Advanced Certification is a self-paced course. Upon completion you will receive an expert certificate and access to powerpoint teaching materials and other educational assets. You will also be qualified to begin prep for an in-person instructor training.

Two Advanced Certifications

CyclingSavvy offers the best cycling certification program in the United States. While this program was originally created to certify instructors, there have always been those who want this knowledge for a host of other reasons. The course has been restructured to fulfill your needs, whether you intend to teach or not.

This program consists of two parts:

  • Online course consisting of six modules. We will also offer optional zoom Q&A sessions for enrollees.
  • Intense and rewarding in-person three-day weekend for those seeking instructor certification.

Steps to Receiving Advanced Certification:

  1. Take a basic CyclingSavvy in-person course or complete the “Ride Awesome” online course.
  2. Enroll in the online cycling certification program. A certificate will be issued for the successful completion of this course. CyclingSavvy Experts may assist Certified instructors and earn financial credit toward an in-person instructor training.
  3. After completing this process, if you’d like to become an instructor or pursue professional certification for another reason, contact us. In-person training weekends are by invitation, and limited to eight participants.

Advanced Certification Training

Part 1: Self-paced Online CyclingSavvy Expert Certification: This is a prerequisite for instructor certification training, as well as a standalone course for advanced certification as a CyclingSavvy Expert. Expert members will receive access to teaching materials and an Instructor Training prep course with a pre-qualification exercise.

Part 2: Three-day, In-person CyclingSavvy Instructor Training: Enrolled registrants will receive teaching assignments for a classroom section and a bike handling lesson to prepare. They will be given access to online course manuals, presentation materials and tutorial videos.

The three-day training covers presentation skills, class management, formula and techniques for creating a CyclingSavvy Road Tour, on-road group leadership skills and the specific techniques for delivering experiential learning on the road.

Advanced Certification

Nine modules will be released one week at a time. Five Zoom Q&A sessions will be scheduled to review and discuss content. You’ll be able to ask questions and ensure that you understand key content. Once you complete this course, you will have access to teaching material and the instructor prep for an in-person training.

The Modules

1: Classroom Review

Screencasts from Truth & Techniques presentation.

2: The Challenge We Face

It’s unfortunately all too common to see cyclists riding in ways that increase their risk. These cyclists unintentionally make their bicycling more difficult for themselves, and create frustration for motorists and other road users. We’ll focus this week on how to reframe the conversation about bicycling, and engage our audience.

3: Data V. Perceptions

Safety is a product of behavior. After this module, you’ll understand how bicyclist behaviors exacerbate or mitigate crashes—even those that are caused primarily by motorist mistakes.

4: Definitions & Design Standards

The module for traffic nerds! In this session you’ll gain an appreciation for transportation engineering, pavement markings, signs, signals and interchange designs – and how these make our lives easier as bicyclists.

5: CyclingSavvy Strategies

Here’s where we dive into the toolkit of knowledge and strategies that set CyclingSavvy apart from its predecessors.

6. Leading Rides

This module contains lessons from the Ride Leader Course. CyclingSavvy on-road courses are group rides in a complex environment. Instructors must be expert ride leaders.

Instructor Qualification

This program is not affiliated with the League of American Bicyclists. Instructor qualifications are not transferable, nor is it necessary for one to be a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) to become a CyclingSavvy Instructor (CSI).

To be eligible to become a CyclingSavvy Instructor (CSI), a candidate must complete and pass the Advanced Certification course and receive an invitation from the trainers. There are two tracks to participate in the Advanced Certification course: 1) complete an in-person 3-part CyclingSavvy class and request a recommendation from your instructor, or 2) Complete the Ride Awesome online courses (Basic & Mastery).

Candidate Assessment

The assessment seeks feedback on the following:

1) Open-minded and willing to learn and participate in the CyclingSavvy class. (A CSI believes s/he always has more to learn… we learn from each other, from our students, from our successes and our mistakes, we constantly refine and improve ourselves as cyclists and as teachers.)

2) Understands and embraces the teaching methodology of CyclingSavvy (removing belief barriers and freeing students from the limitations of far-right mentality).

3) Understands and embraces the traffic cycling techniques we teach (lane control, strategic road positioning, making lane changes early, active communication, control & release, etc.).

4) Has good situational awareness. (Pays attention and doesn’t engage in distracting behavior).

5) Shows enthusiasm for empowering and celebrating the success of others. (A principle of our program is that we set people up for success. We don’t test people or pressure them to perform. We work to ensure their success, and most importantly, that they have a good experience in the class.)

6) Demonstrates the ability to follow directions. (To give directions, you need to be able to follow directions.)

7) Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly. (This is an essential skill. CSIs are responsible for sending students into complex road features and traffic conditions; they must be able to communicate instructions clearly and succinctly. Much of the CSI training involves developing and refining strategic communication of concepts and instructions.)

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Instructor Support

At the training workshop, participants receive a kit which includes:

  • A binder with slide-by-slide talking points and note pages
  • A bound drill booklet
  • A string backpack which includes cones and beanbags for on-bike sessions.
  • A CyclingSavvy instructor polo shirt.
  • A CyclingSavvy cap.

Graduates of the in-person training have access to ongoing support through this website. This includes tutorials, marketing resources and webinars. Instructors may buy additional polos on the site.

The American Bicycling Education Association (ABEA) also provides regular updates to presentation materials (new animations, high res videos, new content slides).

Liability insurance is provided for active instructors in the United States.

Essential Characteristics of a CyclingSavvy Instructor

  • CSIs must have an unequivocal belief in the full equality of a bicycle driver in the transportation system. The fundamental principle of this course is that we must change beliefs to change behavior.
  • CSIs must demonstrate proficiency at problem-solving and handling themselves assertively on the roadway.
  • CSIs must have patience, presence and a passion for teaching. A CSI has the opportunity to change the lives of students by freeing them from damaging beliefs and teaching them the skills that allow them to thrive as bicycle drivers in a car-centric world. This carries a great reward, but it also takes patience, mindfulness and the ability to recognize and observe a student’s emotions and behavior on the road.
  • CSIs must have good time management skills (show up early and be ready to teach promptly on time) and demonstrate the ability to manage class time so sessions end at the advertised time. The valuable thing students give us is their time — not their money.  
  • CSIs are the first — and possibly only — contact students, members of the public, government officials, etc. may ever have with the CyclingSavvy and ABEA brands. Our expectation is that CSIs portray our brands in a positive, professional manner. Instances of unprofessional conduct may result in suspension or revocation of CSI status.