how many seasons and/or miles til experienced?

[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.

[Kano]

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.

Don't feel depressed, CyclChyk! I don't plan to ever play with that water bottle trick either. But, steering with your hips -- you're probably doing that unconsciously, like I discovered when I paid attention after reading that earlier today! Then I tried deliberately doing it -- all it takes is a shift of weight, lean your butt a bit left or right, and wow, the bike follows! It's remarkably easy to do, hard to think about doing.

Now, I may not be doing what Velo teaches exactly, but I was sort of exxagerating to myself to get the sense of it, you know? I'd probably never REALLY do the silly feeling stuff I was doing today where there was no one to see!

Karen in Boise

[cherinyc]

But, steering with your hips -- you're probably doing that unconsciously, like I discovered when I paid attention after reading that earlier today!
Karen in Boise

ummmm unconsciously?
I surely hope not - that could be REALLY dangerous. Of course if you are unconscious, I hope that something is steering you (the hips will do).

[kelownagirl]

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'm still working on getting my water bottle out of the holder, drinking, and putting it back while riding. And all that without getting my heart rate up so high, I need to take a break...

[CyclChyk]

I'm still working on getting my water bottle out of the holder, drinking, and putting it back while riding.

I can do this now!!! But only if I am going real slow, on a straight stretch, and ONLY with my left hand. Even tho I am right handed I feel very wobbly trying to go for the bottle with my right hand.

I have so much to learn.

[aicabsolut]

This is an aside, but I want to share:

I was driving home the other day during rush hour and I get to this intersection where a bike is in the left lane (going to turn left), waiting for the light to change. It's a little bit uphill there, and this guy is clipped in, at one of the busiest intersections around, standing up, COMPLETELY STILL, just chilling. Bike wheel turned a little left, butt sticking up in the air, no wobbles, no rocking the wheel around, no slow crawl forward. Completely still. Light changes, off he goes. I hate him....only because I want to be him.

[CyclChyk]

I can't begin to phathom that kind of balance....... only in my dreams.

[Brandy]

This is an aside, but I want to share:

I was driving home the other day during rush hour and I get to this intersection where a bike is in the left lane (going to turn left), waiting for the light to change. It's a little bit uphill there, and this guy is clipped in, at one of the busiest intersections around, standing up, COMPLETELY STILL, just chilling. Bike wheel turned a little left, butt sticking up in the air, no wobbles, no rocking the wheel around, no slow crawl forward. Completely still. Light changes, off he goes. I hate him....only because I want to be him.

I want to master track stands...only because I'm so lazy that it would save me from unclipping.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I can do this now!!! But only if I am going real slow, on a straight stretch, and ONLY with my left hand. Even tho I am right handed I feel very wobbly trying to go for the bottle with my right hand.

I have so much to learn.

You're supposed to do it while riding backwards.

[CyclChyk]

Oh lisalisa - what are you trying to do to me girl??

I like your advice of "just do it!" MUCH better!

Oh and are SNOT ROCKETS what I think they are ???? My god it would be all over my face!