Cant cycle a bike

LegacyUser

Ok so this is probably quite weird. I'm 25 and I don't know how to cycle a bike. I dont really know why I never learned, I think as a child I was afraid or something.

So my new years resolution is to buy a bike and learn to cycle.

But how do I learn, what exactly do I have to do? Im afraid I wont be able to balance the bike. thanks

Victor

Move from Personal Issues.

This thread may or may not be serious, but some people might have the issue.

Civilian_Target

Not that unusual, showed a 28 year old friend how to cycle last year.
Go to the park with a friend and give it a go. It's obvious what to do, what's not obvious is that you will need speed to make it work, if you try too slowly you will fall.

So try it on the grass, in the spring or summer when the ground is a bit softer. Go for it, and don't be afraid of falling, because it will happen

Zatman

Nothing to be shamed of i cant even though bikes are not my thing thats why i never learned. My mate learned about 4 months ago and he is 22 so there is hope for you

mikemac

Nothing to be ashamed of.
Head up to your local park, you can do this on grass or you'll get a path somewhere

YOU WILL FALL

But hey, it's normal and everyone has done this.
Good luck
You might give it a go too Zatman

t0mm

I thought my cousin how to cycle last year, she was 16. What we found easiest was to find a patch of grass or tarmac or whatever that was free from obsticles, and with a slight slant. Starting at the highest point, she would get on (the seat was lowered so that her feet could touch the ground while sitting on the saddle), put her feet on the peddles while I held her, and then I would walk her down the slope (it was very gentle, mainly so that I was only holding her, not pushing her). At the end I would get her to stop us by using the brakes, which gave her confidence in stopping herself. After a few runs I would push her after walking with her for a few steps, and she wouls stop herself with the brakes. We then added pedaling (she just moved her feet around, only made her go slightly faster). It was all little baby steps, building confidence with each step. After a week she could ride around outside the house no bother, though it took her a bit longer to build up the balance and skill needed to ride safely on the streets.
Hope that helps, good luck! It's all about confidence, and speed, the faster you go the easier it is!*;)


*Disclaimer: Might not be entirely true but you get my drift!

Mucco

One method I've heard is to lower the saddle and remove the pedals. This allows you to balance with both feet withou the pedals getting in the way. Once you're happy scooting around the place, using the brakes etc, put the pedals back on and away you go......

Canis Lupus

Mucco wrote: »

One method I've heard is to lower the saddle and remove the pedals. This allows you to balance with both feet withou the pedals getting in the way. Once you're happy scooting around the place, using the brakes etc, put the pedals back on and away you go......

And at 25 the OP will look even more of a nutjob scuttling around the park

I'm sorry... I'm going to hell and all but I can't stop chuckling at the thought of a 25 yr old who can't cycle and the mental image of said person trying to learn.

Maybe you should ask your dad to give you a push OP? Give him back that chance you never gave him as a child

(I'll stop now)

Talliesin

The only thing I'll add is that if you manage to learn and then don't cycle for a while, you may take longer to re-learn than those who learnt as young children.

You know how they say you never forget how to ride a bike? That doesn't apply to does of us who didn't learn very young. I discovered this on a dual-carriageway, which is not the best place for such an epithany.

Húrin

Don't buy a bike before you even know how to use one. Chances are you'll make a mistake and regret it. Learn on a friend's bike!

TinyExplosions

Grass and patience is your friend -you will fall over, but then we've all done it -it happens, and you can pretend it was a mechanical if necessary!

short circuit

... its a question of when you fall over ... not if ...

So don't worry ... just pretend you know what you are doing ... and if you fall .. look at the pedals and curse .... some car drivers might have a laugh ... but any cyclist will empathise.

Speed is your friend ... OK ... reasonable speed. If you try to balance at a very low speed ... you are going to hit the deck.

Get a right sized bike ... but in the beginning it might help to keep the saddle low so your feet can touch the ground.

Grass is better if you do end up on the ground ... but in this weather, its bound to be wet ... and you might actually get bogged down and fall ... so get a tough pair of jeans and get on a quiet piece of tarmac ... one of the shopping centre car parks early in the morning or evening after the traffic dies down might work out best ... or go to areas of the phoenix park which don't allow vehicular traffic.

Best of luck ..!!

candy-gal1

i had the exact same problem for a while, im 22 now, but didnt really know how to cycle a bike, even now id find it difficult! id say get a bike n practise lots in ur garden on your own. ul soon get the hang of it!!! u will fall but thats all part of the fun!:)

daymobrew

Mucco wrote: »

One method I've heard is to lower the saddle and remove the pedals. This allows you to balance with both feet withou the pedals getting in the way. Once you're happy scooting around the place, using the brakes etc, put the pedals back on and away you go......

That is sorta how I started learning to ride a motorcycle - engine off, pushed with feet and stop with brakes. This got you used to balancing the motorbike.

It will be easier on a bicycle (because it's much lighter) and will get you used to a bit of steering.