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!

[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.

[nikkoblu2]

Shannon, I found your post very touching. And you're proof in the flesh that the human spirit keeps pushing forward...even when it runs into obstacles.

Only other suggestion I can think of is I'm guessing you don't have a trainer at home so what about do you have a gym membership where would would have access to exercise bikes, or better yet spin bikes, just so you can get the feel of sitting on a bike and peddling.

It may seem silly, but I'm thinking that once the feel of peddling is familiar then you can concentrate on developing your balance.

Good luck! You'll be zipping around in no time. And don't forget the helmet...all the time!

[DarcyInOregon]

Shannon, your Trek bike is beautiful, and the perfect first bike on which to learn. Start by asking friends and relatives if they can teach you to bike. If you can't find anybody, see if there is an REI in your area and inquire there. If you still can't find anybody, go to the nearest State Park on a Saturday morning, because that is where cyclists congregate to go for a ride, either in groups or solo, find where the cyclists park, and start asking if anyone can teach you. If you came up to me, I would say oh how fun and do it.

Once you learn how to ride on that bike, and you learn how much fun the bike trails are, you will be totally addicted to cycling.