Back and Afraid

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Another great place to practice I found was the empty parking lots of my local schools, on Sundays especially. Great wide open place to practice starting and stopping, figure 8's, etc.

[Catrin]

When I was learning how to ride a year ago, once I was comfortable enough to leave the parking lots I was practicing in, I found a local park to drive my bike to practice in. You may, or may not, have a similar opportunity, but I found it very helpful and encouraging.

Because of the very low speed-limit the car traffic wasn't intimidating, and I could see other cyclists far enough away that I could move over. I am quite sure they could tell I was a newbie so they gave me plenty of room I eventually increased enough in confidence that I started riding my country roads, but I stayed in the confines of that park for well over a month just getting comfortable. Thankfully I was able to put together something like a 6.5 mile loop out of it so that helped.

[Roadtrip]

When I was learning how to ride a year ago, once I was comfortable enough to leave the parking lots I was practicing in, I found a local park to drive my bike to practice in.

This is exactly what I did! I had a small closed loop trail of about two miles that I would practice on once I left my parking lot... then moved up to the six mile trail that had hills and various other challenges to it, but still a closed loop so no cars, but I did have to content with walkers, bikers, and dogs on leashes that really freaked me out as I visualized small puffball critter meeting spokes on a bike wheel every time I passed one.

Shannon

[tulip]

If you focus on what you CAN do, and not what you can't do (or think you can't do), it helps alot. "Can'ts" don't open many doors. Best to you.