Just been out for my first ride!

[Skyrocket]

Ok am totally a beginner so please be kind to me! My neighbour has kindly lent me an old bike of theirs (I believe it's a mountain bike and is bright pink!) just to try out riding to see if I get hooked. Then if I do will buy my own.
Finally plucked up the courage to go round the block on it.
Bear in mind I haven't ridden a bike in about 25 years!!
My hands are killing me, there was a bit of wobbling and it seemed quite hard to steer and pedal.
I am 5ft 6 and have an inside leg of 31" and this bike is measuring a 20" frame.
Do you think it's too big for me or will I get used to the hard steering/pedalling? It seemed very heavy going and I was on the flat!
Not remembered how to ride one handed yet to indicate but I picked the quietist of times to go out on some very quiet roads!

 

[Mo1959]

Well done........it really does become easier reasonably quickly if you persevere.

I think it may be a bit big, probably an 18" would be more suitable but it will do to see if you like it and maybe look for something else. If it was a bit big you would maybe be dropping more weight onto your hands plus you may have been gripping a bit hard too with being a bit nervous.

 

[Ozzrahog]

well done

 

[Skyrocket]

Thank you for your encouragement! It really does mean a lot because I did feel nervous (actually felt like I was 6 years old again! )
I think you're right, it might be a bit big for me. I'm taking it out to a country reservoir near me tomorrow to see how I get on. If it goes well I might go and get something smaller over the weekend.

 

[vickster]

I'm 5'10 and have an 18" women's MTB, 20" is almost certainly a bit big...but well done on getting out there

Gloves / mitts should help your hands...and if wobbly, a helmet may be worth considering if not using one

Decathlon have very good vfm bikes of all shapes and sizes If female (I am assuming here), even if you get a unisex bike, a female specific saddle is definitely worth the investment

 

[Skyrocket]

Thank you Vickster!
Yes I am female (I think the bright pink bike would have looked even worse other wise! ) so a trip to Decathlon looks on the cards.
Will definitely get some gloves in the morning and yes a helmet would help.

 

[MrJamie]

Well done and welcome

Riding a not-great bike will just make the new one seem all the better

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Are your hands tired because you're leaning too heavily on them (bike too big, meaning you're having to stretch forwards?) or because you're still rusty and nervous (gripping the bars super-tightly)? Lowering the saddle might help if it's not already down as far as it will go. If it's a case of nervously hanging on for dear life, then your grip will relax as you gain confidence.

 

[Skyrocket]

I think it's a mixture of both to be honest. I think the bike is too big for me and the seat is as far down as it will go. But I also think I was gripping on too. I was pretty nervous and waiting until the 20 or so workmen who were right outside my house digging the road for British Gas went home before I set off! Didn't fancy wobbling about on this bright pink bike in front of them! I think if I had I would have crashed out of sheer nerves and ended up on Youtube for the nation to laugh at!
I will try and relax more tomorrow on my ride. It will be a longer ride so will give me a chance to relax a bit more maybe. But it did feel very heavy to turn and steer.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

It sounds like you'll soon start to relax even if the bike's too large for you. Just watch out for those British Gas holes in the road!

 

[Skyrocket]

Will do! Will report back when I get home (if I'm still alive!)

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Well done, just keep at it.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Well done!!
2.5 years ago i was in the same position, having not ridden a bike since 1989!!
Within a month of starting i was over the moon having ridden 7 miles non stop.
Now i think nothing of doing 30 miles @ 17mph in the evening after spending the day
on my feet at work.

So keep at it, and i believe pink mountain bikes can bunny-hop better than black ones.

 

[Skyrocket]

Ha ha thank you! It's actually a really lurid pink and I am not a pink kind of person but was very grateful to my neighbour for lending it to me! Does look like it should have ribbons on the handlebars though
I feel really encouraged now to go out there tomorrow and keep going. Felt a bit self-conscious today, wobbling around!

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

The wobbling will disappear once your brain goes from "manual handlebar management" to "auto-pilot".

I sometimes go wobbly on purpose on my bike if a motorist is following too close, they usually think i'm about
to fall off and increase the gap (little tip there).