best way to teach someone to ride for the first time

[starthms]

hey all,

with my new found enthusiasm for cycling, my other half is wanting to join me in all the biking fun but there's one problem; she can not ride a bike .

so was wondering if there was any of u with any ideas on how i can get her biking like the best of us lol.

cheers all for any ideas

 

[SimonRoberts0204]

I preume you mean she cant ride... at all?

Unfortunately , to learn, you've got to fall off, .....lots. This isnt such a problem for most who learn as kids and are as such not afraid of pain/humiliation/hospital.

I would suggest finding a quiet grassy field and just telling her to go for it.

She has one advantage over kids in that shes more likely to be able to grasp the concept of geo-stability and the 'faster is steadier' priciple, so explain this to her and she should be away in no time.

Hope this helps,

Simon

 

[Will1985]

Take the pedals off, lower the saddle and make her scoot to begin with. That should quickly give her the sense of balance and then have a go with pedals on something soft.

 

[garrilla]

then have a go with pedals on something soft.

but not the bed

 

[zacklaws]

Riding a bike is one of those strange things in life, one day you cannot ride one, and then one day you can, but you don't know why you can not and then you do not know why you can. If that makes sense.

As mentioned its all about falling off, and then one day you stop falling off and thats the day you have learnt how to ride a bike.

 

[garrilla]

Choosing the right bike will be important. Some bikes will be scarier than others and riding is about confidence, after all.

As well as the pedal less version, which is a good way to get balance but maybe inpractical and hasslesome. Alternatively, the learner can stand on one pedal (left foot on left pedal or right on right) with pedal at the lowest position and use the trailling leg to scoot. This is a great balancing excercise because the asymmetry. Then when balance is good try the same with the pedal at 1/4 turn - the weight will propel the bike forward. When confident with this, do 2/3. Then, either stand astride the top tube and do 2/3 or kick the leg over the seat on start off. This should give them basic understanding of balance and bike control. Then add pedalling. And falling (or not falling). I taught my sister to ride like this at 21.

 

[wafflycat]

Get your other half some proper cycle training from an accredited trainer, to the national cycle training standards.

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4135

 

[byegad]

Take the pedals off, lower the saddle and make her scoot to begin with. That should quickly give her the sense of balance and then have a go with pedals on something soft.

That's the way to get them balanced.
Once they can paddle along and lift their feet to coast a bit.
Then ask then to do a figure of eight feet up.
Then replace the pedals and get them to pedal a figure of eight.
Then start raising the saddle bit by bit. In every stage let them play and mess around until they are happy they can take the next step.
Most people seem to do it in a few hours from paddling along to riding with the seat pretty much at the right height.