Should I start cycling?

[numbnuts]

No don't do it, firstly is is going to cost you an arm and a leg
you will have to join this forum and have to put up with all of us
you will be obliged to wear Lycra at all times
shave your legs if you want to travel faster than 20 mph
you will learn to hate all car drivers
You will get hot and sweaty
I should have given it up years ago, but once you get a bike there is no going back.

 

[si_c]

Go for it, ultimately what do you have to lose apart from a couple of afternoons learning?

If you want something more structured, it seems Shropshire CC run bikeability courses which are available to adults.

http://shropshire.gov.uk/highways-and-traffic/road-safety-in-shropshire/bikeability-in-shropshire/

 

[Angry Blonde]

Ive just took the bairns stabilisers off her little bike if your after some, you might get some strange looks though !

Joking aside mate, itll be one of the best things you ever do, as everyone else above has allready said, get it done youll be glad you did !

 

[MikeW-71]

Yes, do it

Not everyone here uses a bike as transport. I started by doing some commuting of 5 miles each way (which is now 5 miles in and 15+ miles back ), but mostly I just ride for leisure because I enjoy it and it keeps me fitter. If you have easy access to the quiet country roads as I do it's absolutely brilliant riding out on a warm summer evening for an hour, or heading out for something longer on days off.

I would like to learn to ride but, as I have already said, feel like I am too old to learn now and wouldn't know where to start, if I was to start

Obtain bike, remove pedals, lower the saddle right down and start by running the bike along with your feet to learn balance. Once you can coast along with your feet up and stay balanced, put the pedals back on, raise the saddle to a riding position and off you go. It'll feel wobbly for a bit, but you'll soon get past that.

 

[Berk on a Bike]

I started at the tender age of 42 having not had a bike before. I took my first rides on a borrowed bike with Mrs. Berk creasing herself at my efforts giving advice and encouragement. My nursery slope (no actual slope) was a local tarmac'd cycle path. We'd go out when it was quiet and the only witnesses were a few bewildered dog walkers. Learning the basics meant swallowing my pride, remembering my goal and simply persevering.

I didn't commute straight away. I wanted to be sure of my bike handling and attain a certain level of fitness before trying. My entire commute is on main roads, 12 miles each way. When I first learned to ride that seemed like a lofty goal. Now I do it every day.

So learn the skills somewhere safe and graduate to road riding when you feel comfortable doing so. I really can't encourage you enough to give it a go.

 

[summerdays]

Go for it, and I recommend getting some help if you can as they will give you tips about braking gently rather than slamming on the brakes. At first 10 miles does seem a long way even to someone who could cycle but didn't do it very often, but it's something you build up to (if you tried to do that far at first you derrière would make objections!)

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi and from Shrewsbury

Go for it. You definitely aren't too old to learn but as already said it would be best to cycle for pleasure to start with and build up to the utility riding. For what it's worth, my current commute is 10 to 11 miles each way (depending on which way I go) so that kind of distance is doable.

It's already been mentioned but your local bike shop would be a good place to enquire about courses.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[stoatsngroats]

I bet there are many here who learned as kids, then stopped riding, and got back on bikes in the 30s, 40s or even 50s, so age has nothing to do with it !

I'd encourage you to give it more than just a little effort, it really is the 2nd best way to exercise Swimming is the best.

Give it a try - I bet you really enjoy the freedom of cycling! Good Luck!

 

[Ern1e]

Hi and welcome Sarah my answer is also yes and as to shopping etc. once you are able to get a rack and some panniers on your bike3 and go shopping ! But just be careful that you don't buy more than you can fit in lol. I go shopping by bike every week some times several times, Ok your first few trips are not good but persevere and all will work out fine in the end, but first things first you need to learn to ride and then little steps. I truly hope this helps you in your decision.

 

[HertzvanRental]

All the advice is sound, but don't start off with an expensive bike.(assuming you don't have one)!!.

I have enjoyed cycling all my life but all my siblings (2 brothers, 1 sister) have all tried it and found that it was not to their taste.
So, make sure that it is your "thing", then you can justifiably spend silly money, like the.rest of us!!

Hope you become as convert!

 

[jhawk]

Most definitely! And you are faster than you think!

My current most-days-of-the-week commute to town and back is around 12 miles (each way). I'm on an MTB with a single gear (not by choice, it just malfunctioned in that way). And that takes me about an hour. If I was to ride a road bike, or my touring bike, I'd get there quicker.

You will love it, as I did after I picked it up again after I moved to Canada. Good luck! Keep us updated on your progress!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

All the advice is sound, but don't start off with an expensive bike.(assuming you don't have one)!!.

^^^^ Good call but don't go too cheap either. This thing was awful to ride and would have put me off if I hadn't already been keen (and very stubborn):

 

[MikeW-71]

^^ There's one of those in my parents garage right now. <shudder>

I think it's been ridden all of 10 miles since it was new. It's horrible.

 

[slowmotion]

Yes. You've simply got to. You'll miss out on so much fun otherwise.

 

[ISAAC_J]

YES! Please give cycling a try!
Visit a local bike shop and ask if you can rent a bike for a day, week, or month? If you ask for help then most likely people will help.
All the best.