Total Newbie

[Roadtrip]

My story begins some years ago. Young and impressionable, not all that coordinated. I was very sick as a child and spent the first three/four years of my life in and out of the hospital and was always falling and the like. I also had an older sister that liked to get her little sis to do all sorts of things that lead to physical harm. She convinced me she would teach me to ride a bike.

She got me at the top of a VERY tall hill on a gravel road and promptly offered a push to assist me on my way. It didn't go well. I grew stubborn and REFUSED to ride. If I needed to go somewhere I walked. I once walked myself four miles to softball practice as mom was at work. Years went by and learning to ride took on even less importance as I neared the age where I would begin to drive and enter into a whole new age of freedom.

In hindsight I know I shouldn't have let one event have such an impact and honestly, as I grew older, it became embarrassing to admit I didn't learn how to ride a bike. Not that long ago I decided to give it another go and found what looked like a pretty decent bike for a good price and brought it home. By this time I was thirty something standing in the driveway of my first home on this bike wondering what had become of my life. I bravely peddled my way down the driveway a few feet at a time when I went down, landing on my arm to break my fall, feeling like I'd cracked a rib or two, but more pride hurt. I placed the bike back in the garage and limped inside... two years ago.

In June I turned 35 and being a bit of a larger gal, I knew I NEEDED to do something, WANTED to do something drop those extra pounds. I started looking at bikes again and discovered the pedal forward (Trek Navigator/Pure) bikes with lower center of gravity and decided as a (belated) birthday gift to myself, buy a good quality bike that might finally get me on the road.

So here I am seeking advice, if any can be found, about the next step along this journey that might help me. My first experience at a local bike shop wasn't easy. I opened up and told of my inability to ride and with hat in hand asked for advice and the only advice I got was go find a hill and ride.

I just found this wonderful forum and hope I've found a true home where I can finally enjoy riding a bike with my husband.

Total newbie,
Shannon

[maryellen]

Welcome Sharon, I learned to ride at 45 and it was one of the best things I've ever done!

[Owlie]

Welcome to TE! You're doing better than my dad, who at age 10 fell off his bike and broke his wrist...and hasn't been anywhere near a bike since.

Have you bought the bike? Now, get yourself a helmet, and perhaps some gloves. If you want, lower the seat so you can get your feet on the ground while on the saddle, and just push yourself around that way so you can get used to balancing. Find a big empty grassy field and just try riding, I guess. Practice getting on and off the bike and riding around.

Relax. And smile. It's supposed to be fun.

[schnitzle]

Welcome Shannon! It's wonderful that you're giving cycling another try!
I'm new to biking too, and it's really the only exercise I've ever truly enjoyed.

This is an awesome place to learn and get good solid advice, I think you'll love it here

[Catrin]

Welcome to TE!

I just learned how to ride a bike in December 2009 myself and now am riding much further than I would have dreamed at the time. I am not the most coordinated person out there, so if I can do it anyone can

You might want to check other bike stores in your area to see if they have any basic bike riding classes or individual lessons. I took two one-on-one classes to get started. I have been told that it is easier to learn on a hill - but thinking back I would have found that more intimidating than a nice flat parking lot, for sure.

You can also go here to find resource information from the American League of Bicyclists. This can be hit or miss as sometimes they show resources for my city and sometimes it doesn't - and we have a lot of resources here.

If you decide to work with an instructor, it is best that they be certified through an organization like the League. This was helpful to me because I did not know anyone else who rode and had no idea how to proceed.

You can do this, and you will find that as you learn it becomes more and more fun in the process!

Welcome to TE!

[DebbieOSablada]

Hurrah for you Shannon

[trista]

Shannon, good for you! I agree w/ the suggestion of lowering your seat while you're still getting the feel for balance.

Sorry about your experience w/ the LBS. At my local LBS, I've had a couple negative experiences, so I've learned who to ask for and who to avoid. If the people I like arent' there when I come in, I leave and come back another day.

[Roadtrip]

Have you bought the bike?

Yep. I bought this bike.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...esportlowstep/

Also got a nice helmet and some gloves.

Thanks for the encouragement!!
Shannon

[Biciclista]

lower the seat until you can reach the ground with both feet. ride on ONLY flat surfaces until you get the hang of it.
I agree, you should try to find someone who can teach you. There are people that specialize in teaching adults.
PS please talk to someone else at the LBS or drive a little ways to find another!

[Crankin]

We have a bicycle school here, that specializes in teaching adults who have never learned to ride. It's possible that if you live near a major city, you might have something similar.

[JennK13]

What a great bike to start on! I have the Trek Navigator 2.0 My DH got it for me a year and a half ago as I wanted to start riding. I did know how to ride a bike, though it had been years. Now, I have 3 bikes total, and have done 2 triathlons so far this summer, and a part time job as a group ride leader at my LBS. It's addicting, in a great way!
Welcome and happy riding!

[bonabiker]

Hello everyone!
Boy, and to think I felt so embarrassed 2 yrs ago when my 5 yr old learned to ride a bike before I did. There I was with my 5 yr old coaching me, "...come on Mommy, you can do it, it's easy... just start pedaling like me!"

That was all the incentive this 41 yr old mommy needed. I learned to ride only 2 1/2yrs ago and 3 bikes later... Now, all our family trips are centered around bike paths so that my 2 kids can ride with us. In 2 short years, we've gone to Cape Cod (2X), RI East Bay path is AMAZING and Lake George. My 2 little kiddies (6&9) can ride a solid 18 miles on any given day - thanks to their "Bike Nazi Mommy" I LOVE my new "toy" - my Specialized Dolce Elite and my farthest solo ride has been 35 miles. It's such a thrill to glance down and see that I can pedal up to my top speed of 28 mph! Not bad for a newbie.

This is without question, one of God's greatest gifts - the ability to ride and enjoy nature all around you.

My advice to any newbie is to just enjoy each minute that you are riding and eventually you'll be zoom along - the key to overcoming any new challenge is to keep smiling. My next goal is to learn how to swim.


Thanks to EVERYONE here. I've been lurking along and all of your stories are so inspiring. I am proud to be a TE member.

[Roadtrip]

Little update: I found a local instructor and I have my first lesson this Saturday down by one of the local trails.

Wooo Hoooo

Shannon

[hebe]

Little update: I found a local instructor and I have my first lesson this Saturday down by one of the local trails.

Wooo Hoooo

Shannon

Fabulous! I hope you have a ball. I love my lessons, and am being frustrated by the atrocious weather and my workaholic dh reducing my practice time. Please post how your lesson goes, won't you?

Bonabiker, I hope to be able to write posts like yours in a couple of years. It was the thought of my daughter learning to ride before me that finally got me going. Good luck with the swimming!

[Roadtrip]

This is going to sound really silly... but I was practicing out in the back yard last night after work and I TOTALLY balanced myself for like 10 feet.

OK. At eleven feet I about fell over... but it's a START.