Author Topic: I'm learning to ride a bike!  (Read 1679 times)

Offline Jemini

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I'm learning to ride a bike!
« on: June 23, 2011, 05:00:55 PM »
So, I'm 27 and have never ridden a bike before. Now that I've lost (almost) 100lb I've decided it's just about time to learn, and Im getting myself one this weekend. One problem....I'm terrified. I have no idea how to begin to learn how to ride one of these things!

Any suggestions? The bike I'm getting is 26" because apparently I'm that long of limb to need a big one.

Offline Crystal

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2011, 05:04:00 PM »
Most of us learned with training wheels as kids, so we have trouble remembering tips, but!  Have someone who can help you and see what it is you are doing wrong.  Remember that EVERYONE wobbles for the first while.  It's hard to learn how to move your legs back and forth without massively shifting your center of gravity, so bear with yourself and the wobbling.  WEAR A HELMET AND PADS.  You WILL fall down at least a time or two.  It's fine and happens to everyone, but you don't want to damage yourself more than you have to. 

This is going to be so much fun for you once you figure out how to do it!
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Offline Cytherea

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2011, 09:11:57 PM »
Definitely everything Crystal said. Also, it can be easier to keep your balance when you're not going super-slow -- going too slow can lead to over-corrections. (Think about trying to walk with a very full cup of water -- if you're watching it slosh one way, you might overcorrect and have it splash out the other way!)

Offline Count PuPPula

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2011, 09:22:06 PM »
Mhmm. Forward momentum = stability on bike type things.
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Offline Narcissa

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2011, 09:44:48 PM »
Find a cul-de-sac or dead end street that has a slight slope to it. Not a steep hill or anything, just something you can roll down and peddle up without too much speed going down or too much difficulty going up.

Practice steering by rolling down the incline, and practice pedaling by riding up.

It's actually easier than going on a flat surface, because you can focus on one part of it at a time and not be bombarded by trying to control everything at once.

Personally I try to ride mostly on flat ground or downhill, as going up hills has me winded in seconds flat, but once you get good at biking, especially if you're still losing weight and/or have hit your goal, riding around up and down hills and on flat places will probably keep you in shape and increase your fitness awesomely, which is a total bonus because it's also fun and a good way to get around without paying for gasoline or having to sit next to someone who smells weird on a bus.
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Offline S_C

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2011, 03:04:11 AM »
Helmet.
Knee pads.
Elbow pads.
Gloves.
Shin guards.

And any other protective gear you can acquire.

You will fall off. Try to make it as non-traumatizing as possible.
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Offline Tamsin

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2011, 06:04:31 AM »
Training wheels, used too long, will make you dependent on the trainers. If you have a friend who can run behind you with a hand on the back of the seat, that works well too.
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Offline Jemini

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2011, 12:44:30 PM »
I'm afraid I'd smoosh him if he was holding onto me and I fell...

Offline S*S

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2011, 03:00:58 PM »
Normally the helper holds your seat from behind, and when you fall a bike, you normally fall sideways.
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Offline S_C

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2011, 07:57:12 PM »
Also, the helper isn't actually holding you up (says the parent who helped two kids to learn to ride bikes). It's about balance, not about holding you up by brute force. Forward motion is your best friend.
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Online stargazer2

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2011, 09:18:24 PM »
Interestingly, you can Google learning to ride a bike for adults, and find some pointers.  I noticed this:  http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-142307.html - which has the experience of a 50+ year-old who learned to ride a bike.  It might be helpful, because I think it is a different experience for an adult.

Offline Imaginary

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2011, 08:30:35 AM »
The faster you're going, the more the spinning wheels act as gyroscopes and help you maintain stability.  Biking fast is easy, slowly is hard, and staying in one place wildly difficult.
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Offline Jemini

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #12 on: June 25, 2011, 11:09:00 AM »
So I found out going down gently sloping hill is enough, going down a steep hill is maybe a bit much on my first trial run.

I havent fallen off yet, so thats a start!

Offline toolazytoworktoobusytostop

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #13 on: July 03, 2011, 08:21:36 PM »
Everyone is offering great advice, but here's one thing that everyone seems to be forgetting: Well done for trying to learn this, and very good luck.

Well done with all your efforts thus far.
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Offline Jemini

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #14 on: July 03, 2011, 09:13:28 PM »
Everyone is offering great advice, but here's one thing that everyone seems to be forgetting: Well done for trying to learn this, and very good luck.

Well done with all your efforts thus far.

...I was very close to giving up, but you have given me the courage to try again. Thank you.

Offline Crystal

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #15 on: July 04, 2011, 05:42:51 AM »
Remember:  Wobbling is normal and it will pass in time as you become more comfortable. 
A friend disappointed me a short while ago. She e-mailed a message with the subject line 'Trap Neuter Return' and the message had nothing to do with the Duggar family. *sad* -Hippie
I must be the most frequently "almost sigged" person on the forum.  -fixer
Oh look, a blog.

Offline Jemini

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #16 on: July 04, 2011, 06:27:22 AM »
I havent even pedaled in a forward motion yet. Im having a hard time because my fat thighs are getting in the way of me pedaling....its really frustrating.

Offline Jemini

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #17 on: July 04, 2011, 10:49:29 AM »
Turns out, its not me...the bike is off center. My mom came out and she couldnt ride it either, and shes been riding bikes forever!

Offline phobos

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #18 on: July 04, 2011, 12:05:06 PM »
Off centre? How? As in, the saddle's not straight, it's pointing off to one side or something?

Got a link to the bike you went for? I'll be going out with teh gf on Saturday to get her one, she's hoping to find one of these or these. I think she got sold on the idea after we got her a Boris bike a couple of times in the spring and went trundling around the Royal Parks in the sunshine :-)
« Last Edit: July 04, 2011, 01:16:26 PM by phobos »
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Offline EnsoMu

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Re: I'm learning to ride a bike!
« Reply #19 on: July 04, 2011, 12:29:44 PM »
I hope you can get it fixed.  Also don't give up.  If a big beefy guy like me (who's probably bigger than you in most respects)  can do it, so can you!  Also when you ride, why don't you get a cool bike horn and bell!  :D

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