my first bike.... EVER

[Tri Girl]

Congrats!!! WOW! Your new bike is AMAZING!!! I hope you love your new ride- it's sooooo pretty (I'm drooling with envy).

[blackhillsbiker]

That bike is gorgeous! I love the color. May you have many, many happy miles together!

Deb

[ny biker]

Congrats!

[Zen]

Your first bike ever?
May I ask why it took so long?

[Catrin]

Your first bike ever?
May I ask why it took so long?

I think there were a few reasons - apparently it just wasn't part of the culture of either of my parents families - they never thought about teaching us. I was also born with feet that were twisted - walking without falling was an issue for much of my childhood. I got over that

So now I have discovered cycling as a 50-year old woman seeking to drive diabetes back to wherever it came from - and am having a LOT of fun doing it! I am still in the stage of trying to master the Fine Art of Not Falling Over but that will pass.

Assuming that I don't destroy the bike while finishing the process of learning how to drive, I know that I won't out-grow it over the summer. I would like to eventually take some nice long rides - but now I have to be able to get it going without falling over Thankfully I am a stubborn woman!

[chicagogal]

Congrats on the new bike! It is beautiful!

In terms of learning how to ride a bike without falling over:
1. I would suggest lowering the saddle a little - have it a little lower than you will eventually want. You will feel safer and be able to easily get a foot on the ground. You won't be going very fast/far on your first rides (or attempted rides) so this shouldn't cause knee strain. Once you are comfortable on the bike, and going out for longer harder efforts, put the saddle back up!!!
2. Look where you want to go - don't look down at the ground, unless it is the road waaaaay ahead of you.
3. It is easier to keep a bike upright if it isn't moving too slowly. Get it going and commit. Try to keep the front wheel steady (do this by following tip 2, and by not looking at the wheel).

In terms of clipless pedals:
This will come, and you will know when it's time. You want to be totally comfortable with the bike first. Soon the bike will start to feel like an extension of you, and in time you will want it to to become even more an extension of you. When that time comes, clipless pedals will probably feel safer to you than platform pedals, especially in "dicey" situations where you need good handling skills and thereby good connection to the bike. You don't want your feet sliding off the pedals when you hit a bump (especially if you are already out of the saddle), or take a tight corner!

[kimikaw]

Beautiful bike, congrats!

[Miranda]

Congrats on your new bici! Yep, do now whatever you feel comfortable with. The longer and more you ride, that can change, and you adjust. On going clipless, everyone I know has fallen over that way. Just come back and read about it when it happens. I teach spinning, and was an indoor rider before I re-found my love of outside. It did help w/riding clipped in the spin bici in ways. But, getting your balance while not stationary outside is another gig. Just don't get discouraged, keep trying.

[Trek420]

Congratulations! And look gals, she has a helmet! Smart.

[Serottarider]

Congratulations on your bike purchase! (Excellent choice as I am partial to Trek) The more you ride, the more you will fall in love with cycling.......that's been my experience.

I wish you many happy and safe days of riding and Happy Holidays as well!