Does a cycle training course improve cycling skills in children?

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the short-term effects of cycle training on basic cycling skills in children from the 4th grade of elementary school. Furthermore, the influence of gender, socio-economic status (SES) and initial cycling skills level on the effects of the cycle training was investigated. Methods: Five participating schools were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 3) or control condition (n = 2). Children's cycling skills were assessed, using a practical cycling test, at baseline and immediately after the intervention. At baseline, all participating children received a short parental questionnaire on child's demographic and family factors. After the pre-test, cycle training took place only in the intervention schools. Repeated measure analyses were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the cycle training. Results: The cycle training had a statistically significant effect on children's total cycling skill (F = 46.9, p < 0.001). On mounting the bicycle and start to cycle (F = 2.6, p = 0.11), cycling one handed (F = 2.0, p = 0.16), and cycling on a sloping surface (F = 1.5, p = 0.23), no statistically significant effects were detected. On all other cycling skills, time × condition interaction effects were statistically significant. Gender, SES and initial cycling skills level had no significant influence on the effects of the cycle training. Conclusion: This study showed that a cycle training of only three sessions was effective to improve children's cycling skills at short term and that cycle training within a traffic-free environment seems to be a useful first step in the development of safe cycling behaviors.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2013.05.018
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457513002170
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Ducheyne, Fabian
  • De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse
  • Lenoir, Matthieu
  • Cardon, Greet
• Publication Date: 2013-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 38-45
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abilities; Bicycling; Children; Gender; Socioeconomic factors; Training
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01500487
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 3 2013 9:12AM