Riding Practice

I did not learn how to ride as a child, so at 50 years old am finally learning how to ride my new bicycle for two reasons - health and fitness. Having some fun along the way is a great attraction as well :D

Right now I am in the parking lot stage - last week I just practiced starting/stopping, and rode in circles. Now it seems time to broaden my practice horizons... someone has suggested that I practice figure eights, are there other things that it would be good for me to practice? While I do have an instructor, I won't be meeting with her until we get a warmish break in January.

Practicing alone in a deserted parking lot seems to make me a little more cautious than I might be with an instructor - but considering my tendency to push myself this is not actually a bad thing. 50 year old bones aren't as flexible as the average 10 year old - but I figure the quicker I can increase my skill, then the odds of falling over just to fall over is decreased.

I wouldn't worry about "falling over." Once you can ride in a straight line, you can ride. I would think the next step would be to ride on neighborhood streets and/or a bike trail that isn't crowded. Practice using turn signals with your arms.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

I wouldn't worry about "falling over." Once you can ride in a straight line, you can ride. I would think the next step would be to ride on neighborhood streets and/or a bike trail that isn't crowded. Practice using turn signals with your arms.

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I agree :) Riding in a parking lot may be a good confidence booster, but it's enough different than riding on a road/path that it's good to get out there and do that too - don't worry about speed, but remember to follow any road rules that apply (signaling, right of way, etc).

Good for you! I can't imagine how much more difficult it is to learn at 50. When you're a kid you're fearless- not so much when you get older and KNOW things can break. ;)
Definitely practice signaling and steering with one hand for brief moments. Then, once you're completely comfortable on the bike- practice reaching down to your bottle cage to get a drink. I used to ride with a woman who had to stop every time she needed a drink. It took us forever to ride 10 miles and I think it was much less safe stopping every 5 minutes to dismount and mount again than to learn to reach for your bottle- but that's just one girl's opinion.

Are you having a blast on your bike?

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Originally Posted by Tri Girl

...Are you having a blast on your bike?

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Oh my yes, but the weather keeps interfering! It seems prudent to avoid possible weather conditions where there might be ice right now - considering my current skill level. I am champing at the bit waiting for my next practice opportunity!

I am only sticking to parking lots right now until I can ride in a relatively straight line. I hadn't thought about needing to take a hand from the bars to signal - but I am sure my instructor would have thought of that. I haven't fallen over in a couple of sessions, but my riding seems to be more of a curve than a straight line. Crankin - thanks for reminding me of the need for signaling turns with my arms

Once I can get more consistency in that way, there is a local bike path that is about a mile long right now and is relatively straight - that will be my next target. After that there is a wonderful park with beautiful drives and very slow moving car traffic - and lots of bikes.

I have to admit that the thought of removing one of my hands from the bars makes me somewhat nervous, but I also remember having that problem when I first learned how to drive a car. That will pass.

Thanks for your suggestions, I will certainly incorporate them in my winter practice sessions!

I think that I am about to graduate from the parking lot to a much more interesting, large, and scenic, park :D

I can ride in a straight line now, do figure eights without falling over, start and stop without falling over. This may sound simple, but am having a blast - though the large parking lot has become boring...

All I am waiting for is to be able to do some kind of hand signals without falling over... I tried taking my hand from the bike today for a split second to signal a left turn - while I did become unstable I did not fall over :)

Occasionally I work with a certified cycling instructor, and we are going to meet Monday. Shifting still gets me off balance a little, especially the large gears, and I want to work on signaling safely. I am hoping that after my lesson Monday that I really can graduate to that park!

I am still having a blast - and am looking forward to that continuing as I gain confidence, skill, and strength!

Congratulations!
You will love the freedom and scenery.

I have been riding since childhood, but I am around your age so I have an understanding of the courage it must have taken for you to learn to ride.
Very impressive.
I look forward to your updates.

As someone who doesn't remember a lot about learning to ride a bici as a child - but who does remember a lot about learning to ride a moto as an adult - I think parking lot practice and working with an instructor are very smart.

Falling over IS a real concern, falling over in turns even more so. Turning a two-wheeled vehicle involves knowing when and where to shift your weight and when and how much to apply power (including being in the right gear), and while it's unconscious and natural to someone who's been riding since childhood, it's a skill that you had to learn then, even if you don't remember how many times you fell over when you were seven.

Maybe for us non-skiers, learning to ski at 50 would be a good analogy (the likelihood of falling is obvious, and the percentage of us who learned as young children is much smaller). Good for you, Catrin, hope you're having fun and learning fast!

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Originally Posted by Catrin

Oh my yes, but the weather keeps interfering!

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Wow, it sounds like you are making good progress and having a great time :) Welcome to cycling :) That pesky weather will cooperate sometime ;)

I learned to ride in a cow pasture, and every time I feel I need to add a new skill I do it in an urban version of a "cow pasture" (soccer field).

Riding in the grass teaches you fabulous bike control, you really learn balance skills riding over the rough and mushy stuff. Asphalt feels like butter and so EASY after riding on a field. Falling over is no big deal in the grass (and I do fall over!) and you learn how to roll with the bike a bit to protect yourself.

It's silly, and it's fun, and I highly recommend it! :D

I just returned home from a bike fitting, and he raised my seat something like 5 inches :eek: Perhaps the pasture as practice field would be a good idea :)

Apparently I have really long legs and a rather short trunk. Well, I knew the former, but didn't realize the implications. If my bike size were chosen only by leg length, then I would have a 19-inch frame...but wouldn't be able to reach the handlebars. My arms needs a 14-inch frame, but my legs can't handle that...so my 15-inch frame bike is the compromise.

I WONDERED why they gave me such a wide range of bike sizes to choose from :p

If you feel insecure with the new height to the point that you're scared to ride, you could mark the height the fitter recommended with marker around the seat post, then lower your seat back down a bit and make the change gradually.

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Originally Posted by redrhodie

If you feel insecure with the new height to the point that you're scared to ride, you could mark the height the fitter recommended with marker around the seat post, then lower your seat back down a bit and make the change gradually.

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That is what I intend to do - the problem is that he tightened the post so much that I can't loosen it :( Thankfully I will be at my LBS tomorrow to meet with my instructor, so I will just go a little early and have someone there lower it for me AND make certain that it isn't so tight again that I can't budge it. The weather is too damp today anyway for me to go out...

I KNOW this is just a mental/insecurity thing... but I must get over it for the sake of my knees. I can't do the kind of riding that I want to do in that position - and it was clear to me when I watched myself in the mirror yesterday from the side that he was right about where the seat needs to be. The problem is that I was comfortable riding with the seat that low - probably due to just not knowing any better.

Once he adjusted the seat and everything else it DID feel better - and my hands stopped screaming at me :D

I met with my instructor yesterday, and the first thing she did was to lower my seat back to where it was before the fitter raised it so high. I will raise it one inch on my next practice session, then 1/4 an inch each session after that until I am back up there.

The session went well - she tells me that I am progressing well - all I need is more time in the saddle. I am not getting enough power in that first pedal stroke - but that is due to how I start :o So now I really must practice starting properly, and taking one hand off of the bar so I can learn how to signal... Shifting is getting easier too :)

I second riding in a field, like a soccer field. In fact, I would practice falling on the grass so you can relax instead of fearing falling. You are doing a great job!