CAN-BIKE Skills II Course

Canada's premier traffic cycling survival course! Covers bicycle care, repairs, riding techniques, detecting and avoiding hazards, and emergency manoeuvres. Combination of classroom and on-bike instruction helps you cycle better and and more safely in traffic. Essential skills for the recreational or commuting cyclist. 22 hours including optional day tour; 18 hours without.

This course is for experienced riders (such as those who regularly ride to work, for recreation or with a cycling club) or for cyclists who have completed Skills I or Introduction to Cycling Skills. The main emphasis of the course is on developing riding skills and traffic proficiency.

This is an advanced course in defensive cycling for commuters and recreational cyclists who already ride in traffic. The course content is not difficult, but participants should be in reasonable physical condition - capable of riding for up to an hour at a time throughout the day - before taking this course.

The course may be delivered in a variety of formats, totalling 18 hours of instruction (22 hours for instructor candidates). The course involves six hours of classroom instruction and a minimum of 12 hours on-bike.

Course content is advanced, designed for experienced cyclists. Cyclists who have completed a Skills I or Introduction to Cycling Skills course may attend if they are able to demonstrate bicycle competency.

Content covers riding skills; traffic cycling proficiency; bicycle maintenance; health and fitness (including nutrition); equipment; consumerism.

Maintenance topics acquaint students with the most common mechanical problems, demonstrate basic maintenance and repair and reinforce the idea that routine maintenance is within the capabilities of most cyclists (it is not a bicycle maintenance or mechanics course).

Upon completion of the course, participants should feel confident to ride regularly and safely for utilitarian and recreational purposes, including touring and commuting on multi-lane expressways. They will also have information on organized cycling activities in their area and be encouraged to pursue cycling leadership opportunities.

Skills II is the prerequisite for all CAN-BIKE instructor level courses, including CAN-BIKE Instructor, Kids CAN-BIKE Instructor and Kids CAN-BIKE Instructor Trainer.

This course may be presented in a variety of formats, ranging from six three-hour evening sessions for public courses to two nine-hour sessions for police, EMT personnel and highly experienced cyclists. An outline for a popular two weekend course is presented below. Time allotments and emphasis will vary from course to course depending on the leader and the participants. Skills II courses for instructor-candidates are 22 hours.

Week 1
Friday evening	Class 1
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.	Classroom	Registration, introduction to CAN-BIKE programs Course description, course expectations Principles of traffic flow, traffic law, where to ride on the roadway Basic tool kit Bicycle inspection Reading Assignments (optional)
Saturday	Class 2
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.	On-road	Cycling style Group ride
9:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.	On-bike	Handling skills
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	On-road	Arterials and highways
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.	LUNCH
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.	On-road	Arterials and highways
Week 2
Friday evening	Class 3
6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.	Classroom	Cycling crashes, collisions and injuries
	On-bike	Puncture repair (may be done in classroom)
	Classroom	Riding conditions, Physiology, Straight road hazards
8:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.	Classroom	Video: Effective Cycling
Saturday	Class 4
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	On-bike	Advanced handling skills, Emergency manoeuvres
	On-road	Advanced handling skills, Merges, diverges
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	On-road	Advanced on-road, Multi-lanes, heavy traffic
	On-bike	Bike handling skills review
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.	LUNCH
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.	On-bike	Bike handling skills review (continued if necessary)
	EXAMS
1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.	On-bike	Handling skills exam
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.	On-road	Road exam
3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.	Classroom	Written Exam
3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.	Classroom	Evaluation and Wrap-up

Bicycle in good working condition with a bell or horn, lock, approved bicycle helmet, lunch or lunch money. A list of suggestions is sent to participants when they register. Participants should feel comfortable riding their bicycles on city streets before enrolling.

No student can be allowed to do the on-bike portions of this course (or any CAN-BIKE course) on an obviously unsafe bicycle - defective brakes, steering, headsets or loose assembly of seat or handlebars - as the safety of the entire group is at risk as well as the safety of that student. Participants must sign a student registration and liability waiver before participating in the program.

Nationally certified CAN-BIKE instructors, all experienced cyclists, teach all courses.

CAN-BIKE Hotline
Phone: (306) 978-BIKE (978-2453) or
Toll-Free: 1-888-CAN-BIKE (1-888-226-2453)