All exercises are based on insights from cognitive neuroscience. That is why we group these exercises on the basis of the same four questions that we have also used to describe these insights:
- How do we stay upright?
- How do we steer?
- How do we see danger?
- What does fear do to us?
All exercises are done on an enclosed site outside the public road (a large parking lot, an event area). This does not mean that you can not improve your cycling skills on public roads (see here). It is true that focused practice of a certain skill, especially in combination with instruction, is only possible in an enclosed area. Most exercises use tools (soft handles, feelers, brake light, …).
The exercises consist of three sets that have to be done in this order: (1) staying upright → (2) steering → (3) seeing danger. The exercises for steering require that one can stay upright, and the exercises for seeing danger require that one can steer well. Learning to deal with fear is not a separate set of exercises, but a set of guidelines on how to deal with fear. These guidelines must be combined with the actual exercises.
For each exercise there is room for adjustments and extensions inspired by the insight and creativity of the cycling instructor. When proposing adjustments and extensions, due care is required:
- Adjustments and extensions must serve a well-defined purpose, as holds for the exercises described on this website, which can all be motivated from insights from cognitive neuroscience.
- The adjustments and expansions must be described in a protocol, so that it is possible to share them with colleagues.