A FREE online video course for both men and women, explaining all the basic skills and safety advice for riding your bike in rural areas like the Scottish Borders. With more and more cyclists taking to the roads our aim is to provide the knowledge and skills you need to enjoy cycling safely and with confidence.

There’s no catch, no complications, just 100% professional, free advice. Easyriders is funded by Paths For All and Transport Scotland’s ‘Smarter Choices, Smarter Places’ initiative, through the direction of Scottish Borders Council. The videos cover everything from getting ready to ride to staying safe on the roads and planning your route. It’s best to watch some videos, then head out and do some practice, but you can dip in and out of any of the episodes whenever you want. We recommend you watch the entire course over a period of time (and practice!) – when you’ve finished you’ll be ready for those country roads with confidence.

Just register with Easyriders to access all the content and videos. You can also access suggested routes and maps of recommended rides in your area, and we’ll send you priority info on the Easy Does It bike event in Spring 2021. Your details will not be shared or used for any marketing.

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About

The Easyriders project started in 2018, with the aim of encouraging more women in the Scottish Borders to start using their bikes more – for travel or just for fun. We provided free cycling skills courses to help women gain the confidence and basic skills required to cycle safely.

The courses were a great success with thousands of women taking part, and a fun celebration event at the end to ride together with other particiapants. Some of the women have now taken up cycling more seriously but almost all can report positive changes for the lifestyle, health and self-confidence from taking part.

The Covid Pandemic has brought many changes in 2020, and one of them is a huge increase in cycling. Bikes have been selling fast and forgotten machines have been dragged from sheds all over the Scottish Borders – and the rest of the world. Our aim with Easyriders 2020 is to provide a helpful, easy-to-use and fun online course explaining all the basics of cycling safely and with confidence in a rural environment. It’s very much made in the Scottish Borders and aimed at our local population but of course the knowledge is appropriate everywhere.

The project is managed by Hillside Outside Ltd, the Peebles cycling and outdoor events company who run TweedLove Bike Festival, Tour O The Borders and other outdoor events. Instruction and cycling expertise was provided by Ridelines, the Innerleithen-based bike coaching and guiding experts. Easyriders is funded by Paths For All and Transport Scotland’s ‘Smarter Choices, Smarter Places’ initiative, through the direction of Scottish Borders Council.

Ride With Us

To celebrate all the new Borders riders now enjoying our fantastic cycling terrain, we’ll be hosting Easy Does It – a low cost cycling event in the Tweed Valley.

Scheduled for Spring 2021, the event aims to bring Easyriders participants together for a 20-30km (12-18 miles) ride, stopping for refreshments along the way. It’s great fun and a fabulous way to meet other Easyriders if Covid restrictions allow. Sign-up to our newsletter above to receive event updates via email.

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What sort of bike do I need?

Road Bikes

As the name suggests, road bikes are designed to ride on the road. Can’t all bikes ride on the road, you wonder? They absolutely can. But road bikes are optimised to make road cycling as efficient as possible, and because of that they’d perform terribly on a mountain dirt track.

Instead, road bikes are designed to help cyclists get the most out of the road, including the frame shape of the bike, the width of the tyres, and the weight of the components.

Defining characteristics: A lightweight frame, skinny tyres, drop handlebars (those are handlebars which curve back down underneath themselves) and a high gear ratio (i.e. The gears are set up to favour the ones that help you go really fast, if your legs and lungs are up to it.)

Get a road bike if: You want fast, efficient cycling on tarmac roads

Don’t get a road bike if: You want to take it off the road. Skinny tyres means you won’t really be able to use a road bike on anything other than tarmac. Icy roads can also be a problem for road bikes.

Road bike

Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikes are designed to go on on off-road trails, which means they’re chunkier, have knobbly tyres on them, and a frame which makes them better suited for seriously uneven terrain.

Defining characteristics: Wide, knobbly tyres for traction, and a wide range of gears to help you get up and over mountains or across fields. Some bikes have front suspension but are rigid at the back (‘hardtail’), and some have front and rear suspension for cushioning jumps and drops (‘full suspension’ or ‘full sus’). Others have neither.

Get a mountain bike if: You want to go mountain biking or mainly off road.

Don’t get a mountain bike if: You want to go fast on tarmac roads, cycle long distances, or mostly knock about town.

Mountain bike

Hybrid/Commuter Bikes

Hybrid bikes, or commuter bikes as they’re also known, are essentially a mixture between road bikes and mountain bikes. They give you the versatility to do a bit of everything. What you sacrifice in terms of speciality, you gain by being able to do what you want, when you want.

Defining characteristics: Unlike gravel/cyclocross bikes (below), hybrid bikes have flat handlebars instead of drop handlebars. Some models have front suspension to cushion bumps in the road or on the track, and others don’t. They’re designed with versatility and comfort in mind, so they have the comfortable geometry of mountain bikes but with slicker, narrower tyres.

Get a hybrid/commuter bike if: Your main use for the bike will be commuting and/or knocking about town, as well as occasionally using off road tracks.

Don’t get a hybrid/commuter bike if: You want to go full lycra and ride as fast as possible on roads, or tear down mountain bike trails.

Hybrid bike

Folding Bikes

Folding bikes are designed to fold up into a compact size so that you can store them away when you’re not using them, or cycle to the train or bus station and fold them up once you get there. They also fit neatly into a car or hall cupboard.

Defining characteristics: A folding frame and small wheels.

Get a folding bike if: You want to involve cycling on your commute but it’s a bit far, or you want to own a bike but have zero storage space.

Don’t get a folding bike if: You want to go off road or go really fast.

Folding bike

Electric Bikes

Electric bikes are, as the name suggests, part electric. They have a battery and a silent motor, and because of this they’re heavier than other bikes, but you’ll never curse a hill again in your life.

When you start pedalling, the motor ‘kicks in’ and gives you a push as if you had a fierce tailwind at your back, meaning you can essentially go anywhere at a steady pace without breaking a sweat.

Under UK legislation, the motor has to stop helping you once you hit 15.5mph, so you won’t get the chance to rocket uphill at 60mph.

Defining characteristics: A hybrid, mountain or road bike with a battery and a motor.

Get an electric bike if: You want to go twice the distance for half the effort.

Don’t get an electric bike if: You want to ‘feel the burn’ and develop thighs of steel.

Electric bike

Gravel & Cyclocross Bikes

These are bikes which follow the tradition of road cyclists in the olden days, who would swap their slick road tyres for knobblier tyres and continue to train during the winter months.

Defining characteristics: The easiest to spot is the drop handlebars like a road bike, instead of the flat handlebars of a hybrid. Like a hybrid, there’s also enough clearance (space around the wheel) for knobblier tyres and mudguards. It has more of a road bike feel than a hybrid does.

Gravel bike

Women's Bikes

Women’s bikes are designed for women, insofar as they come in smaller frame sizes and a different frame geometry to that of a ‘men’s’ bike. Sometimes they have a step-through frame, which were originally designed for their advantage to riders wearing dresses or skirts.

Riders of any gender should ride what feels comfortable and fits well. Women can choose to ride a men’s bike, and men can choose to ride a woman’s bike if it suits them.

Defining characteristics: Smaller and lighter frames with a shorter top tube (crossbar), a wider and shorter saddle, and often narrower handlebars with grips that are narrower in diameter.

Womens bike

Rides

Teviotdale Cycling (Teviotdale)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/teviotdale-cycling
https://www.facebook.com/TeviotdaleVC

For recreational cyclists who want to ride for fun, fitness and friends


Belles on Bikes Scottish Borders (Borders)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/belles-bikes-scottish-borders
https://www.meetup.com/Belles-on-Bikes-in-the-Borders-Meetup/

Social cycling group for women, open to all ages and abilities


Think Thrive! CIC (Borders)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/think-thrive-cic
http://www.thinkthrive.co.uk/feels-like-flying-bike-project/

Social enterprise helping people improve their lives including via a bike project


Ednam Cycling Club (Borders)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/ednan-cycling-club


Peebles Cycling Club

https://www.peeblescycling.org/membership-join-club/

Suggested Routes

Once you’ve watched all the videos, done your practice and are feeling confident, you can happily head out for a ride on the beautiful Borders roads.

We’re lucky this region has some of the best cycling routes in the Scottish Borders, so you’ll never run out of places to ride. Below are a selection of suggested routes in different parts of the Scottish Borders. Click the links for more info on the excellent Cycle Scottish Borders website, or download the route pdf to use on your phone or print out and take with you. More routes added soon. Enjoy!

 

Route 1
Selkirk Area
PDF Download Web page
Route 2
Melrose Area
PDF Download Web page
Route 3
Peebles/Innerleithen
PDF Download Web page

FAQs

Who is this project suitable for?

The Easyriders project is aimed at anyone who thinks they might like to ride their bike more – for fun, for travel, to go to work, to go out with friends… it doesn’t matter!

Many have taken up cycling during the Covid-19 pandemic so if you feel like you could do to brush on some skills or learn a bit more about road etiquette, it’s definitely for you too!

Do I need my own bike?

Yes, we don’t provide the bikes we’re afraid. The first couple of videos will give you all the info you need to make sure your bike is in working order before you head off anywhere too. If you’re not sure, take it to your local bike shop for a once over.

I've not been on a bike in years, is this course right for me?

Yes, absolutely. Everyone must have ridden a bike before at some point as it’s not intended to teach you how to ride a bike for the very first time.

Do I need to watch all of the videos?

Ideally we’d encourage you to watch the whole course, though you don’t have to watch them all in one go. But you can choose to dip in and out as you want  – each video has a little description that’ll let you know what it covers. Watch what you want, when you want.

Who is providing the tuition?

All the videos have been created in partnership with award-winning tuition providers, Ridelines. So be rest assured it’s sound advice from expert teachers!

Do I need a helmet?

We obviously can’t control what you do but we would strongly suggest wearing a helmet whenever you are on your bike. Check out video Episode 2 for some info on this.

Are there any associated costs?

Nope, everything is completely 100% free.

Can I view the videos when out and about on my bike?

Yes, all the videos can be viewed at anytime from your mobile device. Just make sure it’s safe to stop and check out anything you need to!

Who is behind this project?

The project is being managed by Hillside Outside Ltd, the Peebles cycling and outdoor events company who run TweedLove Bike Festival, Tour O The Borders and other outdoor events. The project is being funded by Paths For All and Transport Scotland’s ‘Smarter Choices, Smarter Places’ initiative, through the direction of Scottish Borders Council.

 

If I have any questions how can I get in touch?

Get in touch anytime, just email hello@easyriders.cc or drop us a message via our Facebook page. 

What bike clubs are there in the Borders area?

The Borders is a very active area for cycling – there are several clubs and riding groups across the region:

Ednam Cycling Club (Borders)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/ednan-cycling-club

Peebles Cycling Club

https://www.peeblescycling.org/membership-join-club/

Berwick Wheelers

https://www.berwick-wheelers.com

Hawick Cycling Club

https://www.facebook.com/hawickcyclingclub/

Kelso Wheelers

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/club/profile/3694/kelso_wheelers

Hawick Belles, Breeze Group (women-only group)

https://www.letsride.co.uk/groups/hawick-belle-breeze-group

Braw Breeze cycling group (women-only group)

https://www.letsride.co.uk/groups/braw-breeze-galashiels

 

Are there other groups to ride with or other instructional courses available?

There are several private tuition providers, like Ridelines – who provided the tuition for this course, but there are other options for groups to ride with too (Covid conditions may apply):

 

 

Teviotdale Cycling (Teviotdale)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/teviotdale-cycling

https://www.facebook.com/TeviotdaleVC

For recreational cyclists who want to ride for fun, fitness and friends

Belles on Bikes Scottish Borders (Borders)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/belles-bikes-scottish-borders

https://www.meetup.com/Belles-on-Bikes-in-the-Borders-Meetup/

Social cycling group for women, open to all ages and abilities

Think Thrive! CIC (Borders)

http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/think-thrive-cic

http://www.thinkthrive.co.uk/feels-like-flying-bike-project/

Social enterprise helping people improve their lives including via a bike project