how many seasons and/or miles til experienced?

[SadieKate]

Unfortunately, most new riders never take the time to learn the basic prinicples behind the sport -- balance and weight distribution. Instead, they learn the more intricate "tricks" of the trade -- cornering, descending, steering, taking one or both hands off the bar, etc. All fine and good, but these are the icing on the cake. These are the implementations of those two basic principles. And if you never really understand those two principles, you'll never really master cycling.

Amen! Especially true for road-only riders.

I add to this that one should know enough basic mechanical skills to get you home.

You can ride for miles and miles and take forever to learn some things, or get a coach and have a much steeper learning curve.

[xeney]

SadieKate, does your comment about road-only riders mean that you think mountain biking is a good way to learn some of these skills?

I ask because that is exactly why Jeremy (uh, my husband, not the Jeremy in the article) encouraged me to get a mountain bike and take some skills clinics (which I am going to do this spring; it is much easier to find mountain biking clinics than road clinics, it seems), because he said he learned most of what he knows about bike handling from mountain biking (and also from riding BMX bikes as a kid).

[SadieKate]

Absolutely! You must move around on a mtb and learn about weight and balance or . . . else.

Yes, it is easier to find skills clinics for mountainbiking. It's too bad. I think there is a cultural assumption that we all learned to ride a bike as a child and road riding isn't any different. It's only from experience that you learn how much you don't know.

[SadieKate]

In what issue should I look for this article?

[latelatebloomer]

Great thread. The first month on my road bike (still in my first year), I rode brave and happy and stayed upright until beginner's luck ran out. It ran out on May 15! And then I started to be realistic about how I had not ridden a bike since I was a a child, or done anything else that required any athletic skill orfitness. I am just now seeing how much I have to learn about my balance and ALL the road skills that others seem to take for granted. When I see DH ride no-hands for fun, I just want to cry! I'm still FORCING myself to ride one-handed to signal. (And I make myself signal even if I'm the only human being for miles, just to practice.) So I guess I"m solidly in that awkward stage of learning how much I have to learn.

But those moments of feeling free and strong make it worth hanging in there.

[BeeLady]

SadieKate if u go to the Bicycling Mag website and put "Jeremy" in the search the article will come up. Don't know what issue it is hard copy wise.

[SadieKate]

Thanks. See post #35 before Adventure Girl's wiseacre remarks.

[SadieKate]

In what issue should I look for this article?

Eureka! October 2006. The cover has Floyd in yellow.

[Adventure Girl]

In what issue should I look for this article?

Eureka! October 2006. The cover has Floyd in yellow.

Did you notice that SK answered her own question here?

[Adventure Girl]

Did you notice that SK answered her own question here?

Yes. I noticed that!

[tygab]

In what issue should I look for this article?

It was online but the link is deactivated. I read it online first then bought the mag cause I wanted to see the full thing.

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...5058-1,00.html

[velogirl]

it is much easier to find mountain biking clinics than road clinics, it seems),

because he said he learned most of what he knows about bike handling from mountain biking (and also from riding BMX bikes as a kid).

I don't think there are more mtn bike clinics. It's just that they're easier to find. There will often be mtn bike clinics associated with larger races. And most mtn bike clinics are marketed to the more recreational riders (not the racers).

For road clinics, there are TONS all over the country. However, most are advertised through race-oriented organizations (even if they're not just race clinics). Check the website of local coaches or coaching organizations or clubs. Ask at your LBS.

Most recreational road riders don't understand the importance of learning skills, while most recreational mtn bikers do it because they realize that they can't improve unless they do (learn skills).

BTW, I bet Jeremy never took a mtn bike or bmx clinic. But you mentioned that he learned his skills as a kid. That's a very telling statement. Children are much more natural learners when it comes to anything that involves risk (like cycling). He attributes his skills to riding mtb & bmx, but the reality of it is that if he'd had a road bike as a kid, he'd probably learn the same skills. Kids are fabulous learners.

[velogirl]

You can ride for miles and miles and take forever to learn some things, or get a coach and have a much steeper learning curve.

A steeper learning curve with a coach? I'd think working with a coach (assuming you spend on-bike time with her), would shorten the learning curve.......maybe a little slip, SK?

[SadieKate]

A steeper learning curve with a coach? I'd think working with a coach (assuming you spend on-bike time with her), would shorten the learning curve.......maybe a little slip, SK?

I guess it depends on what you put on the Y and X axis of your chart. For me, success is at the top of the chart and time/distance is across the bottom.

[CyclChyk]

TYGAB- you are not alone. I too ride like you. Brake on down hills, easiest gear up hills; focus on staying upright........... I'm turning into one giant bruise (not to mention the road rashes)......

Boy oh boy do I feel dumb. Pick up a water bottle while riding?? And the bottle be on the ground?? And I'm guessing you guys mean to do it and not fall over and go BOOM??? Yeh ok, I can tell you that's something I'll NEVER do.

I have my work cut out for me. And VELO, if you are ever in GA please let me know because I really need help. Steer the bike with my hips?? Wow I'm way more of a novice than I realized. The fear/timid thing; thats me. The non-athletic life history; me too. Geez..... you guys are really depressing me.