Since 2023: what we have learned about teaching girls to ride
More than three years in, here are the lessons that shaped how we teach, who we have become and where we are going.
Knowledge base
Learn everything about cycling
Free, practical guides from our coaches: step-by-step lessons for beginners, road safety, bicycle care, health, careers and how cycling helps our environment.
Start here
Learn to cycle in 5 steps
Follow these five lessons in order and you will go from your first wobble to riding on the road.
24 articles
Bicycles and girls’ education: what the evidence shows
For many girls, the distance to school decides whether they stay in education. A look at the research on bicycles and schooling, and what it means for Bangladesh.
Teaching your mother (or daughter) to ride: a guide for families
Patience, praise and a quiet place: how to help someone you love learn to cycle, from the first wobble to the first ride alone.
Cycling and mental wellbeing: freedom, focus and calm
Regular activity lifts mood and eases low feelings. Cycling adds fresh air, routine, achievement and company. Here is how to use it well.
Plan a low-carbon commute in one week
A simple seven-day plan to swap a regular trip for your bicycle, without stress, with tips on routes, clothes, luggage and safety.
Becoming a delivery rider: what to know first
Delivery work can give you your own income on two wheels. Here is how to prepare, stay safe and make a realistic plan.
Riding in a group: rules, signals and etiquette
Group rides are fun, social and safer in many ways, but only when everyone follows the same rules. Here is how to ride well with others.
From beginner to federation rider: how to start racing
Dreaming of racing? Here is a realistic path from your first ride to a first race, with training, kit and the federation.
Cycling for health: how much is enough?
You do not need to ride for hours. Small, regular rides are good for your heart, strength and mood, and the science backs it up.
Fix a flat tyre, step by step
A puncture is not the end of your ride. Learn to fix one yourself with three simple tools.
Keep your chain clean and lubed (a beginner’s guide)
A clean, lightly oiled chain makes pedalling easier and helps your bicycle last longer. Here is how, and how often.
Cycling and women’s independence
A bicycle puts school, work and the market within reach, on your own terms and your own schedule. Here is what research and reporting say.
Overcoming the fear of falling
Almost every beginner is afraid of falling. Here is how to make that fear smaller, one step at a time.
Cycling and clean air: what a bicycle really saves
No exhaust, less noise and calmer streets. A look at how everyday cycling helps the air we breathe, and where it fits in the bigger picture.
Step 5: Hand signals and road rules for beginners
The signals and rules that keep you and everyone around you safe when you move from the practice ground to the road.
How to choose and fit a helmet
A helmet only works when it fits well. Here is how to pick one and adjust it in five minutes.
Check your bicycle in one minute: the ABC quick check
A quick routine to do before every ride so your bicycle is safe, smooth and ready.
How bicycles help reduce traffic jams on short trips
Most city journeys are short. Here is why swapping even some of them for a bicycle makes streets calmer for everyone.
Step 4: Turning, looking back and riding straight
Steer with confidence: smooth turns, a steady straight line and the skill of looking behind you.
Step 3: Pedal, start and stop
Put the pedals to work: how to start smoothly, keep pedalling and stop safely with both brakes.
Step 2: Learn balance without pedals
The scoot-and-glide method that helps most beginners find their balance within a few short sessions.
How to set your saddle height
A saddle that is too low tires your knees, and one that is too high makes you wobble. Here is how to get it right.
Step 1: Meet your bicycle (parts, size and clothing)
Before you ride, learn the parts of your bicycle, check the size, and dress so nothing can catch in the wheels.
Why we started Girls On Gears in 2023
A small idea, a few bicycles and one big belief: every girl deserves to ride.
Ready to ride with us?
Reading is a great start. Riding with women coaches is even better.