I have a very embarrassing admission to make. I am, at the age of 26, unable to ride a bike. I have vague memories of being hoisted on one when I was about seven and managing to wobble around on training wheels, but unfortunately I don’t think adult sized bikes come with optional training wheels, so I’m out of luck. Learning to ride a bike is, however, at the top of my list of things to do this year and seeing that next week is Bike Wise Week I might have to do something about this. Quite a few of my workmates ride to work on a regular basis and we’ve entered a team for the Bike Wise Business Battle I will have to step up to the mark. Watch this space!
Submitted by Sarah on 21 February 2008 14:46:13
Comments
Good luck with your cycling Sarah. We are in our 50s and ride every day. Bicycles can be more than just excercise. Put pannier bags on the back and they can prevent a trip into the city in the car. Here at Bushy Point www.fernbirds.co.nz we also are using a BOB trailer on the back of a bike to get our weekly groceries and drop off our recycling. It is a lot more fun than using a car too.
Submitted by bushy point on 26 February 2008 11:48:58
Thank you!
I have to admit that my bike riding is not off to a great start, I've been distracted by a trip up to Auckland for the In Tune With Nature concert and Air New Zealand's Eco Day. I got to have a go on a Segway on Monday and managed to master that, but I have a lot of work to go before I do not fall off a bicycle.
Today is Go By Bike Day, so if you're going to work by bike make sure you check out what's happening in your town centre.
Submitted by Sarah on 27 February 2008 10:12:54
There's a painless way to learn to ride a bicycle, which works for all ages. Get a 15mm spanner and remove both pedals. (The left pedal has a left hand thread so it unscrews the opposite way.) Then lower the bike seat until you can easily reach the ground flat-footed on both sides at once.
Find a gentle slope with plenty of run-off space at the bottom. Starting a little way up the slope, sit on the bike with your feet just off the ground and coast to the bottom, holding yourself up with your feet as required. With the pedals off the bike you can easily catch any overbalancing without falling off.
Repeat this as many times as you need, starting further up the slope as you get more confident. After a short time your balance will come naturally.
As soon as you're sure that you won't fall off, replace the pedals and raise the seat in stages to a comfortable height. The final height should be so that your legs aren't quite straight with the pedal at the bottom, so you can still reach the ground with your toes.
Happy cycling ... free and convenient travel awaits you!
Submitted by Neville on 29 February 2008 17:59:23
What a great way to learn to ride, Neville. This is kind of the way I learned back in the day - but it would have been much better if I had taken the peddles off first! Ouch on the ankles otherwise!
Another idea is to make the learn-to-ride thing a social event. I think we would all be quite surprised if we asked around our networks to find out how many people have never learned to ride a bike.
As an adult, people can feel quite self-conscious about learning a new skill so why not get together with a few friends and all learn together? This means you only need to have one pedal-less bike and can take turns while giving each other moral support and having a bit of fun.
Go the new bikers posse!
Submitted by Lindis on 3 March 2008 12:31:17
That's a really great idea, Neville - thanks! I'll see if I can borrow a bike off a friend and give this a go - will keep you posted :)
Unfortunately my bike riding has been set back a little bit by hurting my back on the weekend, but I'm still determined to master it soon.
Submitted by Sarah on 3 March 2008 16:30:51
How's the biking going, Sarah?
About a year ago I learned to ride a motorbike - I can empathise with trying to learn a new skill like this as an adult. People who have been doing it for years seem to take it for granted. They say things like "you just get on it and go!" which is all very well but HOW do you go?!
A friend of mine is learning to ride a motorbike at the age of 40-something, and my sister learned to surf when she was 38. All very cool skills but so much harder to learn the older you get!
Submitted by Lindis on 2 April 2008 14:46:33
Eeek, you've caught me out, Lindis. I have to admit that with the sudden cold snap I've not been trying at all :S I might have to borrow my workmate's bike and have a go down in the basement, but the concrete is awfully cold and hard!
Will update soon!
Submitted by Sarah on 9 April 2008 11:19:54
Some things are better late than never, right?
The hardest part was definitely doing the actual pedalling. I'm used to riding a horse, where you have stirrups to put your feet it - my feet kept sliding off the pedals!
I wish I could say I had mastered bike riding in one simple 20 minute lesson, but I would be lying. My balance had improved considerably before it started hailing and we decided to call it a day. I can balance on the bike with both feet off the ground, which I'm told is one of the hardest things, so I will just have to practice! Now I just have to find someone as patient as Kat in Wellington :)
To the right - pretending I know what I'm doing!
Submitted by Sarah on 21 April 2008 10:34:00
Good on you Sarah! Riding on grass is also much harder than riding on a solid, smooth surface so I think you're well on your way to mastering the art!
Do keep us updated on your progress. :)
Submitted by Lindis on 22 April 2008 12:08:07