the way. For a quick stop the rider pulls both brakes evenly with firm arms and shifts the body back; for a swerve the rider passes close to the cone and comes straight back to the line.
Words on this card Saddle, Brake lever, Front brake
- Saddle
- The seat of the bike.
- Brake lever
- The levers on the handlebars that slow the wheels. Each lever works one wheel; check which is which.
- Front brake
- The brake on the front wheel and the one on the back wheel. Use both together.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Ride at a walking pace along the line.
- On "stop", pull both brakes evenly, arms firm, body slides back on the saddle.
- Put a foot down only after the bike has stopped.
- Ride again: swerve round a cone and come straight back to the line.
Your part while they practise
Call "stop" at the last moment.
Step by step
- Pull both brakes evenly (no snatching), arms firm, body back.
- Put a foot down after stopping.
- Swerve round a cone and return to the line.
- Increase speed in steps.
How much: 5 stops and 5 swerves 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: Stop or swerve?
The parent points left or right, or calls "stop", at the last moment.
Who plays: the child against you; you call.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The rider rides along the line toward a cone
- 3 m before it, you point left, point right or call "stop"
- The rider swerves the way you point, or stops before the cone
- 10 calls
- Fair play
- With a younger child, call at 4 m.
- Points
- 1 point for the right reaction; 1 more point when it is clean (no skid, no foot down, back on the line after a swerve). You score 1 point for each wrong reaction.
- Fouls
- A point to you
- Only the back brake used, so the back wheel skids
- A foot down before the bike stops
- Touching the cone
- Winning
- More points after 10 calls.
- 8 points for 1 star
- 14 points for 2 stars
- 18 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Slow speed.
Stop on a slope.
What you will see, and what to say
- the back wheel skids
Both brakes, not the back only
Squeeze both evenly. - the child swerves wide
Pass close, then come back
Back to the line straight away.
Self-check
5 stops in a row from walking pace plus 5 swerves without a foot down.
Stop and get a coach when
Repeated falls at speed.
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 emergency braking, avoiding hazards.
awiseathlete.com/sports/cycling/cycling-i1