Thank you to all of those who have responded to my
plea for help.
The majority of you have suggested that 'scooting' is the
best place to start. I will go and find somewhere quiet
with a slight slope and give it a try. I am so annoyed
with myself and feel pretty useless. However, I am sure
that I will get there eventually. I really do want to do
this but I will take the necessary steps to build up my
confidence first.
Thanks for all your help. I will report back when I've done
it!
JB
"Velvet" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:i25lc.2933$Y63.27768978@news-
text.cableinet.net...
> SeventhStranger wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm just after a few tips if anyone is able to help me.
> >
> > I last rode a bike when I was 13/14 years old and have
> > just bought
myself a
> > new bike thinking it would be easy to get back on it and
> > ride again. However, my confidence is lacking and I am
> > terrified of falling off and hurting myself.
> >
> > I have tried a few times but get so far and then I seem
> > to veer over to
the
> > left and then I panic and fall off. Because of that, I
> > am now too
scared to
> > get back on and have another go.
> >
> > Is this normal?? What is the best way for me to learn
> > again (without
the
> > embarrassment of having to use stabilisers!!)? I live
> > near a beach so I
am
> > thinking that going somewhere with a soft landing may be
> > helpful. Any
help
> > would be much appreciated. I really do want to ride
> > again but I don't
have
> > the confidence.
> >
> > Many thanks JB - (aged 32)
> >
> >
>
> Make sure the bike is the right size, and then put the
> saddle down low enough that you can sit on it and reach
> the ground with both feet without stretching at all - if
> you can manage balls of the feet then good, go for more
> foot in contact with the ground if you feel you need it.
>
> I'd say (as a returner to cycling with similar scaredness)
> that saddle height can be as low as you want while you get
> over the initial fear and
> re-learn balance, steering, and control. If you're on a
> racer style bike, get the bars higher if they'll go, but
> make sure the brakes don't come on by themselves if you
> turn the bars over hard - just a quick test once you've
> raised the bars to double-check. Don't raise them past the
> minimum insertion point.
>
> Find a quiet place as Helen suggested, even if it means
> walking the bike to it, or via the back of the car, and
> get on it, and just scoot along. Don't bother with the
> pedals initially, jujst scoot withyour feet, get the
> feel of the balance of the bike, practice keeping a
> straight line, correct with the steering if you feel
> that sideways veer.
>
> Tension in your body will exacerbate what you're finding
> with the bike at the moment, so you need to try and get
> back to a point where you are relaxed with what you're
> doing, and initially work within your levels of comfort.
> Being outside them constantly just leads (and you and I
> both know) to an unpleasant spiral, so regardless of
> what others might think you should be doing, do NOT
> allow them to put pressure on you do do more before YOU
> feel ready to.
>
> Once you're happy with balancing while scooting, build up
> a bit of speed, and then keep the feet up off the ground
> while you balance/turn. Once you're happy doing that, get
> the pedals into it - start off on the saddle - and once
> you can pedal and stop/start and steer without being
> scared, raise the saddle a little, and I mean a little,
> and potter about with it like that again.
>
> I bought a new bike 3 years ago. It was too big, and I was
> scared stiff. I'd never ridden on the roads before, only
> on pavements (I know, I know) as a kid. Last time I'd
> ridden a bike was probably about the same age as you, not
> counting one short ride at 25 on an upright shopper type.
>
> My bike was a racer, with drops. Too big a frame
> really (I'm short) but only just. Bars far too low.
> Saddle too high. Whole position unfamiliar, including
> brakes/gears etc.
>
> Scared stiff on it.
>
> I've pottered about the last three yeras, not cycling all
> that much, but plenty of tweaking of the bike going on. I
> still can't stand on the pedals, hills defeat me, and I
> can't signal cos I can't get my hands off the bars. Yet.
> But I cycled across central london yesterday. Had kittens
> before I did it, and changed my mind about it 782342394
> times. I'm still nervous about roads, and steep downhills
> (I fell off as a kid in that situation, twice). But I'm
> getting better. And I love the bike. And cycling. And I'm
> off out today to try my first club ride (for all of 10
> minutes I should think before I get left behind LOL).
>
> If I can get back on a bike (I'm a complete scaredycat)
> and get this far, I'm sure you can too. I'm still
> resisting any attempt to have my saddle higher. I can only
> just put one foot down on one side with it as it is, yet
> 'the formula' would maintain it shoudl be higher still for
> pedalling position to be right and to save my knees. I'm
> still ignoring that advice and doing it my way, cos it's
> the way I know won't scare me and set things back.
>
> Good luck with it all, let us know how you get on!
>
> Velvet
