Testimonies

 

3.5 Darya

Ola taught bike riding to my 3 years old daughter Darya. Darya had absolutely no prior bike riding experience, not even on a bike with stabilisers or a balance bike. After a course of 4 session she learned the technique and could ride a bike. And after 2 more booster sessions she was really enjoying cycling and could ride confidently, without any support. The lessons were very fun, Ola kept Darya focused at all times which is not easy with a three year old. He really laid a solid technical as well as emotional foundation for the whole exciting and enjoyable life of cycling ahead! Thank you, Ola! 

 

5 Stars from a Four year old

Having one to one tuition for your child to learn to ride a bike is amazing!

Ola has a lovely fun and relaxed teaching style. He built a rapport with my daughter very quickly and used lots of different exercises and techniques to build her confidence and keep her attention. He was very adaptable in stormy weather, keeping her warm and motivated. And by the end of the sessions she was cycling up and down independently. 

She still shouts out some of his encouraging phrases now whilst riding to the park! 

5 stars, would highly recommend. 

 

6 Year old triplets Three in One sept 2019

Ola spent two mornings over a sunny weekend in September teaching our six year old triplet girls to ride a bicycle.  After spending a lot of the summer trying - and failing - to teach them ourselves we now realise we shouldn't have bothered. Within an hour of being with Ola two of them were happily cycling round the tarmac court grinning happily and shortly after that the third one, who is very anxious by nature, followed suit.

 It was money incredibly well spent and took all the stress - and probably several accidents - out of the process and we finished with three tired girls all of whom can now ride a bike! 

Ola was professional, knowledgeable and capable and most importantly made the learning experience fun and fear free for the children.  We would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone who wants someone to help their child learn to ride a bike. He is amazing!

 

8 Years old with Learning Delay makes it look easy..

"I'd been trying to teach my daughter how to ride a bike for a while. Despite being unsuccessful I hung on to the excitement she displayed when watching others ride. I didn't want to let another summer pass without us achieving this goal. Acknowledging that despite watching you tube videos my teaching methods weren't working, I searched SEN bike classes online. An understanding of SEN was a priority for me as I wanted to ensure that the classes would be delivered in a way that made her feel comfortable and capable.
Whirling Wheels appeared in my search results, I read the reviews and newsletters and watched the testimonial. I knew it was the right choice for us.
Ola built a rapport with my daughter very quickly with his fun and energetic approach.
I was encouraged to take part which brought my daughter a sense of joy and made her keen to ride together. Our ultimate goal is to ride as a family and I was able to pick up safety tips along the way.
My daughter was riding her small bike by the end of day 1 and advanced to her newer bike by day 2.
By day 3 she was riding through cones and we also ventured to a local park that evening where she rode and navigated crowds for the first time. So grateful I found Whirling Wheels and highly recommend Ola. Having watched videos of my daughters sessions my 4 year old son is asking when it will be his turn to meet Ola. Family and friends are amazed that she has learnt in such a short space of time. Whilst my daughter has gained a new level of confidence and independence."

Best wishes to you and your family,

From Shemayne, Naiyana and Eshay.

 

Nine Year old 2 sessions

I contacted Ola following a google search and boy am I glad I did.  My son is 9 and learnt to ride a bike when he was around 4, however because we didn’t practice, he was unable to ride and indeed had lost all confidence in doing so.  He was almost phobic by the time I contacted Ola for help. 

Within the first 2 lessons, my son was riding and by the last lesson, he was turning, stopping and starting with confidence and had started to look at how to ride safely when he progresses to riding on the road! 

The lessons were fun and really tailored to his needs and I even learnt a few things myself, having not ridden a bike for years!!  I can thank Ola enough and look forward to cycling with my son throughout the year.

Jo Harper
Head of Operations

j.harper@gatewayfs.org

 

8 Year Constant laughter

We cannot recommend Ola enough! Our 8-year-old son was completely reluctant to learn to ride, and we had all but given up hope of getting him on a bike. Enter Ola—the most incredible cycling instructor. From the very first session, he put our son at ease, making the experience not only stress-free but genuinely fun. His patience, encouragement, and ability to build confidence were nothing short of magic. Laughter was a constant throughout the lessons, and before we knew it, our son was pedaling away like a pro! He’s now a confident and enthusiastic rider, and we owe it all to Ola’s skill and dedication. We are beyond grateful!"

Bike QUOTE Family Group Session with parent learning 

Ola taught my son (5) together with my nephews (8 & 6) and he got all three of them riding on their own by the end of their first lesson. He knew exactly how to communicate with them and to tailor his instructions to each of them. He continued this throughout the lessons and they just grew and grew in confidence.

During their lessons I mentioned I couldn’t ride and he soon signed me up. As a 35 year old I was a different challenge. He again tailored his approach to an adult and got me riding within a few minutes. I don’t know why I didn’t do this sooner! He kept developing my skills and even did a combined lesson with my 5 year old. His enthusiasm is infectious and it was a great experience for all of us.

I’ve recommended Ola to one of my son’s classmates and his parents sent us a video of him riding in his first lesson. Another satisfied customer! I cannot recommend Ola more highly. 

Regards,

Simeon

 

Review 6 year old Not even Bikeability coach able to sort..

We had been trying to get my 6 year old son to ride his bike for a long time but he was terrified, even with stabilisers on. Stubborn as a mule, and scared witless, he refused to let even his own Grandad, who is himself is a qualified Bikeability coach, to teach him how to ride.

 So things felt pretty hopeless until we met Ola. From the minute we met him, Ola immediately put my son’s mind at ease. He made him howl with laughter within minutes of meeting him and Ola’s natural charisma and way of communicating made my son instantly warm to Ola, which made trusting him easy. 

By the end of the first lesson, my son was riding his bike, unaided, with a huge smile on his face. He was so proud of himself and I was flabbergasted! I couldn’t believe I was watching my son! 

At the end of our fourth and final session, my son’s comments to me were words I could only have dreamed him saying just a few weeks ago – “Mommy, I feel happy and confident now. When can we go on a family bike ride?” I highly recommend anyone who’s children appear to be ‘too scared to learn to ride their bike’, and especially those who refuse to listen to family members trying to teach them, to get in touch with Ola. He’s a miracle worker!! Thank you Ola – we will never forget you.

 

Forty years & now a rider

After years of wanting to ride a bike and go cycling with my family, I have finally learned how to cycle.
I was determined to learn but apprehensive at first. Ola made me feel at ease and definitely ensured I had no falls, making me feel well supported while learning.
Having bikes provided to learn on was great as he was happy to adjust as needed and change bikes at different points during sessions. I really felt like I got the most out of each session and even though I have resisted getting on a bike for over 40 years, I was pleased I was able to cycle confidently by the end of my 4th session.

I would certainly recommend Ola to anyone looking to finally learn how to cycle.

Ambulance Worker
I just wanted to thank you again for the beginner bike ride lessons I have just had with you, never in my wildest dreams did I think that within a month I’d be riding around my local park on my own tackling hills and still continuing my learning on my own.

This is all thanks to you and your teaching style, I was welcomed, given a bike to train on and treated like an adult, shown slowly and in stages the bits I needed to know and each lesson built upon the other. I truly can not thank you enough for making a life long dream come true and help me through my anxieties of riding. It definitely is a no falls approach and I always felt safe when with you. I look forward to continuing my learning on my own and coming back to you in time for advanced lessons.

Thanks again, I couldn’t have done any of it without you and your expertise!

Zaf

Over 70 years old

Ola was as good as his promises; he ensured that in learning I could not fall off the cycle, and he promoted confidence by demonstrating practically how I could manage balance without falling off. I am post-menopausal and was very worried about breaking bones so I was desperate not to fall. I knew I didn’t have “natural” balance, having never learned as a child and tried only once as an adult (which at that time was an experience which had terrified me and ended in falling into stinging nettles – not encouraging). By contrast my lessons with Ola prepared me properly, so that I could with confidence go out afterwards to practice without him. He is very encouraging, which makes the lessons enjoyable as well. He can also offer suggestions for good value bicycle purchases.

 

All the best, and many thanks!

Frances

 

The Bike Whisper

Hi Ola,

Harry Pugh's Mum here. Just an update. Harry now has his bike and loves it. Video attached. 

Review. 

I would highly recommend Ola to anyone and may yet be going back to him for our younger son. Ola helped our eldest son age 8 at the time to learn to ride. We had reached a point in trying to help him learn where we were stuck. He had outgrown his bike and we did not want to invest in another until we we confident it would actully be used. He had been trying from around age 5 and had made little progress. He was terrifed of falling and had lost all confidence. His enthusiasm for it to was almost gone as he had watcged friend after friend crack it while he still struggled. He wouldn't try when he thought others could see him. 

Then there was Ola. I found him via a google search and was instantly drawn in by how he spoke of his service. I was impressed how he worked with the anxious and SEN children. 

Harry had 4 sessions, 2 at first then due to things beyond both our control there was a gap of almost 2 weeks becore the final 2 sessions. 

After the first session the was already a difference. Harry liked it! No tears! Ola was brilliant with him, calm, reassuring and funny. Session 2 and he was almost riding independently.  Then we had the gap. I worried the gap between may have set him back. But no. Within a very short time into the session off he went RIDING! It was an emotional thing to see after such struggles. By the final session he was starting off himself and wanting to ride more. 

A few weeks later he had his new bike, first time out I was anxious  would he remember and have the same confidence with no Ola there...the answer...a resounding yes! My boy can ride a bike! 

We cannot thank Ola enough! The bike whisper! 

 

Hope that's ok Ola and hope you are well. 

Best wishes, Rebekah James, Harrya nd Archie 

 

Maths Teacher surreal experience

Prior to meeting Ola, I had tried many times to learn to ride a bicycle but always failed woefully. So when I first saw his ad and subsequently spoke to him on the phone, I tried not to get my hopes up to avoid being disappointed.

However by the second lesson, I was riding without assistance, and by the third lesson, I could start by myself without assistance. My family was amazed at my progress and I was even more amazed!

I remember telling Ola in my third lesson that it was as though someone else was riding the bike because it felt surreal to finally do what I've tried for many years to do! Thank you Ola for teaching me to ride a bike!

 

Triplets SEN and medical needs so sad but positive : "in 8 years never seen her smile like that"  

Hi Ola

I'm Yvonne who booked lessons this half term week 2025, for 3 of my grandchildren, Joshua, Comfort and Gabriel.

Unusually I felt so compelled to tell you how wonderful our experience has been.

Mum of the 3 children has severe social anxiety which meant we were late for each of the days. Ola was accepting, kind and helpful.

In addition each of the children pose different challenges for learning. Josh has autism, is shy and is low in confidence. Comfort has HLHS (a serious heart condition) plus a weak left arm which affects her balance, Gabriel has ADHD and is unable to maintain attentiveness, be still or sometimes to understand instruction. 

Comfort's heart problem is a 'life limited'  condition and so it is always important for us that while they're young, the children do as much as possible together to create shared memories.  They all got so much from the lessons but Comfy gained so much. She climbs and swims at Kidderminster already, and enjoys both activities - but in her whole 8 years, I have never seen her grin and smile and laugh the way she did with the thrill of cycling and sense of achievement - and she loved Ola!

I cannot state strongly enough how Ola responded to each of them, encouraged and helped them achieve being able to cycle. They are so keen now

Ola I have nothing but total gratitude for you, your skills are out of this world.. 

 

I would be very happy to recommend your lessons to anyone.

Many thanks

Yvonne

 

6 Year old Fear & Hesitation

My daughter Lucy was eager to learn how to ride a bicycle but had always been held back by fear and hesitation. From the very first lesson, Ola was absolutely fantastic — warm, patient, and full of positive energy. He made Lucy feel at ease, built up her confidence, and even managed to make the process fun with plenty of laughs along the way.

Thanks to Ola’s encouragement and expert guidance, Lucy was riding confidently in less than four lessons — and now she can’t get enough of cycling! She’s proud of herself, and we’re so grateful for Ola’s help in making that happen.

I’ve already recommended Ola to all of our friends in the area, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do so again. If your child is nervous about learning to ride, Ola is exactly the kind of instructor you need.

Gilles 

Hampstead Garden Suburb