everybodyBIKE Classes

Learn bicycling skills with everybodyBIKE, the bicycle education program for Whatcom Smart Trips. Take advantage of the many free everybodyBIKE educational materials, classes and events to find out how you and your family can cycle comfortably, safely, and often. No matter what your age or ability level, everybodyBIKE skills-building can help bicycling become part of your transportation portfolio.

Full Cycle is offered quarterly throughout the year. First Gear and Fixing to Ride are offered monthly. Complete and send in the everybodyBIKE registration form or call 671-BIKE to sign up for the next class.

Get details below about bicycle education programs for adults and children:

Full Cycle, four part course:

1. First Gear
2. Fixing to Ride
3. Traffic & Trail
4. On the Road

Kid's Eye View: Teaching Your Child to Bike
Share the Road presentation for groups
Bike Buddies customized assistance

Classes for Children:
Sprocket Hero Bicycle Safety Presentations
Bike Rodeo Skills Courses

Full Cycle

Full Cycle is a four-part bike skills course offering information and techniques to increase your cycling confidence and comfort. Find out where on the road to ride, how to handle left turns, hazards, and more.

Part One, First Gear: Introduction to rules of the road for new bicyclists. Essential skills for starting out right. Class participants who successfully complete the First Gear course receive a bike skills text book, bike map, and more.

1. Crashes are preventable: statistics that may surprise you
2. Being Visible means more than lights and colors
3. Basics on bike fit and safety checks
4. Where on the road should cyclists ride?
5. Trail sharing rules, Traffic laws
6. Bike maps and route planning
7. Night riding requirements
8. Practical, cost-effective safety gear and accessories

Part Two, Fixing to Ride: Learn some easy adjustments for good bike fit and smooth operation, including how to repair a flat tire.

1. Bike types – frames and fit for different functions
2. Quick and easy fixing a flat tire
3. Shifting gears: tips for timing and climbing
4. Cables and adjustments for brakes and gears
5. Care and feeding of your bike
6. Evaluating new components: less is sometimes more

Part Three, Traffic and Trail: Techniques and skills to avoid hazards on roads or trails; pointers for increasing speed and safety while riding in groups.

1. Roadway types and Traffic principles
2. Being Visible is about lane positioning
3. Intersections demystified
4. Highway interchanges handled
5. How trails and sidewalks intersect with traffic
6. Avoiding sudden hazards 
7. Group riding, passing, drafting
8. “Weather” to ride: preparing for cold or rain
9. Improving skills: cadence, speed, endurance, group riding  
10. Overview of road ride course and learning goals

Part Four, On the Road: Practice your Full Cycle skills with a group ride on downtown Bellingham streets.

1. basic bike handling
1. Starting
2. stopping
3. pedal cadence,
4. braking
2. Shoulder check
3. Rock dodge
4. Quick turn
5. Emergency stop
6. Signaling for turn, stop, or slow
7. Road ride:
1. entering road from driveway or trail
2. narrow lane
3. right turn
4. left turn
5. multiple left turn lanes
6. lane position for straight vs right turn
7. railroad tracks
8. gear shifting
9. lane change, shoulder check, signaling
8. communicating with pedestrians, other cyclists

You do not need to bring a bike to classes, but it is recommended that you bring a bike to part 4 "On the Road." If you're thinking of buying a bike, sign up for First Gear to find out what features you'll want to look for and what to avoid. You may request a loaned bike and helmet when you sign up for the Full Cycle class series. If you have questions, call 671-BIKE. To register, complete and return the everybodyBIKE Full Cycle Registration form.

Kid's Eye View: Teaching Your Child to Bike

Children love to bicycle and they need some pointers to stay safe. Kid's Eye View helps parents know how to model and teach the key traffic rules that will keep young cyclists safe and happy. Many parents received little bicycle safety training when they were children and some traffic rules have changed: Kid's Eye View is a useful refresher.

What parents should know about teaching kids to bike (PDF)

Bike Safety Presentations for Groups

Need an engaging speaker for a kids' club or school group? Invite a Certified Cycling Instructor to make a short presentation about bicycle safety tips.  Or invite Sprocket Hero to thrill youngsters with a special appearance.  Presentations are up to one-hour long and your group will learn how to check a bike for safe functioning, how and why to wear a helmet correctly, and some key tips for avoiding crashes.

Bike Rodeo Skills Courses

EverybodyBIKE can help your school or group host a fun and festive bike rodeo. Children love the active learning where they can build their cycling skills with a series of stations on a safe course.  Each station teaches a different bike safety technique. Children learn helmet fit, bike check, balancing, stopping and more.  Bicycle Rodeos require some advance planning and coordination with a school or community group to arrange a rodeo area, staffing and volunteer support. EverybodyBIKE provides a team of instructors, all the course equipment, incentive prizes, loaned bikes and helmets. Rodeos are best for larger groups of children (100 or so) aged 6 to 12 and for events lasting at least two hours.

Bike Buddies

No time for a Full Cycle Class?  Request a Bike Buddy! You'll receive customized, one-on-one assistance at a time and place that works for you. Bike Buddies can help you choose your route, check your bike for safety, or ride along and answer questions about rules of the road. Call 671-BIKE.

Who are the everybodyBIKE Instructors?

EverybodyBIKE Teaching Team Instructors are certified by the League of American Bicyclists to teach bike riding skills and safety. Full Cycle is based on the League's nationally-known Road One course. League Cycling Instructors (LCI) for everybodyBIKE Teaching Team include cyclists with years of experience in cross-country touring, daily bike commuting, professional bike racing, commuting in New York City and D.C., health care, professional teaching, transportation planning, bicycling with young children, and more.