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Marion Travers
Published on
4 never 2025 to 18h14
“It’s like cycling, it is not forgotten. How many times have you not heard this expression? However, it is not an absolute truth since if, the practice of cycling can forget!
It’s for Put the foot on the pedal to adults who have not practiced for a long time and that lack confidence or To teach those who have simply never learned that theAssociation Avélos has opened its cycling the 1is last March.
“We are only responding to requests,” said Elisabeth Bastid, co-president of Avélos.
An alternative to the car or the bus
Lucette and Elvira are the perfect example. Both home help, they got closer to the association during a forum.
The first has around forty years, the second 30 years. None of the two has ever learned to cycle And they lack more and more.
“During a quiz that I made during the Vendée Globe, I learned that there are 300 km of cycle paths in Sables-d’Olonne and around! I want to discover them. »»
The daily practical aspect also appeals to it.
I would like to use my car less to go to work and be able to circulate without traffic jams.
Elvira also hopes for professional use: “I don’t have a car. I go to work by bus but there are none on weekends and holidays. Bike is a solution But I never knew how to do it. I don’t want to start alone because I have fear on the road. »
Gain self -confidence
This Saturday, April 26, they are accompanied by Laurent. The young retiree learned to cycle two years ago. He now wants perfect in order to acquire more mastery and self -confidence.
I would like to manage to manage my balance to let go of a hand of the handlebars and make the indicator.
He who already moves in town for small journeys aims to Make longer walks and go to the beach by bike After his visit to the bicycle school.
In order to provide quality learning, Florence Josse, bicycle manager at the Avélos association, followed a week of initiator mobility on a bicycle.
She therefore animates Every Saturday morning, at 10 a.m.the bicycle school with two or three other volunteers from the association.
For each student, the course includes Twelve two -hour sessions. Each begins with a technical-mechanical approach to the bicycle (we control the tires, the brakes, adjustment of the saddle …) then with a warm-up, before going to practice.
Local research for the self-refoial workshop
Bike-school students learn about bikes that have been recovered by the association and repaired within the Auto-Reparation workshop, another Avélos activity. These workshops take place once a month at Espace Jean de la Fontaine. “People give us donations of bikes. We install them either for cycling, or to give them to people in need, or to resell them cheap and bring some money into the association of the association, ”explains Elisabeth Bastid.
Only problem: the association has been waiting for a short time since the city has given a room to it in order to be able to store these bikes but also the repair equipment (tools, spare parts …). “When we have this premises, we can organize more workshops and recover new donations of bikes which we can no longer do right now for lack of space. »»
First without the pedals …
The practice takes place in several stages which are crossed by the students according to their level.
We respect everyone’s rhythm. The important thing is that everyone has confidence.
The first step is a Practice of bikes in Draisienne mode in order to simply seek balance. It is only in the second step that the pedals fall into practice. The maneuverability exercises make it possible to progress.
Then intervene The ride in the marshes. Finally, the course ends with practical in town.
For the past two months, the bicycle-school playground has been located in the Havre d’Olonne, both in the non-appointed parking lot (for the first step) and on the bitumen (for the second stage).
Due to the school holidays, Lucette could not join the last courses. This Saturday, the recovery is therefore perilous, in addition to being wet due to the fine rain that falls. Jean-Louis Farineau, co-president of Avélos, is responsible for putting it back in the saddle. Little by little, automatisms come back as well as confidence.
A gratifying mission
A little further, Elvira and Laurent carefully follow the advice of Florence who decided to make them work balance.
The exercises are linked: start -up, starting out of saddle, stretching the arm to indicate a change of direction … “Propulsion, balance and driving” are the keys to learning.
Laurent and Elvira, good students, progress quickly and their satisfaction is happy to see and hear.
“It’s fabulous to see their joy when they get started. It is very rewarding as a mission », Rejoices Florence who does not hesitate to give her time in the week also for students who work on Saturdays.
This bike, Avélos plans to develop activity.
To do this, she sent a request to the Development Fund for Association Life (FDVA) in order to Being able to acquire twelve balance sheetsthat the association would provide nursery schools by rolling. “It is important toLearn cycling from an early age», Is convinced Elisabeth Bastid
The co-president would also like Open school to parents accompanied by their childrenIn order to teach them good practices in terms of city traffic: “I see that in sands, many parents do not know how to do it. The first rule is to roll the children in front of always having an eye on them. »»
Bike-school is also the ideal place for a simple upgrade!
Avélos contacts: Elisabeth Bastid on 06 72 79 75 40; Jean-Louis Farineau on 07 50 61 00 56; [email protected]
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