Just learnt to ride a bike :)

[thevinci]

At 33 years old, after lots of nagging from the missus, I eventually let her teach me to ride a bike we'd borrowed from our neighbours... After an hour of thinking that I'd never be able to do it...somehow, I managed to figure out how to stay balanced!!!

That was about 2 weeks ago.

Every few days, I borrow the bike again, just to make sure I've not forgotten!!

I've caught the bug and, ideally, once I know what I'm doing, I'd like a nice bike....a hybrid or a cyclo-cross to ride along the countryside, some gentle trails and around some of the bigger parks near to where I live, with my wife and baby son.

Before I invest in such a machine, I feel I need to master cycling. I'm a tad bit rubbish.

At the moment, I don't have the fitness to keep going for ages. My bum hurts when I sit on a bike for too long.
Maneuvering is also challenging and I end up going towards obstacles when trying to avoid them!!

I have two queries:

1. How does one get better at cycling, and not panicking when they see a lamppost or slight slope in front of them!!?? Also, I find it difficult to stay on a path and end up going onto the grass. Any tips or advice would be totally appreciated!

2. Secondly, can anyone recommend a cheap, cheerful, yet comfortable bike I can properly learn the basics in, before I spend £500-600 on a nice one?

 

[summerdays]

Well done, it's a lot harder as an adult than as a child.

When you are cycling relax your grip on the handlebars, sit up, and look into the distance, not too near at the ground. Only small gentle movements are needed to correct where you are going, and gently pull on the brakes to slow yourself down. And for now pick a gear where your legs are going around at a medium pace, too slow and you will tend to go side to side.

 

[IncoherentJeff]

Nice one, can't help much with the bike advice but with dodging obstacles look where you want to go sounds obvious but if there's an obsticle change course to avoid it then look ahead.

If you keep looking at the object you're more likely to hit it due to target fixation.

It's human nature to travel in the direction your looking, leant it the hard way passing my motorcycle test slaloming cones etc

 

[simon the viking]

With regard to getting better its just practice..... I hadn't rode a bike for 25 years until 2 years ago and my road sense and speed was dreadful (It still might be) but I'm a lot more confident on busy roads....

The trick with cycling is to enjoy it, not treat it as cheap form of transport.

Well done on taking the plunge!!!!!

 

[numbnuts]

WoW well done

 

[thevinci]

Thank you...

I think the target fixation thing makes the most sense... I'm slightly better at dodging things, but sometimes I panic. I almost hit a bin at the park today!!

I can't imagine commuting on a bike any year soon.... but like the idea of riding around with the family through nice parks or the countryside.

My wife is by far a better cyclist than I, so lots of practice is needed.

Even the cheapest bikes, aren't cheap cheap.. I'll keep looking

 

[simon the viking]

Commuting is the best bit, wakes you up ready for work and..... winds you down after a stressful day.... I genuinely hate going in the car

 

[Pat "5mph"]

and well done on learning how to cycle!
I never really "learned" to cycle, picked up how to ride a bike somehow, then realized improvement was needed while riding with a group.
I think practicing your weak points is the key.

 

[raleighnut]

Look where you want to go, automatic reflexes take over.

 

[young Ed]

practice, practice, practice it really is the only way to get better
just to learn and really master it pretty much anything will do, be it a tesco or argos 'thing'. or one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...RC0.H0.X321508434089&_nkw=adult+bike&_sacat=0

Commuting is the best bit, wakes you up ready for work and..... winds you down after a stressful day.... I genuinely hate going in the car

are find getting to the bus stop and finding somewhere to lock my bike and then doing something with my shoes and then worrying about the bike being nicked all day is so much worse than commuting and locking the bike in a secure bike shed on school grounds and locking shoes and jersey in a locker and also it doesn't matter if i am 10 minutes late
Cheers Ed

 

[simon the viking]

practice, practice, practice it really is the only way to get better
just to learn and really master it pretty much anything will do, be it a tesco or argos 'thing'. or one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X321508434089&_nkw=adult bike&_sacat=0

are find getting to the bus stop and finding somewhere to lock my bike and then doing something with my shoes and then worrying about the bike being nicked all day is so much worse than commuting and locking the bike in a secure bike shed on school grounds and locking shoes and jersey in a locker and also it doesn't matter if i am 10 minutes late
Cheers Ed

Ah you see that's where I'm spoilt.... my bike lives 3 foot away from me in an under stairs cupboard while I'm at work..... safe and dry

 

[Saluki]

Well done on starting. Just practice practice and practice some more.
Don't get suckered in to buying a cheap bike, they are generally pants. If it's a non expensive bike you are after, try Decathlon. Great bikes at non extortionate prices.

 

[coffeejo]

Well done

 

[Stephen Piper]

Maybe a single speed bike would suit a beginner, as long as the gearing is not to high. They are relatively cheap compared to geared bikes and much simpler to operate, it is what I used to learn on (OK, I was about 6 years old). I have recently bought a viking citifix which I am very impressed with, it was only £165, delivered. I bought it to try fixed wheel riding but am not recommending riding fixed for a beginner.

 

[broady]

Get yourself a secondhand mountain bike. Keep an eye out on eBay and gumtree for something with at least an aluminium frame and avoid suspension (a hindrance unless of the expensive range).
Keep an eye out for what style gears are on the bike (trigger, thumb shifter, grip shift or old style leaver on the bars), personally I hate the grip shifters.
As a general idea of what I would pay.
£10-£30 for a steel frame bike
£25-£50 for an aluminium frame
Above £50 and I would be looking at the whole spec of the bike and ask further questions on here.

Remember to always google the bike to find a rough guide on how much it is new and what other people have written in their reviews on the bike.