Can anyone here not ride a bike?

PiKe

PiKe

PiKe

Caporegime
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
25,287
Location
Lake District
My girlfriend has got no confidence and hates riding bikes, to me being able to ride a bike is a pretty basic skill. It's something you learn at school.

Does anyone else have confidence issues or fear of coming off which prevents them enjoying riding?
 
No fear, but I can kinda ride it but I have never actually 'learnt' it because some stupid people stole my bike :D
 
No, can't say I have any fear of coming off it. Riding a bike is a basic skill, but perhaps she had a bad experience when riding a bike as a kid?
 
One of my classmates in school didn't learn how to swim until he was about 15, I eventually found out the reason was because his mother was terrified of water and as a result kept him and his sister away from the sea/pools for most of their childhood.
 
I learnt to ride a bike pretty late (I guess about 10) because I lived in the sticks on a really treacherous lane that was used as a rat run so my mum kind of kept it off the agenda. Then BMX hit the UK, so I got one and went off a kicker my first day with it, I couldn't ride but I could jump. Then I went to A&E.
 
A tip. When learning to ride a bike, find a downhill slope and let the bike run down the hill. Don't need to put the feet on the pedals. Relax the legs and let the feet hover over ground. So nothing to worry if losing balance - just stand on feet. Brake if too fast.

Try this a few times then your gf will find how easy it is to keep the balance. Then next step is using pedals then that's it!

BTW make sure the colour of your bike seat is not too.....

4285899428_934573b0ff.jpg
 
Last edited:
ltnmzh said:
A tip. When learning to ride a bike, find a downhill slope and let the bike run down the hill. Don't need to put the feet on the pedals. Relax the legs and let the feet hover over ground. Brake if too fast.

Try this a few times then your gf will find how easy it is to keep the balance. Then next step is using pedals then that's it!
Click to expand...
I've done all this with her.

She was so happy when she managed to pedal, now it's gone down the line of fear again, I think falling into nettles didn't help.
 
ltnmzh said:
A tip. When learning to ride a bike, find a downhill slope and let the bike run down the hill. Don't need to put the feet on the pedals. Relax the legs and let the feet hover over ground. Brake if too fast.

Try this a few times then your gf will find how easy it is to keep the balance. Then next step is using pedals then that's it!
Click to expand...

This, learning the first steps, is all about finding the balance, the rest will fall nicely in to place.
 
I have never learned how to ride a bike as it was not the kind of thing we had as kids or could have due to where we lived. I am a runner though so just rather ambivalent to them.
 
I haven't been on a bike in over a decade at least. As soon as I have a place with space to keep a bike I'll be getting one though.
 
I cannot understand anybody that can't ride a bike or cannot swim, Did they not have a childhood ? :confused:
 
I can ride a bike and when I was at school I did a one of those cycling proficiency courses, but I have never really enjoyed or felt confident when riding my bike. I have not owned a bike since out growing my old one about eight years ago and I have little intention of buying a new one. That is unless I really need one for transport in the future.
 
I learnt at a early stage, around 4/5 years old if I remember correctly. And what ltnmzh has said is a great way to start, pretty much how I started, our back garden had a slope on it which was perfect.

However, I do remember one time during my learning period that at one side of the garden (opposite the slop), there is a drop off into a bit of land which was also ours.
To cut the story short, went down the slope a bit to fast, couldn't stop so over the edge I go, over handle bars head first lol. That didn't stop me though :)

Everyone in my family (7 of us) have no problem cycling. Apart form mum and my older bro we all cycle on a regular enough basis
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom