Total Newbie

[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.

[Roadtrip]

Funny thing about the trainer. I've been eying them lately. Just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

Last year a friend and I had a buddy system going and we we have a local recreation center with a small wellness center (small but close), so I joined. Small meant limited equipment, but they had a bike there and one with a fancy computer where you rode a variety of courses... hilly.. flat.. they even tracked your stats where you could view them online. The thing I liked the most was the virtual riders. It kept me motivated to push. As soon as I'd overtake one there was another just up the road.

My friend had a goal to loose 15 pounds before a vacation and once that date arrived, I was riding solo, but I kept going until my paid membership ended. I started to get frustrated as they only had one bike there and it was a total bummer when I'd show up for a ride and the bike was already in use. Four treadmills and only ONE bike. Once I found the right seat height that suited me I was OK. The seat WASN'T comfy at ALL. It was meant to make sure you didn't stay on that thing more then a half hour!!

I DID loose twenty pounds (OK OK-- I gained 5 of that back) in the six months... I'd ride about 7-8 miles in a half hour... so between 14-16 mph... up hills that were often 4-5% grades and one course had a kicker at the end that spiked to 12% just before the finish line.

I'll have to look at that trainer again!!

Shannon

[annabie]

I DID loose twenty pounds (OK OK-- I gained 5 of that back) in the six months... I'd ride about 7-8 miles in a half hour... so between 14-16 mph... up hills that were often 4-5% grades and one course had a kicker at the end that spiked to 12% just before the finish line.

Oh my god, your story is totally great. I also want to lose weight, but I'm just too lazy. Hope that I will get some motivation from you

[Bike Chick]

Good for you, Shannon! Keep pedaling and enjoy that bike.

I learned to ride a bike when I was young but never learned to swim. I did that at age 50 so I can totally relate to how it feels. You keep it up. Baby steps....baby steps.

Annabie, welcome to TE! Do you have a bike?

[stella2]

Shannon, I had to join the forum when I read your thread. Well done, and your bike is lovely I am 51 and just learning to ride a bike, having never been on one in my life before. I had a lesson with a cycling instructor 12 days ago - small bike, pedals off, saddle low, learning to balance. Apparantly, I was doing well, but I found it hard and although we got the pedals on in the lesson, I only got as far as pushing off with one foot. Determined (my middle name), I bought the bike I had in mind for me and just as your theory, it became much easier on a good bike that suited me.

Since then I have done it! I can now cycle along in a relatively straight line, but like Hebe, nerves are holding me back a little, mainly because I struggle to stop in a controlled way. I know how, but I get anxious about it. I fell off on one occasion. Not that bad of course, but instinct seems to tell me that stopping is a risky manoeuvre and I tend to chuck my legs down - sometimes before I have even begun breaking and it's all I can do not to knock myself over because the bike is still going I won't be beaten though. I will be back out there tomorrow.

Shannon and Hebe, we are women, we can do pretty much anything. We can do this

[Roadtrip]

Update Two/Lesson Two:

Quick safety check with the bike and pretty started off where we left off at the end of the last lesson. More pushing off and going a little bit further each time, with my two helpers at my side steadying me, but giving me more and more space.

We stopped briefly to let some cars clear the parking lot we were working in and we rode from the pavement and onto a flat grassy area and even pushed off from the grass. I have to say I'm getting pretty good at the saving part where I grab break and get my feet to solid ground when I feel I'm going to loose control.

I'm still struggling with the launch aspect and getting up to speed, but for the first lesson, I guess I can't really expect to be doing wheelies at this point. We worked for close to an hour and it was getting dark and on what ended up being the last run of the evening when DH dropped far off to my right and the instructor was to my left, but barely hanging on (and I later found out that I he let go all together) when I rode all on my for about 250 feet. After I came to a stop by the cars he gave me a high five and said I was doing it all on my own for the last part of that run. We ended on that high.

The feeling was amazing. The feel of the wind. The feeling of some invisible force working together with your body to move you forward. The feeling that for even a short time I was actually doing something I had feared for nearly thirty years.

It gives me great confidence that I can DO this.

Next lesson Saturday.

Thanks for all the support and kind words!!
Shannon

[Catrin]

Congratulations on the great lesson! It is indeed wonderful to be on the bike and realizing that it is all YOU

[hebe]

Excellent work! I bet you can't wait for the next lesson

[schnitzle]

Yay!! I love reading about your progress, it's so inspirational Isn't the feeling of the wind and your bike under you fabulous? Go Shannon GO!