Total Newbie

[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