Learning to ride a bike?

Don't be embarrassed! I think it's cool that you want to learn! And actually, as an adult, it will probably be much easier for you since you do have the motor skills.
 
The only suggestion I can think of is to have a friend or your SO hold the back of the bike (grab the seat or something) while you're pedaling to help you keep your balance at first. Either that, or just get on and start pedaling. If you feel like you're about to lose your balance, just put your feet down to keep yourself from falling over!
 
Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Gah....I hate bikes..hate em. I have some nice scars on my leg thanks to a certain ex boyfriends predilection for mt biking. BTW what they say about biking and impotence...true...lmao.
 
But anyways....someplace FLAT...OPEN...is best. Where you can go straight for long stretches...even better if you can be bordered by something soft on one side...fall there! LOL...no loose bell bottom pants that can get caught up in the works...but wear long pants to protect your skin.
 
Do wear your safety stuff! Elbow and knee pads for the first few attempts would be best...you can lose those later if you feel brave!

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles
Do wear your safety stuff! Elbow and knee pads for the first few attempts would be best...you can lose those later if you feel brave!

And a helmet!! Good luck, I'm sure you'll find out it's much easier than you think. Just be relaxed, confident. If a 4-year old can do it, you can too! Pretty soon you'll be cruisin' all over.

ORIGINAL: janobonano

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles
Do wear your safety stuff! Elbow and knee pads for the first few attempts would be best...you can lose those later if you feel brave!

And a helmet!! Good luck, I'm sure you'll find out it's much easier than you think. Just be relaxed, confident. If a 4-year old can do it, you can too! Pretty soon you'll be cruisin' all over.

LOL. I would NEVER forget a helmet. I had a skull fracture when I was a child. I know the importance of a helmet.

I think that 4 year olds are better at falling than adults though

--Sara

I have some nice scars on my leg thanks to a certain ex boyfriends predilection for mt biking.

Heh, me too, except substitute "ex boyfriend" for "crazy father."

A friend of mine at college learned how to ride a bike last year. She didn't have too much trouble with it - just find somewhere flat like Gina suggested, wear some thick pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and take it slow!

Totally spot on Sara...kids are instinctual fallers...they fall in a manner to minimize injury....
Adults are egotistical fallers...they fall in a manner to minimize public embarrassment! Usually leads to more injuries! []

Gah....I hate bikes..hate em. I have some nice scars on my leg thanks to a certain ex boyfriends predilection for mt biking. BTW what they say about biking and impotence...true...lmao.

 
 
You are terrible.......lol[]

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

Totally spot on Sara...kids are instinctual fallers...they fall in a manner to minimize injury....
Adults are egotistical fallers...they fall in a manner to minimize public embarrassment! Usually leads to more injuries! []

I also wonder if adults lose the instincts to fall correctly. I think the fear of knowing you will fall also does not help with adults. Kids just fall then get up and go again.
 I am so embarrassed about learning to ride a bike that I am wondering where there is a hidden park near here, that way I am not seen. I want to learn that way we can ride bikes as a family. I have even considered buying one of those adult 3 wheel bikes.

--Sara

HEY!, you could buy one of those tandem bikes, and let DH do all the pedaling! teehee!

Make sure the bike is sized right for you.  I'm very short, and found a full sized adult bike didn't "fit" me - even though I could lower the seat, the distance from seat to handlebars was too great and threw my balance off (and gave me a backache).  I shopped around and found someone who knew how to fit me to the right size bike and it made a big difference.
Very important:  make sure the seat height is adjusted for safe and comfortable learning.  Sitting on the seat with your legs straight down (that is, standing astride it but with the seat supporting your private parts![8|]), the ball of your foot should reach the ground on both sides simultaneously.  That way you will be less afraid of falling (since you can easily touch your foot to the ground without tipping the bike too far and fallilng over!), but still have enough leg stretch to get an efficient push on each peddle.  You can always raise the seat a little once you are competent, though you should always be able to touch the ground with the toes on at least one side without effort.
Oh...one other very important point....don't let anyone talk you into learning on a "boys" bike with a straight across crossbar.  From personal experience I can tell you it hurts like hell when you suddenly jump off the seat onto the bar --- Yeeeooooooowccchh!
 
Have fun - you'll never regret learning to ride and while it is frustrating at first, all of a sudden you will get it and you'll be off on great adventures!

I LOVE to ride,and do it with my dogs every day..

My first tip would be to stop reading ANYTHING Gina has to say in this thead..[]

My second tip,read everything Hanham has to say...A bike with a straight handlebar is easier to start off on,and  I would go for a more mountain bike type bike.

Helmet,Knee and elbow pads.PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE,

Pretty soon you may be able to do this!

(Warning,adult content..Human bodies)

[linkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WePONvhm-Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WePONvhm-Q[/link]

My first tip would be to stop reading ANYTHING Gina has to say in this thead..

 
Wow...that post got a erm..."rise" out of someone...[sm=devil.gif] 

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

My first tip would be to stop reading ANYTHING Gina has to say in this thead..

Wow...that post got a erm..."rise" out of someone...[sm=devil.gif] 

Well,we don't want to scare Sara away from what is a great way to exercize and have fun do we? lol..

 

Scare her? Of course not...caution is never a bad thing tho [].
 
Sara, have you considered also, rollerblades?
Just as fun, just as much of a workout too....IMO. If  you have enough people in the family you can even play a game of street hockey eh! GAME ON!