Newbie

[Roadtrip]

Welcome!!! I didn't start riding until I was thirty-five. Actually, the new bike was my present to myself, a commitment of sorts. Me and the bicycle didn't exactly have a very good set of experiences as a little girl, so I swore I'd never go their again, but I kept coming back to it as some unfinished business in my life.

+1 to Velocivixen.

Shannon

[hebe]

Welcome and enjoy your riding! I learned properly at 44, after a few earlier failures. My top tip would be to ask around for a bike instructor and book a couple of sessions. Do you have a local bike shop that you trust? It might be worth popping in there with your bike and asking them to check that it's all adjusted right for you. Enjoy! Riding has completely changed my life, wholly recommended!

[Bike Writer]

Yes, I too fell a lot when I started riding again after an absence of many years. It does get better and you do stop falling, however an accident can happen and cause you to fall but the early falling from lack of balance and strength will cease. Yes it does get better.

It's said that you never forget how to ride a bike, that's true, but it does not mean that you will be any good at it in your first few attempts. It's a skill that, having lain dormant for many years, will need to be polished up again. You can do it though if you want to. I've only been back on the bike for a little over a year and you will be amazed at how far you can come and how quickly it can happen.

The falling comes from instability because you lack in strength and balance, incorrect bike size and fit can also compound the problem, so you will want to have someone in the know watch you on bike to check for fit/size.

The first time I got back on a bike I was an accident waiting to happen, I was in a parking lot with just a tiny incline and when I went down it and picked up speed I scared the bejezus out of myself! Little things like encountering another person had me in a panic. You can either do some exercises to build up your core muscles for stability or just keep riding. Eventually you will develop the needed skills.

I had a really good video for beginners for stopping and starting a bike but the link does not work anymore. This one is ok though; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Gr0-EmsHM

And Sheldon Brown's website has a whole section devoted to beginners with good articles; http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html

Please don't get discouraged, keep it up!

Before you do anything else at all, give yourself a huge pat on the back for having the courage to get back on a bike! As hebe said, it can change your life so much for the better. Congratulations! and keep posting and tell us how it goes.

[Catrin]

Congratulations for taking up cycling! I was 50 years old the first time I ever straddled a bike in my life, so I know what you mean! It did take me some time in parking lots to learn how to ride without wobbling and to practice riding in a straight line - that comes with time and practice.

Please share with us the details about your bike, and we love pictures! Bike fit and setup strongly affect your comfort on the bike, if it isn't fit properly then it does make it more challenging to ride and can cause pain. Are you working with a local bike store?

What was very helpful to me was to find a local instructor to assist me with the basics, and you can go here to see if there is an instructor with the American League of Bicyclists in your area who offers individual instruction. They will not only help you learn proper technique, but will help you gain confidence which is just as important.

Congratulations again and welcome to TE!