Total Newbie

[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.

[hebe]

Brilliant!

[schnitzle]

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.

That's awesome!!

[Roadtrip]

Update: Lesson One - The instructor started out by teaching some basic pre-ride rules and techniques... ABC's... but useful. Then he got me on the bike and looked at my saddle position and general fit and we adjusted the seat slightly as it the horn was slightly askew. He also showed me how to adjust the quick releases on the wheels to prevent issues with a branch, etc grabbing and opening the quick release loose and causing a crash. The basics.

He then showed me the push off to get enough momentum to be able to KEEP myself balanced and upright. He held the bike as I balanced on the bike in the ready for launch position and we practiced holding myself upright with my right foot up on the pedal at 2 o'clock. We also practiced getting up in the saddle once I pushed off and what to do if I felt I needed to bail out and put my feet down from the in the saddle position.

Then he had me get in position and push off while he and my DH jogged along side me as I peddled with them making sure I wasn't going to fall. We did this a few times going a little further each time. My arms were starting to get tired (as were they from running alongside me) and I was preparing for another go when it happened... from a standing position I started to lean right and couldn't hold it and my right foot caught on the pedal, so by the time the foot did touch down I rolled the ankle and was headed for the deck. Tush a little soar, but otherwise OK and I got my "right of passage" tumble out of the way, and more importantly realized I would be OK even if I did fall over.

We did one more pass with my two helpers guiding and agreed to practice the balanced stand at home and we'd gather for lesson two on Wednesday evening.

The instructor was pleased with my progress and for the first lesson which lasted about an hour, which was concentrated on getting my conformable on and around the bike.

That's it for round one...
Shannon

[Groundhog]

Update: Lesson One - The instructor started out by teaching some basic pre-ride rules and techniques... ABC's... but useful. Then he got my on the bike and looked at my saddle position and general fit and we adjusted the seat slightly as it the horn was slightly askew. He also showed me how to adjust the quick releases on the wheels to prevent issues with a branch, etc grabbing and opening the quick release loose and causing a crash. The basics.

He then showed me the push off to get enough momentum to be able to KEEP myself balanced and upright. He held the bike as I balanced on the bike in the ready for launch position and we practiced holding myself upright with my right foot up on the pedal at 2 o'clock. We also practiced getting up in the saddle once I pushed off and what to do if I felt I needed to bail out and put my feet down from the in the saddle position.

Then he had me get in position and push off while he and my DH jogged along side me as I peddled with them making sure I wasn't going to fall. We did this a few times going a little further each time and my arms were starting to get tired (as were they from running alongside me) and I was preparing for another go when it happened... from a standing position I started to lean right and couldn't hold it and my right foot caught on the pedal, so by the time the foot did touch down I rolled the ankle and was headed for the deck. Tush a little soar, but otherwise OK and I got my "right of passage" tumble out of the way, and more importantly realized I would be OK even if I did fall over.

We did one more pass with my two helpers guiding and agreed to practice the balanced stand at home and we'd gather for lesson two on Wednesday evening.

The instructor was pleased with my progress and for the first lesson which lasted about an hour, which was concentrated on getting my conformable on and around the bike.

That's it for round one...
Shannon

Sounds like you have a great teacher and a supportive DH. Have fun!