I met some newbies on the path today

[eclectic]

I am far from an expert but what I have gleaned from this site and others, club rides, cycling magazines, and the mere fact of putting on miles and miles I have decided to run a newbie workshop next spring through our Adult Ed classes.

I have tried and tried to get our LBS owner to run one but he always claims he is too busy so I decided to take it into my own hands

I have talked to a number of people who really want this type of workshop, it would cover basics such as cadence, proper seat height, spinning, how and when to shift, safety when riding on a city street, shifting to climb hills and how to get from trail to trail in our city (they are not easily found or connected).

I then want to start another club ride for beginners, the Wednesday night here used to be for everyone but now has evolved to 3 levels, sorta fast, fast, and faster, a beginner would never make it

we only have about 2.5 more months (if that) of decent riding weather left so I must be patient and wait until next May to get things going

[bcipam]

MAJOR NEWBIE MISTAKE - all you newbies riding this forum - take note. If you can put both feet down while sitting on the saddle your seat is way too low and you are stopping improperly.

I see these poor folks all the time, riding along, knees hitting their chest and no doubt wondering why their legs get so tired so fast. Because your legs can't work efficiently with your knees like that!

When I teach newbie classes, one of the first things we do is make them practice stopping getting off the saddle and placing only one foot down. Then starting up again, one foot always engaged on the pedal and then sitting on the saddle. This is practice for when you get clipless.

The girlfriend of an acquaintance is learning to ride and I have been trying to explain to her the reason she keeps falling over (and thus is scared of riding) is because she insists on trying stop by putting both feet down. This generally causes the bike to go all screwy and you lose balance, flop over and down. This really happens while mountain biking cause terrain is not always even.

Anyway NEWBIES really, practice this. No stopping while on saddle. Use your brakes, not your feet and get off the saddle, while braking and out down one foot, one foot only. OK sorry for my rant but if I can change anything about newbie riders it's this!

[Kano]

Poor hubby last summer -- he was riding his old Schwinn, and yes, the seat was way too low. Not by choice, mind you, or he would have fixed it.

Poor dear -- he had the bike tuned up before he started, since it hadn't been ridden in like 17 years, and they said that they couldn't do anything about the seat post, which he didn't seem to really care about until...

I had been traveling, and when I came home, he and his buddy talked me into riding too. So, I got my old bike checked out, and joined them. I'm trailing along behind, when I notice....

First, DH has this philosophy, or rather DID have. You have a 20+ speed bike, with three rings up front, and some number in the back. But you don't use any of those rings except for the big one in front and the small one in back, because you get the most distance per pedal stroke. "It's the most efficient way to ride" was his thing.

So, I'm trailing along behind him, and watching him ride, and thinking, whoa, hey, he's sitting WAY too low! I'm thinking, he's got to be SOO uncomfortable, you know? He and Mark stopped to look at an ant or something, and I caught up, and said, hey, Earl, your seat is WAY too low, we GOTTA get you a new bike! (remember, this seat thing, it can't be changed) No, don't be silly, Karen, it's not too low. Yes, dear, it's WAY too low. You know how you like to pedal for maximum power and efficiency? Well, you're not even beginning to straighten out the levers. How can that be efficient?

Suddenly, his seat's too low, and he knows it, and we can't fix it, and he's miserable -- because he's being inefficient. (never mind that it's physically uncomfortable, that's just the way biking is) But he's biking. Between rides, we're playing with every idea we can come up with to unfreeze that seat post. Not because he likes riding, mind you, but because it's exercise, and he wants exercise. No, can't run right out and get a new bike, gotta be sure he "likes" it first. But he doesn't "like" it because it's painful -- knees gotta hurt, butt hurts, what all else. Me, I woulda been all over a new bike -- riding, right from the start for me, was FUN, and anything that will make it more fun...

But he didn't like it -- until, fast forward to this spring: old bike comes out of the shed for one ride. We start going to bike shops, and riding old bikes on weekends while shopping. Now he has a new bike, and he's a much happier rider! (I suppose YOU want a new bike, too, right? I probably could have ridden my old bike a while longer, but who am I to argue?) He's also learned to use the many gears on his bike (the ladies say lighter gearing, pedal faster, or your knees will suffer, dear, and you don't want bad knees for ski season, right? Oh the sneaky tricks we wives learn to coax our men into doing things that are good for them!)

I'm pretty sure he likes biking a lot now -- he's very interested in longer rides and even "toys" associated with riding. And he pouts if I have more miles than him! And THAT is probably why he's trying to keep me on the comfort-beast a while longer!

Karen in Boise

[farrellcollie]

My GF rides a raleigh retro-cruiser because she wants to be able to put her feet down while sitting on the bike. She tried several bikes at the lbs (at my urging) - but did not feel safe on any of them but the cruiser. not my kind of bike but I am happy she is riding some. That putting the feet down thing is more common than it might first appear. We have now noticed several people in the park where we ride who have the cruiser style bike

[Bluetree]

KSH, Kudos to you for stopping and gave these people a hand. I'm new out on the road and it can be intimidating, esp with these guys on their $5000 bikes blowing past me... it sure makes my day to hear a friendly voice!

[ladyfish]

At least you got him to buy a bike that fit him. My DH insists that it's crazy to spend all that money on a new bike when they are for sale all over the place at garage sales and on Ebay.

Unfortunately he won't believe me that he needs a bigger bike than he keeps looking at (I believe he's in the same boat as your DH thinking that any bike size is fine as long as the pedals spin and you get somewhere). He's now bought at least 5 used bikes. One we kept for my 13 year old son (not yet as tall as me, and at least 5" shorter than DH). Three he has sold on Ebay--wrong sizes. One other we've kept for me (a trek hybrid that I have to figure out how to get to the bike shop for a tune-up without him knowing!!! He doesn't believe in those either--he's a do-it-yourself type, but this bike needs some new parts).

So he still doesn't have a bike that fits him. He's still looking, and I'm still biting my tongue!!! In the mean time I bought myself a bike (I asked for it for Christmas and INSISTED that he NOT buy it for me) that fits and I LOVE!!! Sigh! Maybe if I buy him a gift certificate to a shop, he'll be forced to buy a bike that fits!!!

[mimitabby]

At least you got him to buy a bike that fit him. My DH insists that it's crazy to spend all that money on a new bike when they are for sale all over the place at garage sales and on Ebay.

Unfortunately he won't believe me that he needs a bigger bike than he keeps looking at (I believe he's in the same boat as your DH thinking that any bike size is fine as long as the pedals spin and you get somewhere). He's now bought at least 5 used bikes. One we kept for my 13 year old son (not yet as tall as me, and at least 5" shorter than DH). Three he has sold on Ebay--wrong sizes. One other we've kept for me (a trek hybrid that I have to figure out how to get to the bike shop for a tune-up without him knowing!!! He doesn't believe in those either--he's a do-it-yourself type, but this bike needs some new parts).

So he still doesn't have a bike that fits him. He's still looking, and I'm still biting my tongue!!! In the mean time I bought myself a bike (I asked for it for Christmas and INSISTED that he NOT buy it for me) that fits and I LOVE!!! Sigh! Maybe if I buy him a gift certificate to a shop, he'll be forced to buy a bike that fits!!!

I wonder how guys transform from this type to the type (like mine) that has to have every cool bike thing in the bike shop and can't enter a new town without visiting the LBS in it!!!
"i'll bet you can't go in there without spending 100 bucks!!"
mimi

[RedRansV2]

KSH,
Good for you for taking the time to help those people out. Yeah, that whole putting both feet down thing is a lot more common that I ever thought. It was just never an issue for me. I've seen postings on the bentrideronline board about it. When I bought my partner a recumbent, she confessed that her inability to get both feet on the ground upon stopping was a major factor in her reluctance to ride a bike. She loves the bent and really enjoys riding now.
Beach cruisers and the Electra Townies have been mentioned here but I'd like to suggest another line of bikes that'll let you put both feet down but are far more performance oriented than the Electras. There are actually four different designs but this http://www.ransbikes.com/fusion26x26.htm# is the one that I've ridden and it was a blast. I'll keep my bent but I think I'm going to have to get one of these too! I've heard that you can order one of these and try it out for something like 30 days and return it for 90% of the purchase price. I don't know if that's accurate information, but it's a small company and they're really responsive if you call or email.

[KSH]

KSH,
Good for you for taking the time to help those people out. Yeah, that whole putting both feet down thing is a lot more common that I ever thought. It was just never an issue for me. I've seen postings on the bentrideronline board about it. When I bought my partner a recumbent, she confessed that her inability to get both feet on the ground upon stopping was a major factor in her reluctance to ride a bike. She loves the bent and really enjoys riding now.

Honestly, the thought never crossed my mind to try to put my feet down while still sitting on my seat. So, I had a hard time understanding why she kept falling off her bike... which made her scared of it... even though she didn't have clipless pedals. Poor thing.

I wish I could see her again to give the riding lesson tips that Keno listed! What wonderful tips!