Tips for helping my teenager

[London Female]

Yesterday and today, completely out of the blue, my 17 year old daughter asked me to take her out on a bike ride. I made sure both rides were short, flat and slow so as not to put her off trying again. She suffers from anxiety and panic attacks so have avoided main roads and stuck to dedicated cycle routes and the odd minor road. So far she has enjoyed it and wants to continue. Does anyone else have any experience of helping teenagers to gain confidence?

Thank you

 

[Dusty Bin]

Look for a local cycling club with BC 'go ride' accreditation. They will be able to offer coached beginner sessions in a safe, traffic free environment.

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/go-ride/article/goridest-What-is-Go-Ride

 

[crazyjoe101]

Hello there, it's great to hear she wants to get involved. I'm 17 too and am currently teaching two of my friends how to cycle in the road. I'd say in this case the main thing is to take it slow, not moving on until she's mastered the last thing. My friends seem to enjoy getting taught by someone who (sort of) knows what they're doing.

You might also like to ask her about what she wants more help with and what she enjoys, so that you can work on those things.

Natrually she'll have a great amount of faith in you if you're her mother and also a cyclist so just keep talking and giving tips as you go. That's how my Mum taught me all those years ago.

 

[London Female]

Look for a local cycling club with BC 'go ride' accreditation. They will be able to offer coached beginner sessions in a safe, traffic free environment.

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/go-ride/article/goridest-What-is-Go-Ride

Thank you, I will look into that.

 

[London Female]

Hello there, it's great to hear she wants to get involved. I'm 17 too and am currently teaching two of my friends how to cycle in the road. I'd say in this case the main thing is to take it slow, not moving on until she's mastered the last thing. My friends seem to enjoy getting taught by someone who (sort of) knows what they're doing.

You might also like to ask her about what she wants more help with and what she enjoys, so that you can work on those things.

Natrually she'll have a great amount of faith in you if you're her mother and also a cyclist so just keep talking and giving tips as you go. That's how my Mum taught me all those years ago.[/quote

Thank you, that's great advice and nice to hear from someone her age.

 

[Kies]

My son started taking an interest in cycling a few months after me. I don't push him to ride, but we did a few rides together on those long hot summer evenings (distant dreams now) , I keep him in front and ride slightly further out to protect and educate him on road positioning.

 

[Jaco45er]

I cant advise you on how to motivate or control a teenager (if I could, my boy would have gone to the Harriers last night instead of opting out for the Xbox, lazy little etc etc ). However, I can pass comment and offer hope on the panic attack/anxiety front.

I used to MTB years ago in my 20's, but by the time I hit 30 I had stopped cycling, football, squash, purely down to motivation and work commitments. Around my late 20's i started to suffer panic attacks and was diagnosed with GAD and Health anxiety disorders (there's so many anxiety acronyms, it's enough to give you anxiety !!!). Anyway long story short, tried many treatments and none worked, finally went back to see yet another GP. This fella was a keen cyclist, been in the local paper often for charity rides, he said, so do you own a bike? if you do, it may be all the treatment you need. I did, an old Peugeot mountain bike (wish I kept it now, might be rare !!!). in desperation, I dug it out, new tyres etc and started to ride again. I wasn't cured overnight, but steadily as I got fitter, my anxiety days became less.

Shooting forward (I have a tendency to waffle on to anyone that will listen ), at 40 years old in 2007 I bought a Trek 4300 as I was going out more and more, I now have a road bike and another MTB, and try to go out at least twice a week, and my anxiety days in the last 6 years you can count on one hand.

So in summary, keep her motivated to cycle on, it may do her a lot more good than just fitness

 

[Maz]

Gosh, I wish my 17 y/o daughter would ask me to take her out on a bike ride. Well done your daughter for taking that step.
I can't offer you any advice, but I'm really glad she enjoyed it and hope she keeps it up.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Panic attacks are something I am very familier with. I think cycling has really helped me with those over time a LOT.

 

[London Female]

My son started taking an interest in cycling a few months after me. I don't push him to ride, but we did a few rides together on those long hot summer evenings (distant dreams now) , I keep him in front and ride slightly further out to protect and educate him on road positioning.

Fortunately I work 3 x 12 hour shifts a week and she is only in college 3 days so we are able to go out during the day.

 

[London Female]

I cant advise you on how to motivate or control a teenager (if I could, my boy would have gone to the Harriers last night instead of opting out for the Xbox, lazy little etc etc ). However, I can pass comment and offer hope on the panic attack/anxiety front.

I used to MTB years ago in my 20's, but by the time I hit 30 I had stopped cycling, football, squash, purely down to motivation and work commitments. Around my late 20's i started to suffer panic attacks and was diagnosed with GAD and Health anxiety disorders (there's so many anxiety acronyms, it's enough to give you anxiety !!!). Anyway long story short, tried many treatments and none worked, finally went back to see yet another GP. This fella was a keen cyclist, been in the local paper often for charity rides, he said, so do you own a bike? if you do, it may be all the treatment you need. I did, an old Peugeot mountain bike (wish I kept it now, might be rare !!!). in desperation, I dug it out, new tyres etc and started to ride again. I wasn't cured overnight, but steadily as I got fitter, my anxiety days became less.

Shooting forward (I have a tendency to waffle on to anyone that will listen ), at 40 years old in 2007 I bought a Trek 4300 as I was going out more and more, I now have a road bike and another MTB, and try to go out at least twice a week, and my anxiety days in the last 6 years you can count on one hand.

So in summary, keep her motivated to cycle on, it may do her a lot more good than just fitness

Thank you, she has been under the PCHAMS team and is now being transferred to CHAMS, they advised to try exercise. Initially she asked me to take her to play badminton but that is a lot harder than it looks, so glad she has asked to cycle instead.

It's great to hear you have been able to manage the anxiety.

 

[London Female]

Panic attacks are something I am very familier with. I think cycling has really helped me with those over time a LOT.

It's good he hear from people who understand and know how frightening it can be and that it is possible to learn to manage anxiety and panic attacks. I am keeping my fingers crossed the cycling will help her.

 

[Jaco45er]

@London Female while on the subject, grab a copy of Claire Weekes "Hope and help for your Nerves". Its only a few quid on Amazon, and is a fantastic read to help come to terms with anxiety disorders.

All the best to your daughter, it can be overcome

 

[fossyant]

Find some nice quiet routes, bit of off road trails/tracks. Encourage, but don't push.

My lad is back in the swing of cycling to School everyday now term has started. Even ends up 'racing' another lad home most days

 

[crazyjoe101]

+1 to what Klies said. If you do get to the stage where you're road cycling then protective positioning is important. I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do, but while my friends are getting used to road cycling, I take a defensive position behind them and overtake when approaching a junction. If safe, after the junction I pull out about 1.5-2m away from the curb and let my friend undertake to get back in front.

Also, my Mum stopped riding years ago due to reasons similar to jaco45er (as LF said, good to hear you're managing it so well), she learnt to manage it without cycling but now tells me she feels so free and at home having got back on a bike again. Just need to get her confident in the road now

Good luck!