my first bike.... EVER

[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!

[Catrin]

Thanks for all of the advice, it is appreciated. I just went out for almost 30 minutes and rode back and forth in my apartment's parking lot. I don't have the time to go somewhere else and get to spinning class tonight - especially with needing to take the front wheel off the bike so I can get it into my trunk. And out, and back again

However - and this is a big deal for this total cycling novice I "played" for 20-25 minutes and did not fall over once! Indeed, I didn't come close to it. A little wobbly, yes, but I didn't fall over! Now I need to find a larger parking lot (with no traffic) where I can really play!

[Librarygirl]

Congratulations Catrin You won't regret the decision, I'm sure of that! It is quite an amazing feeling getting back on the bike (or getting on the bike for the first time, in your case) as an adult - such freedom!

I bought my first adult bike about 6 or 7 months ago, and even though I had a fall before I'd even bought it (I was test riding it, stopped, went to swing my leg over the top tube - it's a step through - caught my foot on it and went over) I STILL loved it and bought it and started riding anyway. My first case of road rash, and I haven't had one since, thank goodness.

And don't ever feel bad about wobbles, falls or clumsy moments - I am eternally uncoordinated, but I reckon the lovely feeling of that first moment of reaching the top of a hill without having to stop or freewheeling along while enjoying the beauty of the outdoors makes it all worthwhile.

Cheers,

Librarygirl