FAQ & Rates

Q: Am I too old to learn how to ride a bike?

A: If you can stand on one leg for 15 seconds you can almost certainly learn to ride confidently. Since 2001 we've taught over 7,000 students, ages 2 to 82. We often work with students with varying levels of physical and mental challenges.

Q: How long does it take to learn?  How long is a learn-to-ride lesson?

A: Learning rates vary. Most adults are pedaling in one 2-hour lesson and master all "Level 1" (learn to ride) skills in 2 lessons. For a first lesson we suggest 2 hours for adults and older teens, 90 minutes for young teens, and 60-75 minutes for younger kids. Some lucky students learn in just one lesson but usually it takes 2-3. Some students take 6 lessons or more. It is hard to predict how long it will take to learn. All students should bring their bike own helmet.

Q: Do you provide bikes for first-time riders?

A: Usually but it depends on the instructor, location, and number of students. Our instructors may or may not have enough bikes for 2 or 3 person lessons. Let us know your height(s) when you book your lesson.  If you already have a bike, please bring it so we can do a safety and fit check for you. We bring tools for adjustments and minor repairs. Please bring your own helmet.

Q: Will my bike work for the lesson?

A: For new learners, a bike you can sit on with both feet flat on the ground is best. A hand-brake is best because we remove pedals for learning to balance. More experienced bicyclists should have a bike where the seat can be raised to tip toe length or beyond.

Q: What are the prerequisites for your handling skills lesson?

A: The student should be able to ride in a straight line using only one hand on the handlebars so they can signal with the other. To learn to ride with just 1 hand, in a safe area where you can ride straight, start "hovering" one hand above the handlebar while the other continues to steer. Work up to hovering the hand off the bar for 10 seconds. Also try riding around with one hand on your hip. It is best if you can ride with either hand steering but most important in the US to be able to use your left hand for signaling. Students must have their own bike and helmet. Biking gloves also recommended.

Q: What are the prerequisites for your ride along coaching lesson?

A: The student should be able to ride in a straight line while looking directly back over their shoulder as well as be able to signal a turn with either hand. Students must have their own bike and helmet. Biking gloves and a water bottle also recommended.

Q: Where should I buy a helmet?

A: Best to buy a bike helmet from a bike shop such as the ones we recommend on our resources page but a helmet bought from any brick and mortar store is ok because they are all legally required to have undergone verified safety testing. Please do not buy a helmet online because many helmets bought online have not been safety certified - caveat emptor.

Q: Where should I buy a bicycle?

A: Best to buy a bicycle from a bike shop that also repairs bikes so that it has been assembled correctly and the shop can fix anything that might go wrong with the bike. We highly recommend the shops listed on our resources page. Please do NOT buy bikes from big box stores like Target, Walmart, Costco, etc. These bikes are very cheaply made, hard to adjust or fix, and often not assembled correctly. For much more information about e-bikes, see our e-bikes page.

Q: Where are lessons available?

A: We meet clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, at schools, parks, and parking lots we've carefully selected to be ideal for learning to ride. Cities include San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Sunnyvale, Alameda, Fremont, Hayward, Los Altos, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Campbell, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Stanford, and Marin County. Our Handling Skills lessons can be done at many more locations and our Ride-A-Long coaching on streets can be done from wherever you would like to start to wherever you would like to go. For lessons away from an instructors normal location, instructors may add an additional time & transportation charge to be paid directly to them either in advance or at the time of the lesson.

Q: Is this 1-on-1 or a group class?

A: We offer 1-, 2- and 3-student private lessons by appointment booked thru BicycleSolutions.fullslate.com.
We also offer classes and other educational services for businesses and governments, call 408-781-1094 for more information about these. For 2 or 3 student lessons, you need to provide the entire group of students; Bicycle Solutions cannot find other students to join your session. We often teach friends together or parents and kids. Siblings can sometimes be challenging due to competition or jealously and we often have better success teaching them individually. If you do have siblings attend together make sure they all know (even twins) that different people learn at different rates, don't give up and keep trying and everyone can learn!

Q: What are your rates, and how can I pay?

A: Our rates are $120/hour for 1 student, $180/hour for 2 students ($90/student), and $210/hour for 3 students ($70/student).  Payment is required in advance at time of reservation using a credit card (we changed our payment policy due to no-shows and last minute cancellations). Time is charged by the quarter-hour, 1-hour minimum. Tips may be paid through Bicycle Solutions or directly to the instructor at the lesson via whatever means the instructor prefers (typically Venmo, cash, etc.).

We also offer Gift Certificates (see below).

Classes/contracts for businesses and government start at $1000, depend on the services needed, and there are many payment options.

Q: What are your cancellation/refund policies?

A:
WEATHER: If rain is underway or likely the day of the lesson, the instructor will contact you about two hours before the start time by text unless you let them know that you would prefer email or voice. Many Bicycle Solutions instructors and students are happy to learn in the rain, but this varies and is optional. Lightning or thunder always cancels lessons. No charge for rescheduling due to weather, medical, or emergency.

CANCELLATIONS & CHANGES:

If an instructor cannot accept a lesson or cancels or does not show up -- full refund.

Cancellations more than 24 hours in advance -- full refund.

Rescheduling more than 24 hours in advance -- no charge.

Weather, medical, or emergency -- full refund or no charge to reschedule.

Cancellations or rescheduling 2 to 24 hours before lesson start -- except for weather, medical, or emergency --  $100 is charged, remainder is refunded.

If a lesson ends earlier than originally scheduled, there is a 1 hour minimum charge and other unused time is refunded.

No show or cancellations within 2 hours of lesson -- full lesson price is charged, except for weather, medical, or emergency.

Q: Do you offer Gift Certificates?

A: Yes, via our FullSlate booking system (PayPal payment).  Your recipient receives a certificate via email with a redemption code for booking a lesson.