Total Newbie

[Roadtrip]

My story begins some years ago. Young and impressionable, not all that coordinated. I was very sick as a child and spent the first three/four years of my life in and out of the hospital and was always falling and the like. I also had an older sister that liked to get her little sis to do all sorts of things that lead to physical harm. She convinced me she would teach me to ride a bike.

She got me at the top of a VERY tall hill on a gravel road and promptly offered a push to assist me on my way. It didn't go well. I grew stubborn and REFUSED to ride. If I needed to go somewhere I walked. I once walked myself four miles to softball practice as mom was at work. Years went by and learning to ride took on even less importance as I neared the age where I would begin to drive and enter into a whole new age of freedom.

In hindsight I know I shouldn't have let one event have such an impact and honestly, as I grew older, it became embarrassing to admit I didn't learn how to ride a bike. Not that long ago I decided to give it another go and found what looked like a pretty decent bike for a good price and brought it home. By this time I was thirty something standing in the driveway of my first home on this bike wondering what had become of my life. I bravely peddled my way down the driveway a few feet at a time when I went down, landing on my arm to break my fall, feeling like I'd cracked a rib or two, but more pride hurt. I placed the bike back in the garage and limped inside... two years ago.

In June I turned 35 and being a bit of a larger gal, I knew I NEEDED to do something, WANTED to do something drop those extra pounds. I started looking at bikes again and discovered the pedal forward (Trek Navigator/Pure) bikes with lower center of gravity and decided as a (belated) birthday gift to myself, buy a good quality bike that might finally get me on the road.

So here I am seeking advice, if any can be found, about the next step along this journey that might help me. My first experience at a local bike shop wasn't easy. I opened up and told of my inability to ride and with hat in hand asked for advice and the only advice I got was go find a hill and ride.

I just found this wonderful forum and hope I've found a true home where I can finally enjoy riding a bike with my husband.

Total newbie,
Shannon

[maryellen]

Welcome Sharon, I learned to ride at 45 and it was one of the best things I've ever done!

[Owlie]

Welcome to TE! You're doing better than my dad, who at age 10 fell off his bike and broke his wrist...and hasn't been anywhere near a bike since. :)

Have you bought the bike? Now, get yourself a helmet, and perhaps some gloves. If you want, lower the seat so you can get your feet on the ground while on the saddle, and just push yourself around that way so you can get used to balancing. Find a big empty grassy field and just try riding, I guess. Practice getting on and off the bike and riding around.

Relax. And smile. It's supposed to be fun. :)

[schnitzle]

Welcome Shannon! It's wonderful that you're giving cycling another try!
I'm new to biking too, and it's really the only exercise I've ever truly enjoyed.

This is an awesome place to learn and get good solid advice, I think you'll love it here :D

[Catrin]

Welcome to TE!

I just learned how to ride a bike in December 2009 myself and now am riding much further than I would have dreamed at the time. I am not the most coordinated person out there, so if I can do it anyone can :D

You might want to check other bike stores in your area to see if they have any basic bike riding classes or individual lessons. I took two one-on-one classes to get started. I have been told that it is easier to learn on a hill - but thinking back I would have found that more intimidating than a nice flat parking lot, for sure.

You can also go here (https://members.bikeleague.org/members_online/members/findit.asp) to find resource information from the American League of Bicyclists. This can be hit or miss as sometimes they show resources for my city and sometimes it doesn't - and we have a lot of resources here.

If you decide to work with an instructor, it is best that they be certified through an organization like the League. This was helpful to me because I did not know anyone else who rode and had no idea how to proceed.

You can do this, and you will find that as you learn it becomes more and more fun in the process!

Welcome to TE!

[DebbieOSablada]

Hurrah for you Shannon :)

[trista]

Shannon, good for you! I agree w/ the suggestion of lowering your seat while you're still getting the feel for balance.

Sorry about your experience w/ the LBS. At my local LBS, I've had a couple negative experiences, so I've learned who to ask for and who to avoid. If the people I like arent' there when I come in, I leave and come back another day.

[Roadtrip]

Have you bought the bike?

Yep. I bought this bike.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/bike_path/pure/puresportlowstep/

Also got a nice helmet and some gloves.

Thanks for the encouragement!!
Shannon

[Biciclista]

lower the seat until you can reach the ground with both feet. ride on ONLY flat surfaces until you get the hang of it.
I agree, you should try to find someone who can teach you. There are people that specialize in teaching adults.
PS please talk to someone else at the LBS or drive a little ways to find another!

[Crankin]

We have a bicycle school here, that specializes in teaching adults who have never learned to ride. It's possible that if you live near a major city, you might have something similar.

[JennK13]

What a great bike to start on! I have the Trek Navigator 2.0 :) My DH got it for me a year and a half ago as I wanted to start riding. I did know how to ride a bike, though it had been years. Now, I have 3 bikes total, and have done 2 triathlons so far this summer, and a part time job as a group ride leader at my LBS. It's addicting, in a great way!
Welcome and happy riding!

[ultraviolet]

A friend of mine taught himself to ride a couple of years ago after seeing a small child zooming around on a park path on one of those balance bikes. (like this one (http://www.stridersports.com/)) He figured if it worked for toddlers, it would probably work for him. So, he bought borrowed a bike from someone, took off the pedals, lowered the seat and spent a couple of days pushing himself around on it and practicing picking up his feet and balancing while coasting. After he felt comfortable with that, he put the pedals back on, but kept the seat lowered so he could still reach the ground with his feet and pedaled around in a grassy field. Within a couple of weeks he was riding like he'd been riding his whole life. :cool:

Good luck! :D

[hebe]

Your post struck a chord with me, I've just started taking lessons at 44. I want to be able to cycle safely and competently with my toddler on the bike too. That's the theory, but my nerves are getting in the way somewhat. Is there any cycling instruction in local schools? My instructor's main job is school cycling instructor and she is very good, quite patient but still covers a lot of ground with me (sorry for the pun). Good luck and I hope we both get cycling confidently and safely.

[nikkoblu2]

Shannon, I found your post very touching. And you're proof in the flesh that the human spirit keeps pushing forward...even when it runs into obstacles.

Only other suggestion I can think of is I'm guessing you don't have a trainer at home so what about do you have a gym membership where would would have access to exercise bikes, or better yet spin bikes, just so you can get the feel of sitting on a bike and peddling.

It may seem silly, but I'm thinking that once the feel of peddling is familiar then you can concentrate on developing your balance.

Good luck! You'll be zipping around in no time. And don't forget the helmet...all the time!

[DarcyInOregon]

Shannon, your Trek bike is beautiful, and the perfect first bike on which to learn. Start by asking friends and relatives if they can teach you to bike. If you can't find anybody, see if there is an REI in your area and inquire there. If you still can't find anybody, go to the nearest State Park on a Saturday morning, because that is where cyclists congregate to go for a ride, either in groups or solo, find where the cyclists park, and start asking if anyone can teach you. If you came up to me, I would say oh how fun and do it.

Once you learn how to ride on that bike, and you learn how much fun the bike trails are, you will be totally addicted to cycling.

[Roadtrip]

Funny thing about the trainer. I've been eying them lately. Just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

Last year a friend and I had a buddy system going and we we have a local recreation center with a small wellness center (small but close), so I joined. Small meant limited equipment, but they had a bike there and one with a fancy computer where you rode a variety of courses... hilly.. flat.. they even tracked your stats where you could view them online. The thing I liked the most was the virtual riders. It kept me motivated to push. As soon as I'd overtake one there was another just up the road.

My friend had a goal to loose 15 pounds before a vacation and once that date arrived, I was riding solo, but I kept going until my paid membership ended. I started to get frustrated as they only had one bike there and it was a total bummer when I'd show up for a ride and the bike was already in use. Four treadmills and only ONE bike. Once I found the right seat height that suited me I was OK. The seat WASN'T comfy at ALL. It was meant to make sure you didn't stay on that thing more then a half hour!!

I DID loose twenty pounds (OK OK-- I gained 5 of that back) in the six months... I'd ride about 7-8 miles in a half hour... so between 14-16 mph... up hills that were often 4-5% grades and one course had a kicker at the end that spiked to 12% just before the finish line.

I'll have to look at that trainer again!!

Shannon

[annabie]

I DID loose twenty pounds (OK OK-- I gained 5 of that back) in the six months... I'd ride about 7-8 miles in a half hour... so between 14-16 mph... up hills that were often 4-5% grades and one course had a kicker at the end that spiked to 12% just before the finish line.


Oh my god, your story is totally great. I also want to lose weight, but I'm just too lazy. Hope that I will get some motivation from you :rolleyes:

[Bike Chick]

Good for you, Shannon! Keep pedaling and enjoy that bike.

I learned to ride a bike when I was young but never learned to swim. I did that at age 50 so I can totally relate to how it feels. You keep it up. Baby steps....baby steps.

Annabie, welcome to TE! Do you have a bike?

[bonabiker]

Hello everyone!
Boy, and to think I felt so embarrassed 2 yrs ago when my 5 yr old learned to ride a bike before I did. :o There I was with my 5 yr old coaching me, "...come on Mommy, you can do it, it's easy... just start pedaling like me!"

That was all the incentive this 41 yr old mommy needed. I learned to ride only 2 1/2yrs ago and 3 bikes later... Now, all our family trips are centered around bike paths so that my 2 kids can ride with us. In 2 short years, we've gone to Cape Cod (2X), RI East Bay path is AMAZING and Lake George. My 2 little kiddies (6&9) can ride a solid 18 miles on any given day - thanks to their "Bike Nazi Mommy" ;) I LOVE my new "toy" - my Specialized Dolce Elite and my farthest solo ride has been 35 miles. It's such a thrill to glance down and see that I can pedal up to my top speed of 28 mph! Not bad for a newbie.

This is without question, one of God's greatest gifts - the ability to ride and enjoy nature all around you.

My advice to any newbie is to just enjoy each minute that you are riding and eventually you'll be zoom along - the key to overcoming any new challenge is to keep smiling. My next goal is to learn how to swim. :rolleyes:


Thanks to EVERYONE here. I've been lurking along and all of your stories are so inspiring. I am proud to be a TE member.

[Roadtrip]

Little update: I found a local instructor and I have my first lesson this Saturday down by one of the local trails.

Wooo Hoooo :D

Shannon

[hebe]

Little update: I found a local instructor and I have my first lesson this Saturday down by one of the local trails.

Wooo Hoooo :D

Shannon

Fabulous! I hope you have a ball. I love my lessons, and am being frustrated by the atrocious weather and my workaholic dh reducing my practice time. Please post how your lesson goes, won't you?

Bonabiker, I hope to be able to write posts like yours in a couple of years. It was the thought of my daughter learning to ride before me that finally got me going. Good luck with the swimming!

[Roadtrip]

This is going to sound really silly... but I was practicing out in the back yard last night after work and I TOTALLY balanced myself for like 10 feet.

OK. At eleven feet I about fell over... but it's a START.

:o

[hebe]

Brilliant! :D

[schnitzle]

This is going to sound really silly... but I was practicing out in the back yard last night after work and I TOTALLY balanced myself for like 10 feet.

OK. At eleven feet I about fell over... but it's a START.

:o

That's awesome!!

[Roadtrip]

Update: Lesson One - The instructor started out by teaching some basic pre-ride rules and techniques... ABC's... but useful. Then he got me on the bike and looked at my saddle position and general fit and we adjusted the seat slightly as it the horn was slightly askew. He also showed me how to adjust the quick releases on the wheels to prevent issues with a branch, etc grabbing and opening the quick release loose and causing a crash. The basics.

He then showed me the push off to get enough momentum to be able to KEEP myself balanced and upright. He held the bike as I balanced on the bike in the ready for launch position and we practiced holding myself upright with my right foot up on the pedal at 2 o'clock. We also practiced getting up in the saddle once I pushed off and what to do if I felt I needed to bail out and put my feet down from the in the saddle position.

Then he had me get in position and push off while he and my DH jogged along side me as I peddled with them making sure I wasn't going to fall. We did this a few times going a little further each time. My arms were starting to get tired (as were they from running alongside me) and I was preparing for another go when it happened... from a standing position I started to lean right and couldn't hold it and my right foot caught on the pedal, so by the time the foot did touch down I rolled the ankle and was headed for the deck. Tush a little soar, but otherwise OK and I got my "right of passage" tumble out of the way, and more importantly realized I would be OK even if I did fall over.

We did one more pass with my two helpers guiding and agreed to practice the balanced stand at home and we'd gather for lesson two on Wednesday evening.

The instructor was pleased with my progress and for the first lesson which lasted about an hour, which was concentrated on getting my conformable on and around the bike.

That's it for round one...
Shannon

[Groundhog]

Update: Lesson One - The instructor started out by teaching some basic pre-ride rules and techniques... ABC's... but useful. Then he got my on the bike and looked at my saddle position and general fit and we adjusted the seat slightly as it the horn was slightly askew. He also showed me how to adjust the quick releases on the wheels to prevent issues with a branch, etc grabbing and opening the quick release loose and causing a crash. The basics.

He then showed me the push off to get enough momentum to be able to KEEP myself balanced and upright. He held the bike as I balanced on the bike in the ready for launch position and we practiced holding myself upright with my right foot up on the pedal at 2 o'clock. We also practiced getting up in the saddle once I pushed off and what to do if I felt I needed to bail out and put my feet down from the in the saddle position.

Then he had me get in position and push off while he and my DH jogged along side me as I peddled with them making sure I wasn't going to fall. We did this a few times going a little further each time and my arms were starting to get tired (as were they from running alongside me) and I was preparing for another go when it happened... from a standing position I started to lean right and couldn't hold it and my right foot caught on the pedal, so by the time the foot did touch down I rolled the ankle and was headed for the deck. Tush a little soar, but otherwise OK and I got my "right of passage" tumble out of the way, and more importantly realized I would be OK even if I did fall over.

We did one more pass with my two helpers guiding and agreed to practice the balanced stand at home and we'd gather for lesson two on Wednesday evening.

The instructor was pleased with my progress and for the first lesson which lasted about an hour, which was concentrated on getting my conformable on and around the bike.

That's it for round one...
Shannon

Sounds like you have a great teacher and a supportive DH. Have fun!

[hebe]

Well done!

How do you feel about it? Looking forward to the next lesson?

[stella2]

Shannon, I had to join the forum when I read your thread. Well done, and your bike is lovely :) I am 51 and just learning to ride a bike, having never been on one in my life before. I had a lesson with a cycling instructor 12 days ago - small bike, pedals off, saddle low, learning to balance. Apparantly, I was doing well, but I found it hard and although we got the pedals on in the lesson, I only got as far as pushing off with one foot. Determined (my middle name), I bought the bike I had in mind for me and just as your theory, it became much easier on a good bike that suited me.

Since then I have done it! I can now cycle along in a relatively straight line, but like Hebe, nerves are holding me back a little, mainly because I struggle to stop in a controlled way. I know how, but I get anxious about it. I fell off on one occasion. Not that bad of course, but instinct seems to tell me that stopping is a risky manoeuvre and I tend to chuck my legs down - sometimes before I have even begun breaking and it's all I can do not to knock myself over because the bike is still going :o I won't be beaten though. I will be back out there tomorrow.

Shannon and Hebe, we are women, we can do pretty much anything. We can do this ;)

[Roadtrip]

Update Two/Lesson Two:

Quick safety check with the bike and pretty started off where we left off at the end of the last lesson. More pushing off and going a little bit further each time, with my two helpers at my side steadying me, but giving me more and more space.

We stopped briefly to let some cars clear the parking lot we were working in and we rode from the pavement and onto a flat grassy area and even pushed off from the grass. I have to say I'm getting pretty good at the saving part where I grab break and get my feet to solid ground when I feel I'm going to loose control.

I'm still struggling with the launch aspect and getting up to speed, but for the first lesson, I guess I can't really expect to be doing wheelies at this point. We worked for close to an hour and it was getting dark and on what ended up being the last run of the evening when DH dropped far off to my right and the instructor was to my left, but barely hanging on (and I later found out that I he let go all together) when I rode all on my for about 250 feet. After I came to a stop by the cars he gave me a high five and said I was doing it all on my own for the last part of that run. We ended on that high.

The feeling was amazing. The feel of the wind. The feeling of some invisible force working together with your body to move you forward. The feeling that for even a short time I was actually doing something I had feared for nearly thirty years.

It gives me great confidence that I can DO this.

Next lesson Saturday.

Thanks for all the support and kind words!!
Shannon

[Catrin]

Congratulations on the great lesson! It is indeed wonderful to be on the bike and realizing that it is all YOU :D ;) :D

[hebe]

Excellent work! I bet you can't wait for the next lesson :D

[schnitzle]

Yay!! I love reading about your progress, it's so inspirational :D Isn't the feeling of the wind and your bike under you fabulous? Go Shannon GO!

[Roadtrip]

Update Three/Lesson Three:

OK. Bad news out of the way first, I crashed and landed hard twisting the handlebars completely sideways. They were easily moved back into square, so might have to take the bike in to have them tightened, doesn't seem like I should be able to move them that easily by hand. Not wiggly loose while I'm riding tho still a little concerned. I was more concerned for the bike while my thigh and left knee too the brunt of the damage when I fell, mostly just feeling sore right now. It all happened quite silly, I rode too close to a tree and under some low branches (twigs really) and ducked my head and leaned slightly left and that started the whole bike in a lean left and just wasn't able to recover and down I went.

Sooooo.. for some good news.. rode the entire distance of the parking lot tonight (about 4-5x my previous "best" attempt) through the "bad" part of the parking lot that was littered with glass/gravel/ruts and even avoided a mom and kids. This along with some shorter runs has me feeling really good up in the saddle. I seem to be reasonably able to balance once I get up to speed, but struggling with the pushing off and getting myself going, so we're going to practice over the next few days on our own and meet again with the instructor on Wednesday... he mentioned maneuvering/turning practicing.

DH has promised me a massage tonight so off to collect.

Shannon

[malkin]

It sounds like you are doing great!

[hebe]

You're doing so well! I hope the massage does the trick and that your bike is ok.

I understand completely the sense of achievement at missing things, I was petrified to ride past a parked Porsche, and was as proud of not cycling into it as I was of the whole ride. I still struggle with riding past parked cars and signalling at the same time, but that will come with time and confidence. Starting off smoothly comes with time too, I wobbled all over the place three weeks back but can set off in quite a controlled way now. How brilliant that you're getting lessons twice a week, that will really help.

[Roadtrip]

The trainer I ordered came today. I unpacked and got the bike set up and did about 10 minutes just getting adjusted and used to how it feels. Felt pretty good so I changed into my workout clothes and did 30 minutes at a fast tempo. After about 15 minutes I started to feel numbness in the posterior and girly parts. I know I hadn't been on a bike for any length of time in quite some time, so is this somewhat normal until I get my butt used to being in the saddle? I pushed though to 30 minutes and when I stepped off the bike I was pretty sore for a few minutes, but it dissipated quickly.

Looking forward to my lesson tomorrow!!

Shannon

[Roadtrip]

OK. My lovely DH got a new iTouch today with HD video video capture, so he shot this little video during tonight's "training" session.

How kind of him, eh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzsqcib1Cck

Day 10.. She can RIDE.. Yipppeeee!!

It felt MUCH faster then what it looks like here on this video.

[stella2]

That's great :)

[hebe]

oh wow, that's a million miles from where you were 2 weeks back! Lucky you having such a big tarmacced place to practise in too. Is your dh proud of you too?