Newbie

[sundial]

Welcome Tomaskova! Those skinny tires on the road bike make it a little more difficult to balance at slower speeds. Your mtb will help you with a smoother pedal stroke and balance on fatter tires. Perhaps you can practice balance techniques on your road bike on the grass which will soften the fall. And don't feel about falling. It just happens. I mastered the art of slo-mo falls on my road bike--in public.

[tomaskova]

Thanks ladies! I think the balance issue does stem from just being nervous and new at this again. I will try focusing further out too. And I do laugh at my falls, and it was a good way to teach my kids that even I fall, and have to get up and keep trying. Of course having the SUV full of teenagers slow down, honk and yell at me didn't help much at the time Such is life! I am in MN and we are having rain/sleet/snow today, so my time on the bike is still delayed. I hope to also try some spin classes too, and I have just begun working on my core too.

Thanks again!

[Catrin]

Welcome - both to TE AND back to the bike As others have said, don't be embarrassed about falling, we all do at one point or another... I also think the balance thing can also be affected by bike fit. My first bike was too long for me, this was the bike I learned how to actually ride on. I was never comfortable cornering and so forth - just felt so unstable. The first time I stepped over my LHT, a bike that DID fit me, my balance "problem" resolved itself. Even though further fit-related work had to be done with that bike, no more balance problems.

Oh yes, have fun

[tomaskova]

I plan on getting off my mountain bike and back on my road bike soon...hoping the balance is all mental, and I won't need a new ride! Thanks for your input!

[alice]

I am living proof that you definitely CAN forget how to ride a bike. I learned when I was a kid, but I never rode much on my own; my dad and I would go out on the tandem often, but that didn't teach me balance, steering, etc. As an adult, I got a bike and found out that I didn't really remember any of it, and I pretty much had to learn again.

The advice you've gotten so far has been great- don't push yourself to try things you're not ready for, and enjoy whichever bike you're riding.

[Bike Writer]

You're getting good advice here and it's a plus you have two bikes to ride on because if you only had the one that you feel less stable on you wouldn't be out practicing. It sounds like you have some level of comfort and are ready to practice with your road bike. Like Alice said, take it slow and don't rush yourself.

It is embarassing to fall, however I care more about the danger of falling, like breaking bones or otherwise seriously hurting myself than the embarassment of it. I had my share of falls last year when I was starting out. It was a combination of not being acclimated to a bike from years off of one and a bike that was too big for me. A trip to your local bike shop requesting that someone observe you riding can help to dial in your bike like seat and handlebar adjustments and then you can rule out fit. Riding, riding and more riding will gain you confidence and comfort on your bike but it sounds like you already have that.

And welcome to TE!