I'm a teenager in high school, andI never learned to rider a bicycle. I just found out that, as part of my gym class, biking will be required to pass. I'm too embarrased to do anything drastic in public, and I feel that if I let my gym teacher in on my problem, he'll take the oppurtunity to embarrass me in front of the class (He's the type of person who would do that). Are there any ways I can learn to ride discreetly, to avoid embarrassment?
2007-09-12 15:16:55 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Cycling
Actually, if your gym teacher did that it would be harassment and you could get him fired ;) so tell him and if he does anything tell your principal
2007-09-12 15:21:33 · answer #1 · answered by ??? 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Is there somewhere private you can practice? Because the easiest thing might be to get an old used bike and put some training wheels on it. Training wheels go on slightly above the back wheel. If you lean to one side you are riding on two wheels and if you balance to the center, the training wheels are above the ground. Maybe go out riding every day really early in the morning for a week or two with the training wheels, then when you feel confident take them off. (Could you get a parent or older sibling to drive you and the bike someplace to practice where you wouldn't be recognized?)
After you take the training wheels off, don't stop. Keep going out riding every morning. (Wear elbow pads and knee pads because you might fall off the bike a couple of times.) One day it will just click. You'll hop onto the bike and forget it was ever a problem.
2007-09-12 15:51:17 · answer #2 · answered by Ruby 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good answers above, but I'll just add some thoughts. Go borrow a bike from a friend or neighbor. Start out by practicing in your backyard or a park, the softer the ground the better. That way if you fall, you will land on grass instead of pavement. Finally, your tendency will probably be to go very slow. But in fact, it is easier for you to maintain your balance by going faster. Obviously don't go speeding down a hill, but just pedal a bit faster. Also look ahead of you, not down at the wheel. Keep your eyes pointed in the direction you want to go.
ENJOY!!!!
2007-09-14 08:18:14 · answer #3 · answered by CM 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wish we got to go bike riding in my gym class when I went to public school! It's so much fun once you get the hang of it!
It shouldn't be embarrassing that you don't know how. I mean, it's just that no one ever taught you! But if it were me, and I didn't want to be embarrassed, I would put the seat pretty far down (that way if you start you fall it's easier to just put your feet down and stop yourself), and go to an empty parking lot somewhere, and just try and ride. All you have to do is sit on the seat, put your hands on the handle bars, and keep them straight as you start to pedal. Pedal just as you would on a stationary bike. Just try and go fast enough that you don't fall off.
I think your best bet is just going and trying to figure it out by yourself! I'm 16 so I know that, as a teenager, it'd probably be pretty hard to get the guts to ask someone to help you.
2007-09-12 16:52:19 · answer #4 · answered by jamie68117 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Find a nice quiet path or even better, car park. (Factory car parks on sundays are good). Take a peddle spanner. Take your peddles off and start free wheeling around the car park (This will help you with ballance) Once you have done this for a few days, put the peddles back on and try peddling.
Unfortunatley, this is a practice skill.
Luck
2007-09-13 00:26:28 · answer #5 · answered by Alice S 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
hey im sure im about to embarres my self but i couldnt even ride a bike with training wheels when i was 7. one day i took em off and just rolled down a hill and kept doin it till i learnt to pedal so a tip just go to a small hill in a non public place and role down it a few times and then graduly start to pedal there isnt much to riding a bike its just the pedaling that seems hard the bike ballences its self.
2007-09-12 16:50:38 · answer #6 · answered by bmx_bandit_1993 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Riding a bike is easy. It may seem difficult if you have never tried this before. You just have to try. Just rememer that you cant fall over if the bike is moving forward. Once you try this and get onto it a bit you will enjoy it. So just go have fun.
2007-09-12 15:23:41 · answer #7 · answered by Tim P 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
all of the above is correct. i add only one more thing. your gym teacher is a teacher. pull his card and make him teach you. if he embarasses you in front of the class, give him hell. "im sorry i never learned to ride a bike, my family owns a car, sir why dont you go ahead and earn your teaching sallary by teaching me how to ride"
beyond that i doubt that you are the only one in the class with this issue.
good luck
2007-09-13 04:44:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
practice on a small bike with a friend (or alone) it shouldn't take long to learn. But cycling in PE how cool is that? That's the 1st time I ever heard of it.
2007-09-13 00:02:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
riding a bike isnt hard. and i dont think its that embarrassing either. just walk your bike to a place where theres nobody around and practice. once u get peddlin, ul get the hang of it soon enough.. it balences itself once u get going.
2007-09-12 15:21:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋