Need advice on semi-embarrassing topic

[Thomperchik]

Hello all! Just want to give you a small background. I live near the beach and every year around spring time, all of my friends start riding their bikes to the beach and go beach cruising. I unfortunately never learned how to ride a bike.

I went ahead and purchased a bike on Saturday and tried learning with my boyfriend, but at the end we were both frustrated, because it just wasn''t sinking in.

Does anyone have any advice on adults learning how to ride a bike?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Bella_mezzo]

What were your problems?

balance?
fear?
steering?
pedaling?

if you can identify those it might help to give advice.

Good luck b/c bike riding is super fun!!!!

 

[Maisie]

I would start by just sitting on the bike and using your legs to push you along. Always keep your head up and looking straight ahead. That will get you used to balancing. Thats how little kids do it with tricycles. No pedals.

When you get confident with your balance get your boyfriend to hold the back of your seat and you put your feet on the pedals. Let him balance you while you get used to turning the pedals. Eventually he will have to let go. When he does keep your head up and concentrate on balancing, not pedalling. It will come. I promise it won't take long.

Good on you for wanting to learn!

 

[vespergirl]

Thomper, I just wanted to wish you luck & let you know that I think it''s awesome you''re learning now. I''m wondering if there is anywhere near you that teaches lessons for adults?

 

[missy]

Bike riding is great and I am sure you will be able to learn how!
My aunt learned later in life and she did it with training wheels...not sure how you feel about that though.
The best way to do it is to have someone run next to you as you learn to balance and make sure to wear a helmet.
Good luck and have fun!
And it is not embarrassing at all to be learning how to ride a bike even now so don't feel badly.

ps once you learn you will never forget...you know the saying
it's like riding a bike

 

[packrat]

The only thing I can think of is just to keep practicing. Once you get the hang of balancing, your body automatically does it when you get on-even if it''s been years..which is weird! How was he helping you? If he can hold the bike steady while you pedal that will help you learn to balance.

Funny how it looks so easy, but it''s just not something you can jump on and do!

 

[radiantquest]

I think that is so adorable! Get some training wheels at first. That will get you used to the biking part and then when you have mastered all that you can take the training wheels off and learn the balance. Really that has to be the sweetest thing I have ever heard.

 

[Maisie]

How about one of these? I think they are fab!

 

[yssie]

My mum learned along with me when I was little - we have pics of both of us on bikes with training wheels

. She "got it" much faster than me. I think it was easier for her as an adult to figure out how to balance, use the pedals, steer, and brake in concert, but she was much more scared of falling than I was.. training wheels!



Biking is so much fun, I think it's great you're learning

 

[doodle]

No advice, but I figured it might make you a little less embarrassed to know that neither DH nor I can ride a bike, so the cheese doesn''t stand alone, my friend! Best of luck!

 

[missy]

Date: 3/22/2010 6:18:35 PM
Author: Maisie
How about one of these? I think they are fab!

We have a Cannondale road tandem and it is our favorite bicycle! We ride it all the time (whenever the weather allows that is)

 

[PumpkinPie]

Date: 3/22/2010 6:11:58 PM
Author: Maisie
I would start by just sitting on the bike and using your legs to push you along. Always keep your head up and looking straight ahead. That will get you used to balancing. Thats how little kids do it with tricycles. No pedals.


When you get confident with your balance get your boyfriend to hold the back of your seat and you put your feet on the pedals. Let him balance you while you get used to turning the pedals. Eventually he will have to let go. When he does keep your head up and concentrate on balancing, not pedalling. It will come. I promise it won''t take long.


Good on you for wanting to learn!

I think Maisie gave really great advice Good luck!

 

[rierie26]

I never learned to ride a bike either! It can be quite embarrassing, especially when people think you''re joking and you really have to insist that you''ve never learned.

Do you have any sort of biking societies/clubs in your area? I know a lot of them offer lessons to adults who''ve never learned to ride or if you contact them they might be able to put you in touch with someone who could teach you.

If worse comes to worst, and for some reason you can''t learn how to ride a two-wheel, but you want to ride a bike, maybe you could get a three-wheel bike? Schwinn makes a cute one. I''ve never tried a three-wheel bike (ok, tricycle

) but it looks cool.

 

[reader]

I haven''t ridden a bike since 15, and was embarrassed to relearn in front of my friends. I had been avoiding bike riding. This post gives me the courage to give it a shot again. Thank you.

 

[Octavia]

I was in middle school when I learned, but the roads around my parents'' house are very dangerous andnot conducive to biking, so I never got comfortable. Then, I went to a city with atrocious drivers and am too scared to try to remember how on the roads here! I don''t really have advice, just wanted to chime in as another non-biker and to wish you good luck!

Oh, and I second the idea of finding someone other than your SO to teach you. My DH swears that it''s a bad idea to teach anything involving technical skill to a SO and I have to say, I think he''s right.

 

[Maisie]

Date: 3/22/2010 6:46:44 PM
Author: missy

Date: 3/22/2010 6:18:35 PM
Author: Maisie
How about one of these? I think they are fab!

We have a Cannondale road tandem and it is our favorite bicycle! We ride it all the time (whenever the weather allows that is)

How wonderful! I think they look like great fun!

 

[CasaBlanca]

Well, sweetie,

I just wanted to encourage you to keep at it. For nothing else, you need to know how to ride...as everything to come will be compared with your ability to ride...

"it's just like riding a bike, you never forget"

So this reminds you you only have to learn ONCE! So keep at it! We are hoping for photos...both hands in the air, and feet in motion!

Science to back you up...

 

[katamari]

How fun! I would recommend trying to find lessons. There are a ton of bike shops in our city and all offer riding lessons. I think they are primarily to teach road cycling, but I am sure they do casual lessons, too.



I also wanted to let you know that we absolutely adored our time in Ecuador! Thanks for all your help with our wedding planning. I can''t wait to go back! It is an absolutely stunning country!

 

[missy]

Date: 3/22/2010 8:22:12 PM
Author: Maisie

Date: 3/22/2010 6:46:44 PM

Author: missy

Date: 3/22/2010 6:18:35 PM

Author: Maisie

How about one of these? I think they are fab!

We have a Cannondale road tandem and it is our favorite bicycle! We ride it all the time (whenever the weather allows that is)

How wonderful! I think they look like great fun!

Let''s see if I can attach a pic of the tandem

 

[missy]

Hope this pic shows up better

eta sorry, I have lots of trouble getting the size of the pics right here
The tandem shows up better in the 1st photo but I cannot increase the size of it right now...
Anyway, just want to add how much fun cycling is and I know you are going to get the hang of it!! Good luck and enjoy the process!

 

[purselover]

I just wanted to wish you good luck, and you are definitely not alone - I can''t ride a bike either!

 

[lilyfoot]

Thomperchik, I don't have any advice for you, but I just wanted to jump in and say you have no reason to be embarrassed. There is something that all of us, as adults, can not do. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, areas of knowledge and areas that we're not knowledgeable in.

I think it's awesome that you're trying something new, and I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Puppmom]

Take your bike to the top of a slight incline. Sit on the bike and just lift your feet and let the bike roll down the slope. This is how we taught DD to ride a bike. They actually make *bikes* without pedals for kids to learn. The slope technique will help your balance and confidence - then you can add the pedals.

Good luck!

 

[jcarlylew]

have you also thought about hiting up a gym to try a bike there? then, at least your legs can get some muscle memory
Good luck! I havent been on a bike in years, so no doubt i will probably need to re learn some techniques there!

 

[curlygirl]

I''m so glad to see there are others who do not know how to ride a bike! I commend you for even trying to learn--I have no desire but now that I have children, I think it''s probably in my future!! Good luck!

 

[dragonfly411]

Thomper
Don''t be embarrassed!! I know lots of folks who can''t ride a bike. I agree with Maisie''s advice and also thought maybe try a stationary exercise bike to get used to the position?

 

[Haven]

The sloping technique sounds really effective!
I also like the idea of going to the gym and riding a stationary bike. That way you''ll get used to coordinating your hands and feet, so then when you''re riding you can focus on balance.

I know this is a bit different, but I wanted to share this story:
From this past August until just last weekend, my sister went from being a very infrequent rider to racing in a 4 day 150 mile bike race. She''s in grad school in the Middle East, and one of her friends is an avid bicyclist. He taught her how to ride on the hills and mountains and busy streets and *everything* they''re facing out there, and helped her train to participate in this philanthropic ride just last weekend.
She''s not particularly athletic, but she literally transformed her riding ability just by getting on that bike every day and practicing.
You can totally do that, too!

Good luck!

 

[Thomperchik]

Thank you! I really appreciate all of your encouraging comments! I''m glad I''m not the only one, although it sometimes it sure does feel like it. hehe

The problem I''m having is balancing and peddling at the same time. However, I''m going to take everyone''s advice and try balancing first before peddling. Not something I''m used to, of course. I''m also going to hit the gym and ride those bikes to help with the muscle memory.

I tried looking up those wheels, but they''re rather pricey considering what I just paid for my bike. I will hold off until last resort.

Thanks again all! I will keep you posted!

 

[zoebartlett]

No, you''re definitely not alone! I haven''t ridden a bike in AGES. I love someone''s idea to try stationary bikes at the gym.

 

[decodelighted]

Good for you! It takes so much bravery & spunk. I need to learn how to swim to do so many of the things I want to do (kayak, snorkel, dive, canoe, whitewater raft, tubing) and I am skeeerd ****less. Can''t stand being under water. Honestly, even the shower water on my face annoys me. Blerg. Plus, showing up half naked to adult lessons at the "Y" or elsewhere makes me feel soooo vulnerable. DH was bugging me about it again this weekend because I was wishing to be out on the water on such a nice day, yet, I am the only thing standing in my own way. SO I FEEL FO'' YA!!!

Re: biking. Once you get going - balance isn''t such a huge factor. The propulsion actually helps keep you up there. Its that slow wobbly stuff that is nerve wracking. Are you able to reach the ground okay from on top of the seat? For optimal riding it should be a stretch (or else your knees will hurt) but maybe while you''re learning you could keep the seat lower than you would OPTIMALLY, just so you''re more secure about being able to touch both toes to the ground whenever you want to. Do you have mirrors on the bike? Those can also help you feel more secure about knowing what''s around you without having to turn around all the way to look -- which can shift your weight/balance & cause wobbling. We''re lucky that we have a long paved walking/biking trail near here so you don''t have to worry about cars (just dogs & kiddies). Finding a place like that could also help. Keep at it. Once it "clicks" its easy peasy & you''ll never forget it. Muscle memory!!!