Need advice on semi-embarrassing topic

[missy]

Interesting article. It is not uncommon to learn how to ride a bicycle as an adult anymore

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2008/06/30/start_at_any_age/

http://www.wikihow.com/Ride-a-Bicycle

1. Get to know bike balance. Push yourself along with your feet and get the feel of how the bike leans and steers. Do this for 30-45 minutes or so, until you have a good feel and some confidence about steering the bike. Try pushing yourself along fast and "gliding" with your feet up in the air, just steering with your hands. Notice the tendency of your body to lean slightly into the curve to keep balance when just using your hands to steer. When you are up to it, instead of using your hands try to make turns with your body and let the bike follow you, you'll notice that the front wheel will also make the turn automatically. This is the key bike-riding skill, that of balancing and steering. Take as much time with this step as you need to feel confident.
2.

Get ready to ride. Re-attach the pedals to the bike. Raise the seat a bit, but still keep it low enough, so that you can touch the ground with the tip of your toes while seated.
3.

Hold the bike with the handlebars and just walk it around the area.
4.

When you have got the balancing feeling, go to the top of the slope and try to get on the front of the bike. (Not on the seat but in front of it!) You should be able to stand. (Note: Always stand at the top of the bike when going on!)
5.

When you are on the front of the bike, walk down holding the handlebars. (It may look silly but don't worry.)
6.

After you have done that a couple of times, go to the top of the slope and raise your left foot off the ground. Then kick with your right foot. (Similar to walking but with the left foot above the ground.)
7.

Do this 2-3 times and then go to the top of the slope again and put your left foot suspended in the air. This time, try to "glide" by kicking less and going 3-5 feet between kicks.
8.

Now try with the left foot kicking and the right foot off the ground.
9.

Ok, now you've done the hard part. Once you've got the hang of this, try to go up to 10 feet without kicking. (Don't worry it isn't that hard once you've got the hang of it).
10.

This time when you're going down try to sit on the bike seat, after about 3 feet of gliding. Your feet should still be able to touch the ground, if they aren't then adjust the seat lower.
11.

Do this about 3 times and then when you are going down put your left foot on the pedal. But do not move it, still using right foot to glide down.
12.

Now do that again but with the opposite feet.
13.

Once you are comfortable doing it, try to put both feet down after gliding. (You should be able to go 20+ feet with gliding now.) Practice this until you feel comfortable going to the next step.
14.

Once you've gained enough speed, try to pedal ONCE with the feet once you are sitting on the seat and both feet are on the pedals.
15.

Try to pedal more times slowly, working your way up to 2,3,4, etc...
16.

When you feel you've mastered the pedaling, try a 'cold start' on flat ground. First put your pedals in a horizontal position, put your left foot on the pedal and keep the right foot on the ground or the other way around if it is more comfortable. Then Use your right (or left if you chose the other way) foot to give yourself some initial speed while pushing down the pedal with your left (or right), draw your (right or left) foot up to the pedal and start pedaling right away.
17.

Find a spot with an EASY turn or a large area, when you are going down and have gained a good speed try to slightly turn(without pedaling) to the right, then left.
18.

Now we go to an important part: braking. Depending on what kind of brakes your bike will differ the training. When using hand brakes a good habit to develop this early is to use the rear brake slightly earlier than the front. Should you ever come in a situation where emergency braking is required, using the front brake might cause it lock up due to your panic-reaction and your rear wheel can then be lifted off the ground. If your bike has foot-brakes (more common in the USA than in Europe ) try to get the pedals in a horizontal position before braking, that way you'll be able to exert more braking power. Practice slowing down (correctly) when trying to stop going downhill. Put your left foot as low as the pedal goes and step on the ground with the right foot once you have slowed enough. The same goes for riding uphill but you won't have to use the brake as much, just wait for it to slow down.
19.

Now you have learned how to ride downhill, just practice turning and you will be fine. (Note: For most slopes you will just need to glide.)
20.

Now we will get to a harder part, going uphill. Start by going to a very SLIGHTLY uphill area. Start as you normally do except this time start by putting your left foot on the pedal to help gain speed easily, (Do this when you are going to go downhill too once you are used to it.) make sure the pedal is high up so you have a long distance to push. Push the pedal with the left(or the right) leg and the ground with the right (or the left) and you should be moving. Practice this 4-6 times!
21.

Once you can do that and go 10 feet, then try to glide, then once you've gained balance try to sit on the seat and pedal.
22.

Turning when going uphill is different and more difficult from turning downhill. It is the same concept but you have to gain very much speed to do so. Also make sure that you aren't pedaling while turning, unless you are in need of more speed.
23.

Well that's all there is to learning to ride a bike! Practice daily and you will become good at it!
24.

Ride. Once you can balance, pedal, start, and stop, (in this order) you're a bicycle rider. Congratulations!

Secondary Method

1.

Sitting on the bike, make sure you know where the brakes are and how to operate them.
2.

You have to learn to balance the bike. Find a person who can hold your bike behind you and try to steady it as you pedal.
3.

After practicing for a couple minutes, the person can release his or her hands while you try to keep your balance.
4.

When you are ready, ride alone. But first lower the seat until you can sit on it and put both feet flat on the ground.
5.

When you are confident you can put your feet on the pedals and coast for a few feet, try not putting your feet down to train your sense of balance. Do this for 30-45 minutes or so, until you have a good feel and some confidence about steering the bike.
6.

As you gain experience, raise the seat up so that only your toes can touch the ground while you are seated. This is the more appropriate height for your seat.
7.

Finally, you have to practice.
8.

Once you can balance, pedal, start, and stop, you're a bicycle rider. Congratulations!

 

[PumpkinPie]

just wanted to give you some more encouragement Thomperchik - I''m impressed that you''re learning now - you will get it - it just takes some patience!

 

[Thomperchik]

Just wanted to give everyone an update. I finally learned how to ride my bike last week. It was perhaps one of the most liberating feeling I''ve felt! It was easier than I though and I think what helped me was that I stopped thinking too much about how hard it was, ughh... 18 years ago! hahah

Someone gave my boyfriend, perhaps the best advice for those adults trying to learn. They told him to put me on a small hill, and just ride down, from there I learned to balance and catch mementum (sp?) and then I started pedelling.

I felt like a little kid. I actually cried!! haha That night I even thought about doing a bike marathon! lol

Either way, I just wanted to thank all of you for sending your support. Like always, it is truly appreciated!!!

 

[artdecogirl]

Congratulations Thomperchik! You have just given yourself a lifelong gift! We took the bikes out last month for the first time this season and that first ride is always amazing! The wind in your face and coasting down a hill, a little rush cause you are going sooo fast! it''s awesome and new every time.

 

[PumpkinPie]

Congrats!

 

[yssie]

Congratulations!!!


There''s a whole world of trails out there just waiting for you

 

[missy]

I''m so glad you are loving it and I know you are going to enjoy this for the rest of your life. Bicycling is one of those activities we can enjoy well into our 80''s!! Just look around next time you are cycling. There are lots of older people enjoying it

When you are ready to try something new I highly recommend tandem cycling. It is lots of fun and you can speak with your dh while doing it. It is the great equalizer when it comes to skill as well.

Enjoy!!!

 

[Steel]

What a lovely story. Thanks for sharing.

Congrats on your new skill and sport.

 

[katamari]

That is so very cool, Thomper! I am glad you had fun!

 

[wolftress]

Thomper, I can''t ride a bike either! And only got my driver''s licence very recently... I''m a late bloomer

Your thread has inspired me to learn to cycle... if only I wasn''t so scared of falling off!

 

[Karl_K]

congrates!!!

I just got a bike and am a little hesitant, it has been 20 years.
So far the short time I was on one trying it out before buying it was mostly ok.

 

[purselover]

Congratulations!!