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Cycling · Intermediate · i6

Turn at the junction, yard first

At home 15 min 1 and a grown-up Yard or lane

Ready when: Look behind and signal (i2) done.

Start a session

What you are learning

The steps for turning at a road junction, practised in a yard with chalk roads first: decide the way early, look behind, signal, move only when there is time and space, give way to oncoming traffic and turn in a smooth arc. Pass parked cars a door's length away.

Words on this card Signal, Junction
Signal
Holding one arm straight out to show which way you will turn.
Junction
Where two roads meet.

Set up

Chalk two crossing roads with lanes and a parked "car" (a cone); the parent plays the oncoming traffic.

Weather: dry ground

The base setup for cycling

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Walk the bike through the junction and say each step aloud: "decide, look, signal, move".
  2. Stop at the line and look both ways; you, as traffic, walk past.
  3. Ride through in a wide arc, not cutting the corner.
  4. On the way back, pass the "car" a door's length away.

Your part while they practise

Play the traffic and correct each step. Take it onto a quiet road only with a trained cycle instructor.

Step by step

  1. Decide the direction before the junction.
  2. Look behind, signal if needed, move only when there is time and space.
  3. Ride the centre of the lane at the junction.
  4. Give way to oncoming traffic.
  5. Turn in an arc without cutting the corner.
  6. Pass the parked "car" a door's length away.

How much: 10 turns 15 min a session 2 days a week On your own: none; the routine needs someone playing traffic

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: Junction judge

A line of riders behind the parent, each doing the routine at the junction while the parent judges each step.

Who plays: 1 to 4 riders; you play traffic and judge.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. Riders queue at the start of the chalk road
  2. One at a time, each rides to the junction and turns
  3. You walk across as traffic on some turns, not others
  4. You say which steps were done. 5 turns each
Fair play
A grown-up must also look behind twice: once before signalling and once just before turning.
Points
1 point for each step done in order: look, signal, wait if traffic, wide arc, a door's length from the "car".
Fouls
The turn scores nothing
  • Signalling before looking
  • Cutting the corner
  • Turning in front of traffic
Winning
The most points after 5 turns each.
Stars
  1. 12 points for 1 star
  2. 18 points for 2 stars
  3. 23 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

Walk the bike through the steps.

Harder

The parent "drives" towards you, so you must wait.

What you will see, and what to say

  • the child signals before looking Look first, then signalKnow what is behind before telling anyone.
  • they cut the corner Wide arc, not the cornerFollow the curve of the lane.
  • they pass the car too close A door's length awayA door could open.

Self-check

5

5 turns in a row with the routine in order.

Stop and get a coach when

Before the first ride on a road.

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 traffic sense, looking behind, signalling.

awiseathlete.com/sports/cycling/cycling-i6