2006-06-09 03:00:57 · 31 answers · asked by saurasmile 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Get a bike that fits you. Work on it twice a day. Go out in the alleys and just practice going up and down. Get another adult to help you. Play balancing games (that helped me a lot).
It's fun! =D
2006-06-09 03:03:21 · answer #1 · answered by malfunctiones 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know - people are SO cruel to laugh. Of course it's scary if you never rode one before!
Have the seat low so you can easily touch the ground, have someone steady the bike for you. The sooner you are moving the quicker you will learn to balance. You can't balance a bike when it's stationary!
So START by learning how the brakes work (just holding the bike by the handlebars and pushing it or walking with it - pull the brakes - feel them controlling the speed.
Now get astride it. If you have someone to hold you, fine, otherwise up against a wall or fence. Practice taking your feet off the ground and finding the pedals. Do this until your feet know where to go without you looking.
Still up against the wall, practice moving the pedals backwards with your feet so that one of them (usually the right hand one) is slightly forward of top (10 oclock or 2 oclock depending on which side you look from).
Be ready to use the brakes and just put a little weight on that pedal, so you slide gently along the wall. Getting the idea?
The next step you can do in various ways, depending on where you have to practice. You are going to ride a very short distance and stop - either by catching on to a convenient railing, fence or wall or by using the brakes and putting your feet on the ground.
Balancing is NOT a matter of leaning from side to side to try to keep upright, as a lot of people think, it's actually VERY small movements of the handlebars side to side. Don't ask me why - that's just how it works (I think its something to do with keeping our centre of gravity over the line between the two wheels). Also, it's a lot easier to balance when you are moving, hence learning to use the brakes FIRST!
2006-06-09 10:22:06 · answer #2 · answered by Owlwings 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I began riding a bike when I was 29. My first time was on a woman's model someone had lent me. I went down a busy one way street against the traffic at night and the lights didn't work. I was surprised that all I needed to do was to pedal and all went well. I tried other times after that, with success. It was only when I was 33 that I bought my first bicycle and I just rode it. As a kid I had one, with the two side wheels, but only once did I manage to ride it unsupported, so I was surprised at the end how easy it all was. Take heart!
2006-06-09 10:16:48 · answer #3 · answered by Richard III 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you were protective gear (helmet, elbow pads, etc), a long sleeve shirt (preferable denim or even a leather jacket), and jeans. Now you won't do anything more than bruise yourself a little when you fall over. It'll hurt less than stubbing your toe. Now get a trusted friend who knows how to ride a bike to help you in whatever way makes you feel most comfortable. It's really not that hard and I bet once you put your mind to it, you'll be riding without a problem within an hour.
2006-06-09 10:05:18 · answer #4 · answered by foreyes4 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would learn the same way as you would have when you were a kid. Have someone hold the bike while your are on it. Then slowly pedal while they are still holding. Once you get up to a little speed have that person let go and you'll be biking in no time. About the terrified part, if kids are doing then I think you can handle it.
2006-06-09 10:04:18 · answer #5 · answered by sprinter9109 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't be scared. Wear a helmet and any other safety gear you would like (like knee pads and elbow pads). Practice in a park or someplace where there aren't a lot of people around to stare at you, but make sure you are safe. Have someone who knows how to ride a bike help you. You could even start with training wheels, if you want. It's fun and good exercise, and once you get it, you won't lose it! Good luck!
2006-06-09 10:03:49 · answer #6 · answered by cucumberlarry1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cycling is a brillant pastime.But i suppose its like a lot of things we learn when we are younger. swimming for example.My advice would be to get someone to hold you on .If someone holds the saddle of the bike while you peddle and steer (they could even hold the handlebars until you feel more confident).Before you now where you are you will be riding that bike on your own and you will never look back.
But my advice to you is to really go for it and not to be worried that you should have been able to do it sooner in life.I hope you give it a good go and the very best of luck.
2006-06-09 10:13:27 · answer #7 · answered by thebrackenfanclub 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy yourself a helmet and padded gear for elbows, and i suggest getting against a wall and holding the wall as you ride, once confindent let go and try and balance. You may fall a few times but its the best way, other way is how i was learnt, where i got on, my friends hold the bike and then let go of me on the steepest hill possible, there i had no choice but to pedal.
2006-06-09 10:04:37 · answer #8 · answered by lonely as a cloud 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a blast and once you learn you'll never forget it, watch the friends episode where phoebe learns to ride a bike, ha. it should be easier for you as an adult than as a child because you have more poise and balance and are taller. if you have a good teacher (friend etc) it should be fun!
2006-06-09 10:03:53 · answer #9 · answered by smil87 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first, define exactly what it is that you are terrified of. If you try it in an abandoned parking lot you won't get hit by a car. If you fall over you may skin your knee. where knee & elbow pads and gloves. Go alone if you are terrified of being embaressed.
2006-06-09 10:04:15 · answer #10 · answered by absynthian 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋