RPL How did it change how you train?

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Philip Benstead
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RPL How did it change how you train?

Post by Philip Benstead »

Is there anyone on here who did the RPL for their Bikeability training? How did it go?


RPL How did it change how you train?
Philip Benstead | Life Member Former CTC Councillor/Trustee
Organizing events and representing cyclists' in southeast since 1988
Bikeability Instructor/Mechanic
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pjclinch
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Re: RPL How did it change how you train?

Post by pjclinch »

I'd be interested to know what it is/means...

Pete.
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mjr
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Re: RPL How did it change how you train?

Post by mjr »

pjclinch wrote: 23 Jan 2025, 2:42pm I'd be interested to know what it is/means...

Pete.
When I asked in the cycle chat version of this, Priest Benstead grudgingly posted https://www.bikeability.org.uk/for-inst ... structors/
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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Philip Benstead
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Re: RPL How did it change how you train?

Post by Philip Benstead »

mjr wrote: 23 Jan 2025, 3:07pm
pjclinch wrote: 23 Jan 2025, 2:42pm I'd be interested to know what it is/means...

Pete.
When I asked in the cycle chat version of this, Priest Benstead grudgingly posted https://www.bikeability.org.uk/for-inst ... structors/
This is National Standard Cycle Training section read by Cycle Instructors hopefully, if you are not a Cyclie Instructor you will not have done RLP so you cant comment.
Philip Benstead | Life Member Former CTC Councillor/Trustee
Organizing events and representing cyclists' in southeast since 1988
Bikeability Instructor/Mechanic
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pjclinch
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Location: Dundee, Scotland
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Re: RPL How did it change how you train?

Post by pjclinch »

Philip Benstead wrote: 23 Jan 2025, 3:17pm
mjr wrote: 23 Jan 2025, 3:07pm
pjclinch wrote: 23 Jan 2025, 2:42pm I'd be interested to know what it is/means...
When I asked in the cycle chat version of this, Priest Benstead grudgingly posted https://www.bikeability.org.uk/for-inst ... structors/
This is National Standard Cycle Training section read by Cycle Instructors hopefully, if you are not a Cyclie Instructor you will not have done RLP so you cant comment.
If people are interested in what NS training is or covers I don't see not having the Magic Bit Of Paper would prevent them from asking/contributing, and indeed mjr's reply did tell me what I'd asked...

Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...
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mjr
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Re: RPL How did it change how you train?

Post by mjr »

pjclinch wrote: 23 Jan 2025, 4:05pm
Philip Benstead wrote: 23 Jan 2025, 3:17pm This is National Standard Cycle Training section read by Cycle Instructors hopefully, if you are not a Cyclie Instructor you will not have done RLP so you cant comment.
If people are interested in what NS training is or covers I don't see not having the Magic Bit Of Paper would prevent them from asking/contributing, and indeed mjr's reply did tell me what I'd asked...
RPL is a term used in other training fields, too, plus some of us who aren't cycle instructors do know cycle instructors who we can send links to, if we think they might know, but to assess that, we need to have some idea what the message is about!

It also helps to expand acronyms on first use if you are prone to typing the letters in the wrong order. Unless RLP is something else you meant to ask about.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
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pjclinch
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Re: RPL How did it change how you train?

Post by pjclinch »

I had something of the sort back when I was a Cycling Scotland "Cycle Trainer Plus", which meant I could train Bikeability Scotland Cycle Training Assistants to teach up to Bikeability Scotland Level 2 as well as train folk to ride bikes.
At one point CS expanded the CTA course quite a bit and existing CT+ were offered an "upgrade" course rather than go through the full New! Improved! CT+ qualification.

We've also had CPD courses reflecting the changes to the NSCT and the teaching to support them: when I first qualified as a Cycle Trainer 20 years ago most teaching was in the form of rote drills, and that's now changed considerably to something where riders make decisions rather than follow by-the-numbers routines, so my CPD means I'm still a viable Cycle Trainer rather than an out of touch one that doesn't understand the newer approach.

That means it's changed how I train people considerably. Bikeability Scotland in 2025 has come quite a long way from Scottish Cycle Training Scheme in 2004.

Pete.
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Philip Benstead
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Re: RPL How did it change how you train?

Post by Philip Benstead »

pjclinch wrote: 24 Jan 2025, 8:09am I had something of the sort back when I was a Cycling Scotland "Cycle Trainer Plus", which meant I could train Bikeability Scotland Cycle Training Assistants to teach up to Bikeability Scotland Level 2 as well as train folk to ride bikes.
At one point CS expanded the CTA course quite a bit and existing CT+ were offered an "upgrade" course rather than go through the full New! Improved! CT+ qualification.

We've also had CPD courses reflecting the changes to the NSCT and the teaching to support them: when I first qualified as a Cycle Trainer 20 years ago most teaching was in the form of rote drills, and that's now changed considerably to something where riders make decisions rather than follow by-the-numbers routines, so my CPD means I'm still a viable Cycle Trainer rather than an out of touch one that doesn't understand the newer approach.

That means it's changed how I train people considerably. Bikeability Scotland in 2025 has come quite a long way from Scottish Cycle Training Scheme in 2004.

Pete.
Thank you for this, If could give some details on where riders make decisions rather than follow by-the-numbers routines.

Any chance that I could see the paperwork you use to run a course?
Philip Benstead | Life Member Former CTC Councillor/Trustee
Organizing events and representing cyclists' in southeast since 1988
Bikeability Instructor/Mechanic
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pjclinch
Posts: 6309
Joined: 29 Oct 2007, 2:32pm
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Contact:

Re: RPL How did it change how you train?

Post by pjclinch »

Philip Benstead wrote: 24 Jan 2025, 10:56am Thank you for this, If could give some details on where riders make decisions rather than follow by-the-numbers routines.

Any chance that I could see the paperwork you use to run a course?
I've not done any training since the pandemic, been too busy at my day job, but I have kept up with (and contributed to) current practice. However, that means I've no current paperwork to share and it would depend on who's hiring me (it would typically be a Local Authority or local cycling organisation) and what they want/expect.

As for the decision making, you still have some drilled-into-you things like always do a Final Check over the relevant shoulder before moving sideways but otherwise rather than a selection of drills (for a right turn do this, then this, then this, then this) it's more a case of seeing everything through the lens of the core principles of Control, Observation, Position, Priorities and Communication, as these can (and should) be applied to any road situation.
By emphasising things that way around a rider can deal with unfamiliar situations rather than thinking "oh, my training didn't cover that, what now?".

A lesson covering, say, a right turn will still cover the same things as a rote lesson but it will cover why we do things. So rather than the old "now move into primary" one thinks about what position is best for the situation and why. Rather than "signal here" we might think there's nobody to communicate to and by not signalling I'll be in better control, and so on.

The old Bikeability Scotland Riders' Guides had sets of drills in for e.g. left turns minor to major, right turns minor to major, setting off etc., the current ones simply discusses the core functions and everything runs from there.

Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...
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