Essential Cycling Skills (ECS)
Essential Cycling Skills is a series of practical cycling courses for adults to build their confidence on a bicycle.
From learning to ride to refreshing your on-road cycling skills, there is an Essential Cycling Skills session for everyone.
Cycling Scotland-approved trainers deliver each session, and these are available across Scotland. This includes training for complete beginners, confidence-building sessions, training for families, and cargo bike riders.
Use the links below to learn more about each session, book a course, or find your local trainer.
Everyone deserves the chance to learn to ride a bicycle, no matter their age. This session is for adults who have always wanted to cycle but have never had the chance or returning riders who haven’t ridden for a while.
Trainers will support riders develop balance on two wheels before introducing pedalling.
Duration: 1-1.5hours
Cost: Essential Cycling Skills sessions are usually free but please enquire at the time of booking.
What do I need? Clothes suitable for the weather conditions and a bike in working order. Some trainers may be able to provide access to a bike during the course. Please enquire at the time of booking.
How do I book Essential Cycling Skills? Use our interactive map to find a trainer in your area and contact them for details of upcoming training.
Can’t find a trainer near you? Please email Cycling Scotland training@cycling.scot for more information.
Ready to leave cycle paths behind and take on the open road? This session is for adults who regularly cycle in traffic-free areas and want to build their confidence to cycle on the road.
Trainers will introduce riders to on-road cycling in a range of quiet locations using simple infrastructure. The session will gradually build your confidence cycling on the road and in traffic.
Duration: 2-2.5 hours
Cost: Essential Cycling Skills courses are usually free but please enquire at the time of booking.
What do I need? Clothes suitable for the weather conditions and a bike in working order. Some trainers may be able to provide access to a bike during the course. Please enquire at the time of booking.
How do I book Essential Cycling Skills? Use our interactive map to find a trainer in your area and contact them for details of upcoming training.
Can’t find a trainer near you? Please email Cycling Scotland training@cycling.scot for more information.
This session is for adults who are getting ready to ride on busier roads and junctions. Covering more complex infrastructure and route planning, the trainer can also provide tips on roadside repairs, so you are better prepared for unexpected issues.
Duration: 2-2.5 hours
Cost: Essential Cycling Skills courses are usually free but please enquire at the time of booking.
What do I need? Clothes suitable for the weather conditions and a bike in working order. Some trainers may be able to provide access to a bike during the course. Please enquire at the time of booking.
How do I book Essential Cycling Skills? Use our interactive map to find a trainer in your area and contact them for details of upcoming training.
Can’t find a trainer near you? Please email Cycling Scotland training@cycling.scot for more information.
Designed to help families cycle together with more confidence, this session is aimed at parents/guardians cycling with their children. The focus of the training is to equip the whole family with the skills and confidence to cycle together safely as a group.
The whole family is encouraged to attend the training.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cost: Essential Cycling Skills courses are usually free but please enquire at the time of booking.
What do I need? All participants will require clothes suitable for the weather conditions and a bike in working order. Some trainers may be able to provide access to bikes during the course. Please enquire at the time of booking.
How do I book Essential Cycling Skills? Use our interactive map to find a trainer in your area and contact them for details of upcoming training.
Can’t find a trainer near you? Please email Cycling Scotland training@cycling.scot for more information.
The Cargo Bike session is aimed at people who want to cycle competently and confidently for work or for personal use on a cargo bike.
The focus of the course is on becoming familiar with methods to enable you to become accustomed to the unique riding characteristics of the cargo bike you use and focuses on key cycling activities both in a traffic free and an on-road environment.
Duration: 2-2.5 hours
Cost: Essential Cycling Skills courses are usually free but please enquire at the time of booking.
What do I need? All participants will require clothes suitable for the weather conditions and a cargo bike in working order. Some trainers may be able to provide access to cargo bikes during the course. Please enquire at the time of booking.
How do I book Essential Cycling Skills? Use our interactive map to find a trainer in your area and contact them for details of upcoming training.
Can’t find a trainer near you? Please email Cycling Scotland training@cycling.scot for more information.
If you are interested in taking part in an Essential Cycling Skills training course, please use our interactive map to find a trainer in your area.
Trainers will be able to let you know when they are planning to deliver Essential Cycling Skills training in your area. They will also provide booking information and answer any specific questions you might have.
Can’t find a trainer near you? Please email Cycling Scotland training@cycling.scot for more information.
For more information about Essential Cycling Skills, please email Cycling Scotland training@cycling.scot.