Afraid to get back on

[plantluvver]

Otherwise you never would have been able to lose 110 lbs! I am so glad you found this forum and posted here. These gals are wonderful for encouragement and also information. And as long as you keep coming here, THEY won't let you quit!

ARE you clipping your feet in? I hope not, I still haven't gone to clips, and I have been an off and on rider thoughout my adult life. Of course that is partially due to just plain laziness, and not practicing, but only riding my bike when I want to get somewhere.

I don't have anything to add to what had already been suggested. You've got your homework, now go ride your bike so you can tell us how you did!


Besides the lower gear, perhaps look for a place with a very GRADUAL slope, and start off going downhill. That way gravity can be yoour freind, by allowing you some momentum.


Best wishes,
Mary

[elaine_mudge]

Hiya, I fell and broke my wrist some time ago and having tried to ride my bike again a few weeks ago found I was terrified of falling, I am also not as flexible as I was so cannot lift my foot high enough to get on my bike. I looked at a trike option but that is really expensive. then I found this site which you may find helpful. www.bwieland.com, he sells both stabilising wheels and training wheels for adults, I plan to visit his site tomorrow morning and will let you know what I find. Like you I used to ride for miles and miles in my youth but haven't really ridden since I owned a car. Silly!

[sundial]

Hi - I'm brand new at this and pretty disgusted with me right now.I am 56, in pretty good shape and lost about 110 lbs...

That is QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT!! You have NO reason to be down on yourself. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? I got over my fear of falling on the bike by a) practicing on the grass and b) doing it in slo mo in front of the neighbors. Once I got it out of my system I was ready to roll.

Momentum is your friend. It will keep you upright. Keep your eyes focused ahead on the road rather than looking down at your feet on the pedals. And then think of a song to get you into a rhythm and pedal around in your yard. Or try it at a nearby church parking lot or school. And having an experienced cyclist there to guide you will help boost your confidence as well. Are there any ladies that work at your bike shop that could give you a private lesson until you get the hang of it?

Go at a pace that's comfortable to you. Take it slow and don't pressure yourself to do more than what you are willing to commit to. There's no set timetable on when you should be cycling X number of miles by X number of days. Listen to your body and if your head isn't in the game, do something else and come back to it later. It will come to you.

[crazycanuck]

Sundial...this thread is over 4yrs old...the OP's never posted since....

[marni]

another thought might be to also try riding a bit on a stationary bike at the gym. Especially on an upright, you could practice sitting upright without holding on while pedaling. It will be more stable than trying the same thing on your regular bike, ditto practice mounting and dismounting. In fact, the bikes they use in the spin classes have clips so when I first got clips, I practiced clipping and unclipping without looking down, on a spin bicycle because I could just unclip and let one leg continue pedaling while I unclipped without having to worry about losing momentum and falling over.

Congratulations on your weight loss- been there, lost over 100 and still struggling with the last few, but know that my riding position, and sense of balance has definitly gone through a lot of changes and adjustments. Ditto the muscles and using them.

Hang in there, find a grassy plot, a friend, a gym and remember the only way to " get to Carnegie Hall is practice, practice, practice."

[hebe]

Hiya, I fell and broke my wrist some time ago and having tried to ride my bike again a few weeks ago found I was terrified of falling, I am also not as flexible as I was so cannot lift my foot high enough to get on my bike. I looked at a trike option but that is really expensive. then I found this site which you may find helpful. www.bwieland.com, he sells both stabilising wheels and training wheels for adults, I plan to visit his site tomorrow morning and will let you know what I find. Like you I used to ride for miles and miles in my youth but haven't really ridden since I owned a car. Silly!

This is a very old thread that you bumped, Elaine!

I haven't looked at your link but I am a brand new 40something adult rider. Would a more accessible bike would be a better option than stabilisers or training wheels - perhaps if you borrowed a step-through bike or something like a townie that has a much lower seat? Or get a good friend to help you until you get your nerve back? Editing to add that if you search on the company name you'll find a site with many ideas on this, and also a couple of comments from people who claim to have had a less than positive experience with the company. If you prefer the idea of stabilisers/training wheels then perhaps ask at your local bike shop, or at a local rehabilitation centre as they should both be familiar with helping adults of all abilities to ride a bike.

I hope the OP got on ok, I have quite enjoyed reading this "blast from the past".

[sundial]

Sundial...this thread is over 4yrs old...the OP's never posted since....

Aw gee I did it again.

[redrhodie]

Aw gee I did it again.

I wonder if she ever got back on? Poor thing.

[stella2]

I must say I am very glad of your 'mistake' Sundial. I only began learning to ride very recently at age 51 and, due to some health problems following the first couple of weeks, the gaps between riding sessions were growing from a day or two, to a week or so and I started becoming anxious and putting it off! Now I am writing this at 3am UK time as I'm in hospital having had surgery today and can't sleep. It will probably be a couple of months before I can get back on my bike again and no doubt I'll be scared to death by then

Sundial reminded me about singing. I used that as a strategy when I was learning to ride a horse (in my 40s), but I had forgotten all about it! It helps regulate breathing (it's common to hold our breath when doing something we are finding difficult or anxiety provoking), provides rhythm and is cheery

Now I have that in my plan for when I'm back on board

I hope the OP got back on. Maybe she found a different activity she preferred though.

[hebe]

I had missed your posts Stella, I hope you make a full and fast recovery from your surgery.

I am sure that you will be fine back in the saddle. My rides are completely dependent on me getting childcare, which means either the weekend (which scared me for a while as I'm used to empty weekday streets) or when I pay to put dd in creche, which I can't justify more than once or twice a week, and then there's always cleaning and other things fighting for that time too I know what it feels like to put a ride off through nerves. Perhaps if you promise yourself that you'll just do a quick straight ride with no bends or hills? Don't worry about wobbling, I always wobble for the first hundred yards or so but it all comes back within minutes.

[stella2]

Thanks Hebe, I know I'll be fine when I get back into the swing. It helps to tell myself that there is no rush, no date by which I have to be performing at a certain level. I'm doing it for enjoyment only, with the bonus hopefully of it helping fitness.

I have just arrived home. Tucked up on the couch with a blanket watching Loose Women and still feeling pretty out of it. It's lovely to be home with my man, my Dog, and within sight of my Pashley

[Bike Writer]

Stella, glad to hear you are home and doing well, wishing you a speedy recovery. Feel better soon

[sundial]

....I'm in hospital having had surgery today and can't sleep. It will probably be a couple of months before I can get back on my bike again...

I hope you are doing well in your recovery and that you're listening to those cheery songs to put you in the mood for riding your beautiful Pashley. Let us know how you are doing when you feel up to it. My thoughts are with you, Stella.

[stella2]

Bless you girls five days on and I'm feeling better than expected, so I'm hoping it may be weeks rather months before I can have a little ride!

[shellkay1212]

Heck a couple weeks ago I fell and I was just standing with one foot on the ground. Just STANDING there waiting to cross the road. Oi. We all fall at one time or another. You will be posting soon about how fast and far you are going!

Keep going! As you ride more miles you gain more confidence...then the more miles you ride...