Bicycle Workshops

Separated Bike Lane

The City of Cambridge is proud to offer bicycle education workshops throughout the year, free to those who work or live in Cambridge. All classes are paid for by the City of Cambridge and every participant receives one free helmet each year. For any questions or to schedule a helmet pick up, email Tenzin Choephel at tchoephel@cambridgema.gov or call 617-349-4628. Please stay tuned for updates.  

Summer 2023 Workshops

Power Pedal

Power Pedal helps adults 60+ get in cycling shape. 

Are you 60 or older and looking to get in cycling shape? “Power Pedal” is an 8-week fitness series that prepares older adults to get back in the (bike) saddle! Participants will ease into biking with preparatory exercise and strength building classes that focus on balance, flexibility, and reflex/agility work. The series is designed for older adults of all abilities, whether you’re returning to riding after many years or getting in shape for the summer cycling season.

The 8-week series runs from June 6 – July 27 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9– 9:50 a.m. Power Pedal. All classes will be offered as hybrid, with participants able to participate virtually or in-person at the Cambridge Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave.

Classes will focus on strength building and will move at an easy pace, with breaks between sets. Equipment, including resistance bands and 1-lb hand weights, will be provided for in-person participants.

To register for Power Pedal, call the Council on Aging at 617-349-6220.

Power Pedal is part of the City’s Healthy Aging and Bicycling series, a collaboration between the Council on Aging and the Community Development Department.

 

Videos of Past Bike Workshops

Community Bike Workshops

Healthy Aging and Bicycling Series

Youth Bicycle Education Workshops

For more information

For more information about workshops, email tchoephel@cambridgema.gov. 

Click here to join the mailing list for future bike workshops. 

Class Descriptions

Bicycle Maintenance Basics

This workshop covers the following topics:

  • The anatomy of the bike
  • Removing wheels
  • Fixing flats
  • Chain Maintenance
  • Pre-Ride check
  • Seat height
  • Portable tool kit
  • Keeping your bike healthy with preventative bike maintenance

Beyond Maintenance Basics

This workshop covers the following topics:

  • Basic repair tools
  • Thoroughly cleaning and lubricating your bike
  • Removing both wheels
  • Completely changing a flat tire
  • Pinpointing squeaks and rattles
  • Removing pedals
  • Adjusting front and rear brakes + derailleurs,
  • Dealing with a broken spoke

Winter Biking Basics

This workshop covers the following topics:

  • Benefits of biking, including better personal health, saved money, environmental benefits, and others
  • Staying at a comfortable temperature no matter what the weather is like
  • Route planning
  • Locking
  • Multi-modal commuting
  • Staying dry and clean
  • Using safety equipment, including helmet, lights, and reflective gear
  • Rules of the Road and staying safe while biking

On-Bike Refresher Course

The Basics of Better Biking class is a three hour class designed for adults who want to get back into bicycling, improve cycling skills, learn to ride more effectively and safely in traffic, and/or participate in a large-scale benefit ride. This three-hour weekend session provides guided instruction with simple practice drills in a parking lot, easy-paced riding on local roadways for short distances, and group-discussion breaks along the way. Topics covered include bike and helmet fitting, starting and stopping your bike in traffic, shifting gears, scanning and yielding, choosing the correct lane position in the road, handling intersections, and more.

Some notes about the class:

  • A bicycle in good working order and a helmet are required.
  • Preregistration is required.
  • This class is intended for participants 18 and older, unless otherwise noted.

Riding with Families

  • Options for biking with children, such as front seats, rear seats, front cargo bikes, bike trailers
  • How is biking with kids different than biking solo?
  • How can I bike with my children when there are no routes with bike infrastructure?
  • How young is too young for children to be with parents while biking?
  • What does the law say for children?
  • How is buying bikes for children different from buying bikes for adults?
  • How do I appropriately fit a child to a bicycle?
  • How do I teach children the rules of the road?
  • What is the Safe Routes to School program? 

Rules of the Road

This workshop covers the following topics:

  • Bike safety statistics
  • Rules of the road
  • Bike-specific laws and legislation
  • Car-specific laws and legislation
  • General safety tips
  • Current legislative efforts
  • Motivation for obeying traffic laws

Urban Cycling Basics

This workshop covers the following topics:

  • Finding the right kind of bike
  • Route planning
  • Safety equipment, including lights and a helmet
  • Locking properly
  • Transporting small loads or children by bike
  • Multi-modal commuting
  • Rules of the road and safety tips.

For More Information

For more information about bicycle workshops or bicycle education in Cambridge, please contact Tenzin Choephel, tchoephel@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4628.

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