First ride - not a complete success!

[Crimson Avenger]

Well I tried to ride my new bike on Saturday and it didn't go to plan but I'm determined not to give up.

I thought it would just be a question of sitting on the saddle and riding off but I found it very difficult to get my balance and ended up having to hang onto the wall for dear life before having to put my feet down when the wall ended!

I've signed up for the Council's Cycling lessons but am a bit nervous I'll make a fool of myself!

 

[Keith Oates]

Good on you for trying Crimson Avenger, I don't think any of us got on a bike and rode off first time without some help and guidance. If you don't have a friend that can help you then just go to the Council Cycling lessons and tell them you are a novice and I'm sure they will give you good advice and confidence. Nobody will think you're making a fool of yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Shaun]

We all have to learn sometime.

Please don't take offense - I offer the following on the assumption you're an absolute beginner?

It's a technique often employed to help kids when they forego the stabalisers, but try to find a bit of ground with a very slight slope, lower your saddle so you can put your feet down and touch the ground for balance/stability (if the bike allows), and then gently push-off and just glide down the slope. Don't try turning or anything, just use the slope to power you and this will allow you to get a feel for your centre of balance.

Once you've got the hang of that - really shouldn't take all that long - you can then start to bring your feet up to the pedals. Again, don't try to turn the pedals, just bring your feet up and get a feel for your balance in this position.

After you've got the hang of that, do it again but try to roatate the pedals a little.

Once you've got the hang of that, you can try it on the flat. Start off with one leg on the floor to support you, sit in the saddle, and use the other foot to rotate the pedal to about the 2 O'clock position - ready to push off.

Push the pedal quite hard - too slow and you stop before you get chance to get going - and then bring your other foot up to its pedal, give it a push, and away you go.

All of this will take practice of course, but once you've master the basics you'll find your confidence builds quickly and easily.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[wanda2010]

Hi Crimson Avenger. Well done for your first attempt. Don't give up as it will get easier over time. The council cycling lessons will be a great help also. I learnt as an adult but then 'parked' the bike for about 3/4 years before commuting to work 18 months ago. I'm still a nervous cyclist and am pants with hand signals whilst keeping the bike steady, but am making progress.

Cycling is wonderful and I'm really glad I can call myself one :-).

 

[on the road]

Remember that if you go to the councils cycling lessons there will be people there in the same boat as you.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Good for you for trying C.A.

Funny you tend not to think of adults as being unable to ride, well done for having a go and make sure you stick with it.

There's no substitute for practice!

 

[Scoosh]

C A - that's 2 fabulous things you have done !
1 - (re-)starting to ride
2 - coming on here and telling the world of CC about it

You'll have seen, from the replies to your first post, that there are quite a few on here who have returned after long 'lay-offs' - and you can't keep them off their bikes now .

Admin's counsel is good (of course ) if you are feeling like a complete beginner and going to lessons is very wise. You appear to have taken action on the advice offered in your first thread .

Go for it and come back and tell us how it's going !

 

[Crimson Avenger]

Many thanks for all your help guys. I'll try out what you advised - I've contacted the local council scheme and asked them to book something in for after Easter so fingers and pedals crossed!

 

[Cubist]

Good for you Crimson Avenger. Easter seems a long way off, which part of the world are you from? You never know, a kindly soul on here might offer abit of help.​

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Good for you Crimson Avenger. Easter seems a long way off, which part of the world are you from? You never know, a kindly soul on here might offer abit of help. ​

+1

edit: welcome to the forum and welcome to cycling.

 

[Muddyfox]

Keep plugging away at it Crimson Avenger and your efforts will be rewarded

Simon

 

[Crimson Avenger]

Good for you Crimson Avenger. Easter seems a long way off, which part of the world are you from? You never know, a kindly soul on here might offer abit of help.​

+1

edit: welcome to the forum and welcome to cycling.

Thanks all, I'm from Central London.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

when i tried to learn my daughter to ride her bike, she just buggered me off (she was a toddler and could get away with that sort of tantrum in them days), she just spent the day learning herself on the back street. i was sneakily watching her and she just kept trying and going a half step further at a time. perhaps she was onto something? she could easily put her feet down as the seat was low enough, as someone else mentioned this, perhaps it is worth a try? a low seat i mean.