Before getting on your bike, check brake blocks, cables and tyres are in a good condition and nothing you are carrying hangs down close to the bike wheels where it might get caught in the spokes. A good riding position is for the saddle and handlebar height to be about similar. Set the saddle height so that, when cycling, the downward stroke on the pedal leaves your leg nearly straight.
Before going out on the road, you need to ensure that you have basic skills of control. Build up your confidence on quiet roads, or cycleways. Free cycle training is available to University of Bristol staff - this is an ideal way to learn about the correct road positioning and you can also get help planning a route avoiding busy roads.
Once on the road, you will get used to taking a clear position which should be about one metre from the kerb. Give plenty of advance warning when turning and try to get in front of traffic or in the middle of the lane at traffic lights, using advance stop lines when these are available.
