Cycle Virgin

[Kano]

OK ladies, I have done the deed. I just got home and unloaded my new bike, a 16" Trek Navigator. It's a "girly" bike in that in has a step through but I really need it right now. Not having been on a bike in more than 30 years it was more than a little daunting. My problems are starting and stopping but I'm getting the hang of the actual riding. How did all of you learn how to shift gears? Also, how do you develp confidence in the starting and stopping? The pedals seem so tall/thick and I don't always feel my feet are securely on the pedals. When you stop, do you leave the seat before stretching to the ground?

On a positive note though, I have learned how to take off my front tire so I can put the bike in my car to transport.

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Congratulations! I have the step through thing too -- for some reason I don't step through, but I've got it! (I think there's not room for my big old feet!)

Shifting -- sometimes I still have problems, but practice keeping the pedaling easy and fairly consistent, and you'll get lots of shifting in. Remember that if you're not pedaling, the gear doesn't change when you shift -- sometimes I forget that, and wonder about myself....

Starting -- this is easier if the gearing is light, so I've learned to downshift when I'm likely to be stopping (and this coasting to a stop thing is where I forget that you have to be pedaling to shift to begin with!) I'm standing on the ground, with my right foot (some folk do it with left) on the pedal, and left on the ground. I spin the pedals so that the right foot is high, and then as I push off with my left, I push down on the right and boost myself up onto the seat as I'm putting my left on its pedal. Once in a while, I don't seem to get enough speed, and have to try again. Not as often anymore.

Helpful tip when starting -- don't scrape your butt up the seat, or it may grab your shorts, and that's NOT a handy thing! That sounds hard to avoid, but it's really not!

Stopping -- yup, I leave the seat before stretching to the ground, cuz I can't reach the ground from the seat, and I like staying upright! Right foot stays on pedal, which is down, left foot drops from pedal toward ground as I dismount. (I do those clipless pedals these days, so it's click out, foot off pedal, and butt off as foot drops, I guess...)

Karen in Boise

[Cindyloo]

Redrover, congrats on the new bike! Sounds like you are doing great so far with the gear you've purchased. I ditto what some of the ladies have said about the bike shorts. They make the riding experience so much more comfortable and if you don't feel like bearing it all in spandex right now you could wear some thin shorts over them.

As far as starting off goes, I find it helpful to have my feet in the right position. With one foot on the ground I put the other one on the pedal at about the 2 o'clock position (right foot) ready to produce a downstroke. This allows for propulsion from the standstill and then you can get the other foot on the other pedal.

For stopping I usually come to almost a complete stop, lean the bike slightly to usually my left side and put my foot down. I think people probably become used to using the same foot to stop and start on while riding. You just have to work out what you are comfortable with.

Also, I'm not sure what seat the Navigator comes with but don't hesitate to get another seat if the stock one is hard on the tushie or girlie parts! Good luck and enjoy that new bike!