Trixina Smith was nervous when she started her first Auckland Transport beginner cycle training course but by the end, she had the confidence to think she could be a ‘bike person’.
“It was great. When I first started I was really nervous, I thought flip, I’m not going to be any good. I had a bit of a tumble but I’m still ok, so that’s good,” she says.
Trixina is one of many people who are taking advantage of Auckland Transport’s free cycle training courses. The courses are available for anyone in Auckland and cater for various confidence levels including those who have never been on a bike.
The courses will be held throughout Auckland and will be run to December.
The timing is perfect for Trixina, “I’m getting ready to buy a bike so this course has come along at just the right time.”
“My whole family bike, including the little girls, so we now can go out together. I want to do it for my health, fitness and the practicality of getting around the North Shore. I used to run for fitness but I thought biking might work better.”
Zane Bray who organises the training for Auckland Transport on the shore says: “It’s great to see the progression. It’s just the smiles you get out of people. Everyone who comes along seems to learn something from each course.”
Trixina Smith has already signed up for two more beginner courses, the cycling on the road course and the maintenance course.
“I think it’s amazing that AT put these on for someone like me who never had a bike as a child. I never rode. The little bit I did I was nervous, so coming to this has given me confidence.
Once people have been on the beginner course they can move to the ‘Cycling on the Road’ course. Other courses include a ‘Road Cycling Workshop’ tailored for people who would might be training for a cycle event and would like to join a training group on road, the ‘Basics of Bike Maintenance’ course and the ‘City Riding’ courses which is aimed at the slightly more confident person on a bike wanting to try cycling in the centre of Auckland.