Effects of cycle skills training on cycling-related knowledge, confidence and behaviour in adolescent girls

Abstract

Abstract Background Cycle skills training (CST) improves children's cycling knowledge and skills. This study examined and compared the effects of short-term CST (1–10 weeks) with or without on-road training on cycling-related knowledge, confidence and behaviours in adolescent girls. Methods Girls (n = 117; age: 13.9 ± 0.7 years) participated in either playground-based CST only (Traffic-Free CST; n = 43) or combined playground-based and on-road CST (Traffic-Free+OnRoad CST; n = 74). Participants completed pre-training and post-training surveys about cycling-related knowledge, confidence and behaviour, and practical cycling skills assessment (fundamental and advanced skills). Data were analysed using paired t-test and McNemar tests. Results At baseline, few adolescents cycled > 1/week (11.1%) or to school (2.6%). Both types of CST improved adolescents’ knowledge (Traffic-Free: 82.9 ± 13.0% to 88.9 ± 9.5%, p = 0.001; Traffic-Free+OnRoad: 85.9 ± 8.8% to 93.6 ± 6.4%, p 0.05). Traffic-Free+OnRoad CST participants were competent in most fundamental (97.8 ± 7.6%) and advanced practical cycling skills (97.6 ± 5.7%), whereas Traffic-Free CST participants had lower scores in fundamental skills (81.4 ± 29.2%; p Conclusion CST with or without on-road training improved cycling-related knowledge but did not change cycling habits in adolescent girls. CST with on-road training improved adolescent girls’ confidence to cycle on the road, but not to school. Future CST programs should be tailored to the adolescents’ needs and preferences.