Newby with nerves

[hebe]

Hi, and thank you for such a great forum.

I'm 44 and have just made my second start at cycling, having never learned as a child. My first start was in my late 20s, when I had a cheap and not very good bike, and I used to ride along converted railway paths. Very wobbilly, about 6 times in total. This meant that I never learned any real skills other than starting, stopping, basic balance and getting the bike on and off the car rack. I moved to a new city and stopped cycling.

Fast forward 16 years or so, and I now have a two year old who adores bikes and I'm increasing unhappy about my dropping fitness level and about using the car for 5mile errands. I want to be able to help my daughter learn to ride, and I can't do that if I don't ride competently myself. My husband took me to the LBS to choose a bike for my birthday, and bought me a Marin Stinson, a childseat and a helmet. I'm never going to race on it, but it is fine for what I want and I feel secure on it.

I'm taking a few lessons with a local bikeability instructor, and I can now start and stop from the kerb, go past parked cars, ride without too much wobbling, look behind me and do some left hand turns. I love it! My problem is that I really need to practise in between lessons now and I keep putting off going out on my own. There is virtually no traffic on my road outside of commuting times, and a small park less than 2 minutes ride down the road. It couldn't actually be any safer. Anyway, I want to do it this weekend, probably this afternoon or first thing tomorrow morning when it is even quieter and my husband can look after our daughter for a few minutes. I know that I should still be able to ride on my own, and that I'll probably wonder what on earth I was so worried about.

Anyway, I'll have a bundle of questions but I think that's enough to start with. Thank you for reading, and I hope you all have a great weekend!

[Blue_Fedora]

Everyone was new at one point and it's never too late to start. Baby steps... and celebrate your progress. Most of all ENJOY YOURSELF :D

[schnitzle]

Welcome Hebe, it sounds like you are off to a great start :D

[JennK13]

Hurray for you for trying again! Sounds like you're going about it all the right ways this time :) And I've heard of a lot of people who are anxious to go out alone - with your growing comfort you'll gain that confidence.

[PamNY]

Believe me, you will be fine. I bought a bike at age 57 after not biking for years, and now I easily do 40 miles alone. It's great that you are getting some instruction and generally going about this right.

You will find great support for bikers at every level here -- there is no snobbery that I've seen, and the most basic questions will be answered by knowledgeable people. Also, if you are scared or frustrated there will likely be understanding and support.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

[hebe]

Thank you so much for the welcome, support and inspiration. I finally made it out just before Sunday lunch, my dh distracted my girl with a glass of lemonade and I went for it. Just a little ride to the end of the road, back though a carpark and finishing up outside my neighbour's house (I braked too early :o). Still, I didn't hit the kerb or any cars, I didn't fall off and I stayed on my side of the road. So I'm counting it as a success and am quite proud of myself. I'll go again tomorrow and concentrate on staying a metre from the kerb.

Thanks again :D

[schnitzle]

Yay!! That's great Hebe! Every little bit builds confidence :D

[tctrek]

Welcome, Hebe! You can do it! Just take it a step at a time, build up your confidence and strength and you will love riding your bike.

[stella2]

Sounds like your doing fantastically well :) I can only dream of the day that can signal and look behind me :eek:

Where are you up to with the bike ability programme? I have had the first taster session and I'm now just practicing (which is what I need to do) until the next session (they just do it on the last Saturday of the month).

Anyway keep on keeping on :)

[hebe]

Thank you! :wave: to another UK beginner!

I'm taking 1:1 lessons with one of the local Bikeability schools instructors. She is in her 60s and brilliant. I've done Bikeability 1 and am working through 2 at the moment, I think we are doing right turns tomorrow. I have just spent the afternoon riding diagonally across the garden trying to get the hang of looking back then signalling without wobbling or going off course. The roads round here are pretty quiet but are full of parked cars this holiday weekend.

[stella2]

Waves back :) I stick to the park. Can't consider cars, at least at this stage. Had a good day today. I enjoyed it properly for the first time, peddalled further and lots of my stops weren't so 'suicidal' :o

[hebe]

I put my daughter into creche this morning and did 45minutes cycling round my local estate and little park with only 2 or 3 stops. I am very proud of myself and really looking forward to my lesson tomorrow. I was so excited about it that I phoned my teacher to tell her what I'd done :o she is tremendously patient with my slowness after all.

[stella2]

That's brilliant! :)

I tell myself that slow is fine. After all, we have waited this long to ride and we're doing it. There is no reason to rush the process of improving.

[Roadtrip]

Sounds like your doing great. My instructor has been really great with me and I honestly don't think I could have gotten started without him. He told me a little story about his start in competitive swimming where his coach told him that "DQ" really means don't quit... keep pushing... improving... learning.

Shannon

[hebe]

I was remembering DQ this morning Shannon, when I screwed up my first attempt at a right turn off a major road (we ride on the left here so right turns are the harder ones). Anyway, I have now finished Bikeability 2 so am officially able to ride on quiet roads on my own :D I still need to do a lot of practice to get on top of signalling wobbles, but I am hugely proud of myself and very grateful for my lovely instructor.

[hebe]

Shamelessly bumping this as it's been six months since I started riding! I now have a mountain bike too, have run errands into town once (but will be doing that a lot more now as well as getting the off-road riding going again in the spring), and will be riding towing my dd in a trailer when we go on holiday soon.

And I'm about 8lbs lighter than 6months ago and looking forward to picking dd up from nursery on the bike later this year! My original bike now has a new saddle and a metal basket on the front, and I swapped the pedals with those on my mountain bike (the Marin pedals had more grip). I have ridden trails and paths on my doorstep that I never knew existed six months ago. And all of this with terrific, patient and wise advice and support from everyone on here. Looking forward to my bikiversary in August!

[jelee1311]

I think that's great Hebe, to be able to see how far you have come in less than a year.soon you will be able to look forward to teaching your daughter and riding with her. Still think you'll never race........