Total Newbie

[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!

[ultraviolet]

A friend of mine taught himself to ride a couple of years ago after seeing a small child zooming around on a park path on one of those balance bikes. (like this one) He figured if it worked for toddlers, it would probably work for him. So, he bought borrowed a bike from someone, took off the pedals, lowered the seat and spent a couple of days pushing himself around on it and practicing picking up his feet and balancing while coasting. After he felt comfortable with that, he put the pedals back on, but kept the seat lowered so he could still reach the ground with his feet and pedaled around in a grassy field. Within a couple of weeks he was riding like he'd been riding his whole life.

Good luck!

[hebe]

Your post struck a chord with me, I've just started taking lessons at 44. I want to be able to cycle safely and competently with my toddler on the bike too. That's the theory, but my nerves are getting in the way somewhat. Is there any cycling instruction in local schools? My instructor's main job is school cycling instructor and she is very good, quite patient but still covers a lot of ground with me (sorry for the pun). Good luck and I hope we both get cycling confidently and safely.