Courses For Individuals
Find a Class to Improve Your Riding
Whether you are brand new to riding a bike, or if you’ve been pedaling for decades, taking a class is a great way to brush up on your knowledge, practice your skills, and boost your confidence.
BikeMN and certified League of American Bicyclists Instructors (LCIs) offer a range of classes – from quick 30min primers, to multi-day seminars – that can help you take your riding to the next level. Learn More about current offerings and how to register.
BikeMN Education Programs
Bike Basics (short course)
Learn basic skills to prepare you to get on your bike and be comfortable. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)
People Friendly Driver
People Friendly Driver is a pilot program and curriculum for educating all motorists on safe driving behaviors around people who are walking or biking, currently taught by BikeMN staff upon request. Learn more about the PFD program, the vision, and how to become a partner or request a class.
Learn More
Learn to Ride
Hands on instruction for people of ages who are brand new to bicycling. Using established best practice approach, participants progress from walking with a bike, to striding and gliding, to pedaling on their own, to riding with a group.
Traffic Skills 101 — Smart Cycling (long course)
This traffic skills course gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques and includes a student manual. Recommended for adults and children above age fourteen, this fast-paced, course prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling.
Basic Bike Maintenance
BikeMN offers overview courses for basic bicycle maintenance and repair, for Educators leading bike lessons for students, and for individuals.
Bike Basics (short courses)
Bike Basics For All
Learn basic skills to prepare you to get on your bike and be comfortable. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)
Bike Basics for Students
Learn basic skills to prepare you to ride your bike to school. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for students who ride bike to school and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)
Bike Basics for Boomers
Learn basic skills to prepare you to get back on your bike and get comfortable. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for seniors and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)
Bike Basics for Families
Learn basic skills to prepare you to bring a baby with you on your bike. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for people who bring babies with on their bike and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)
Bike Basics for Women
Learn basic skills to prepare you to get on your bike and get comfortable. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for women and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)
Bike Basics for Business
Learn basic skills to prepare you to ride your bike to work. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for employees who ride bike to work and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)
Optional Modules
Fix-A-Flat
This supplemental classroom module introduces riders to the skill of repairing a punctured inner tube, aka a “flat tire”. After a brief discussion of the importance and application of this skill, the instructor will provide a step-by-step demonstration and allow time for guided practice.
Riding at Night
This supplemental classroom module introduces riders to the possibilities and challenges of riding safely at night. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional module explores how those principles are applied and additional considerations associated with the different riding conditions one is likely to encounter riding at night. Classroom instruction will include techniques and equipment recommended for safe and effective night riding.
Riding in Winter
This supplemental classroom module introduces riders to the possibilities and challenges of riding safely during winter months. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional module explores how those principles are applied and additional considerations associated with the different riding conditions one is likely to encounter riding in the winter. Classroom instruction will include techniques and equipment recommended for safe and effective winter riding.
Riding in a Group
This supplemental classroom module introduces riders to the excitement and challenges of riding safely within a group of other riders. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional module explores how those principles are applied in the context of group riding using examples and discussion, along with an explanation of the techniques and communication skills needed to do this successfully.
Commuting
This supplemental classroom module introduces riders to the possibilities and special considerations of riding safely for commuting. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional module explores how those principles are applied and additional considerations associated with riding as a commuter. Classroom instruction will include techniques and equipment recommended for safe and effective riding.
A-B-C Quick Check + Riding Skills
This supplemental on-bike practical module introduces riders to the skills necessary to check for equipment safety and ride safely on the road. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional lesson will help participants practice and develop basic preventative maintenance and bicycle handling skills in a controlled setting.
A-B-C Quick Check + Group Ride
This supplemental on-bike practical module introduces riders to the skills necessary to check for equipment safety and ride safely on the road. After learning the basics of safe cycling, this optional lesson will help participants practice and develop basic preventative maintenance and bicycle handling skills and apply safe cycling techniques on a guided group ride.
People Friendly Driver
A program and curriculum for educating all motorists on safe driving behaviors around people who are walking or biking.
Learn basic skills to prepare you to ride your bike to work. This introductory classroom course covers the basic rules of the road and best practices to being safe and comfortable on the road and trail, potential barriers to riding for employees who ride bike to work and a discussion of strategies to overcome these barriers. Basic maintenance will be covered including ABC Quick Check. (Fix-A-Flat optional)
Adult Learn to Ride
Hands-on instruction for adults who are brand new to bicycling. Using an established best practice approach, participants progress from walking with a bike, to striding and gliding, to pedaling on their own, to riding with a group. Sign up for the Adult Learn to Ride email list below for information on upcoming classes, open shop opportunities, resources, and more.
The Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota complies with the Title VI Program and ensures that no person, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, are excluded from participation in, are denied the benefits of, or is subjected to discrimination under any of our programs or activity including Learn to Ride. Your rights under Title VI can be found here in other languages. The Title VI discrimination complaint form can be found here. You should use this form for issues regarding the Learn to Ride Program.
For more information on Adult Learn To Ride, or to partner with BikeMN, contact Helena — Helena@BikeMN.org
“I’d rather go by bike” and other quotes from past Adult Learn to Ride Students:
Traffic Skills 101 — Smart Cycling (long course)
This traffic skills course gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques and includes a student manual. Recommended for adults and children above age fourteen, this fast-paced, course prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling. Traffic Skills 101 is a nine-hour multi-day course and is a prerequisite to becoming an LCI.
Traffic Skills 101: On-line & Hands-On
This course covers all of the same material as TS101. However, it involves successful completion of the on-line course available at bikeed.org prior to a five-hour hands-on course focused on handling skills, emergency maneuvers, and on-the-road training. To help organize a Traffic Skills class in your community, contact us.
Basic Bike Maintenance
The basic maintenance training session for Walk!Bike!Fun! Educators and Ambassadors provides instruction and hands-on application on diagnosing and performing common adjustments and repairs, including flat tires, braking, and shifting systems.
BikeMN offers overview courses covering the fundamentals of bicycle care and maintenance as a 3-part series. Instruction for each topic includes discussion, demonstration, and individual practice. Participants are welcomed and encouraged to bring their own bike, or BikeMN will provide a bike to practice your skills on. Sign up for individual sessions or the whole series!
We are typically only able to schedule maintenance classes during the winter season. See our class calendar for current offerings.
Maintenance Basics – Walk!Bike!Fun! educators
This class provides an overview of basic bicycle maintenance and repair, including preventative checks, simple mechanical adjustments for braking and shifting, and flat repair.
Session 1 – Repair fundamentals, prevention, cleaning, basics of fit, and fix-a-flat
Included in this session is steps for a basic preventative maintenance check, effective cleaning techniques for different parts of the bike, how to adjust a bike for optimal fit, and repairing a flat tire.
Session 2 – Introduction to mechanical adjustments for braking and shifting systems
Included in this session is instruction on cable replacement, brake adjustment including rim- and disc-brakes, derailleur adjustment, chain care and replacement, and explanation of the tools needed for each adjustment.
Session 3 – Bearings (hubs, headset, bottom bracket), wheel truing
Included in this session is discussion and instruction of hubs, headsets, bottom brackets, freewheels, cassettes, and spoke-tension adjustment.
I didn’t realize how much more there was to know about riding a bike before I took a class. Very informative and helpful information, this was a great boost for my comfort and confidence — thank you!