Upcoming Bike Workshop Schedule
Bicycle Maintenance in Depth
Tuesdays, March 23-April 6, 6:00pm-7:30pm
Register Here
March 23 - AIR: Everything you want to know about tires, changing a tube or tire, and keeping your wheels rolling!
March 30 - BRAKES: This workshop will cover the braking system, from types of brakes, to brake adjustments, and brake maintenance.
April 6 - CHAIN (and Drivetrain): Okay, we won’t only be talking about chains for the entire hour. This workshop will focus on maintaining your drivetrain – including cleaning/oiling your chain, derailleur adjustments, gearing, and shifting
Urban Cycling Basics
Tuesday April 13, 6:00pm-7:30pm
Register Here
Many of us know how to bicycle, but how do we navigate streets safely and make bicycling a part of our daily (or weekly routine)? We will discuss bicycle infrastructure, ways to navigate turning on busy streets and tricky intersections, common crashes, and multi-modal commuting. Come prepared with any questions you would like answered!
Healthy Aging and Cycling: Monthly Coffee+Tea Hour
2nd Tuesday of every month, 9:30am-10:30am
Register Here
Upcoming dates:
- Tuesday, April 13
- Tuesday, May 11
This virtual meet up is intended to offer a time to get to know other older adults in Cambridge who are interested in bicycling as well as a provide platform for older adults to ask questions and share knowledge with each other around bicycling from gear to favorite places to ride. Adi Philson, Cambridge's Mobility Education Coordinator, will moderate the meeting and be available to provide expert advice. Whether you're a weekend warrior, an experienced commuter, or a beginner looking to start riding for the first time, bring your coffee, tea, or other preferred morning beverage and get ready to talk bikes!
Healthy Aging and Cycling: Power Pedal
Tuesdays and Thursdays April 6-May 27, 12:30-1:30pm
Register Here
A collaboration between Cambridge’s Community Development Department and Council on Aging, this free 8-week class series is intended to help older adults of all abilities get into bicycling shape. Instructors Cindy Sullivan (Tuesdays) and Hua Chin (Thursdays) will take you through a comprehensive regime of strength, balance, flexibility, and reflex/agility work designed to especially improve bicycling mobility movements and performance – whether you are looking to get back on a bicycle after many years of riding or get in shape for the upcoming season. No equipment necessary, although there will be the option to incorporate hand weights or household items for added resistance.
This fitness class series is intended to be the first unit of a 3-unit Healthy Aging and Cycling in Cambridge program.
Unit 1: Power Pedal Fitness Classes (April 6-May 27)
Unit 2: On-Bike Skills Clinic (Dates to be announced)
Unit 3: Urban Cycling: from bike paths to on-street riding – bicycling for transportation (Dates to be announced)
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 aphilson@cambridgema.gov.
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 Adi Philson, aphilson@cambridgema.gov, 617/349-6012.