Bike Fitting

This section outlines how to examine a client's cycle and prepare it for training and use.

Bike set-up

Fitting a bike to the size of a client can make a significant difference to long term comfort and safety and therefore the likelihood that they will continue to cycle. Good advice on sizing can also help the client purchase a bike sensibly, and save them money.

What you must do to meet The National Standard:

  1. Know the different types of cycle available and be able to explain their use to clients
  2. Check the client against the cycle statically and while riding and make necessary adjustments to facilitate comfortable and safe riding
  3. Know and have to hand any tools needed to make adjustments
  4. Advise clients on the appropriateness of their cycle for their aspirations and advise modifications, accessories etc. that will improve client's participation in cycling
  5. Where a cycle is unsuitable to not allow it to be used and agree a course of action with the client (and parent/ teacher or leader)
  6. Record the checks made and the work carried out

To be competent in this unit you must demonstrate minimum levels of knowledge accompanying each item of the standard.

What you must cover:

You must show that you have worked with a range of clients and bikes and correctly set up the cycle with adjustments needed. You must know the principles of cycle set up and the range of cycles most commonly in use such as mountain bikes, hybrids, road bikes, folding bikes and BMX.

Click here to download further guidance on bike set-up

Assessing roadworthiness

Remember that even a brand-new bicycle will not necessarily be roadworthy. It still needs to be checked as it can be badly set-up, bolts may have worked loose and cables may have stretched. Whilst training, instructors must be vigilant and take action in the event of mechanical failure or a defect becoming apparent. This may involve modifying, curtailing or cancelling the training session.

What you must do to meet the National Standard:

  1. Check the cycle following CTSB guidance
  2. Use the cycle check to educate the client in examination of their cycle
  3. Identify the components that need maintenance, adjustment or replacement
  4. Not allow an unsafe cycle to be used
  5. Demonstrate any unsafe conditions to the client and if appropriate clients? parent or teacher
  6. Recommend corrective action required and the competence needed to take such action
  7. Record the check you have made and any action taken
  8. Repeat all of the above for additional equipment supplied by the course or the client including safety clothing

To be competent in this unit you must demonstrate minimum levels of knowledge accompanying each item of the standard.

What you must cover:

You must show that you have checked the following and correctly diagnosed safety failures and adjustments needed. You should have correctly diagnosed the remedial action including those beyond your own limits which have to be referred to a mechanic.

Click here to download further guidance outlining how to assess the roadworthiness of a cycle

Bike Check

A client's bicycle must be in a roadworthy condition, not only for training, but to ensure the instructor is giving a trainee good advice on future cycle use. Booking procedures must include a checklist that the client can use to make sure their cycle is in a suitable state.

Clients however, cannot be relied upon to arrive with a machine that is either fully roadworthy, or appropriately set up for their use. In many cases the basic knowledge on how to set up a bicycle for the clients? use can have a rapid effect on their control, their comfort and ultimately the likelihood that they will find cycling effective and enjoyable.

In the case of younger riders or those with a history of conditions such as arthritis, poorly set up cycles can cause damage to knees and the instructor should be in a position to prevent this.

Click here to download further guidance on checking a bike

Bike Adjustments

The standards needed for instructors to make adjustments to a client's cycle are outlined below.

Please note that the minimum standards that are needed for instructors to make those adjustments are described. It is not possible to detail the correct adjustment methods for every bike and component combination on the market. This knowledge is either gained through experience or through a structured training programme which can be provided by a number of providers. Visit www.ctc.org.uk for further information.

What you must do to meet The National Standard:

  1. Have carried out appropriate cycle checks
  2. Identify the components that need maintenance, adjustment or replacement
  3. Have to hand the appropriate tools to make corrections and adjustments to cycle and know their safe use
  4. Carry out adjustments for the safety and comfort of clients to allow activity to take place
  5. Not allow an unsafe cycle to be used and demonstrate any unsafe conditions to the client/ parent or teacher
  6. Recommend further corrective action required and the competence needed to take such action
  7. Record the adjustments you have made and any action taken
  8. Repeat all of the above for additional equipment supplied by the course or the client including safety clothing
  9. Set up and adjust a range of cycles most commonly in use using appropriate tools and methods

The most important safety element of the standard is that instructors should know the limits of their own skill and when an adjustment becomes a repair. It is not in the instructor?s interests to get into a repair situation during training because it can be a long drawn out procedure that wastes both your time and the clients'.

The initial bike check distinguishes the following actions as adjustments:

The following will be identified as repairs during checks and will be referred to a qualified mechanic.

Do not allow an unsafe cycle to be used and demonstrate any unsafe conditions to the client and if appropriate client's parent or teacher. Recommend further corrective action such as repair or replacement. If possible recommend a friendly bike shop that will assist entry level clients without taking advantage. Record the adjustments you have made and any action taken.

What you must cover:

You must demonstrate that you can set up and adjust a range of cycles most commonly in use using appropriate tools and methods.

If instructors do not own a range of bikes then it is important to practice on a range of machines during training or at home. Being caught out by making an adjustment that works poorly at the start of training is very deflating for both clients and instructors and can take a lot of time out of a lesson.

Consider:

Different bikes such as:

Different gearing systems such as:

Different braking systems such as:

You will also be able to use:

To be competent in this unit you must demonstrate minimum levels of knowledge accompanying each item of the standard. You must show that you have checked the following and correctly carried out adjustments needed. You should have correctly diagnose actions beyond your own limits which have to be referred to a mechanic.

Instructors should also have their own range of tools or obtain them from their scheme organiser.