I'm 41 and damn it, I'm gonna learn how to ride a bike!

[Weaver]

Ok....for anyone who I have made fun of on this forum in the past 10 years, here is your chance to get me back. Flame away!!!

I'm 41 and I never learned how to ride a bicycle. It wasn't because I didn't have the opportunity. I grew up in a gated golf course community, on a cul de sac, a 2 acre yard, and had 2 different bikes. I had everything you could want to learn how, its all my fault for being stubborn. I hated not being able to do it on the first four tries, so I acted like a spoiled brat and gave up. My poor father. I had go karts and golf carts, so I just blew off learning. I really was a POS as a kid.

Now I regret it. It was embarrassing growing up not knowing how. But that still wasn't motivation enough. Its still hard to talk about it, I don't ever tell anyone. I'll be surprised if I post this.

My 7 year old is a great bike rider, so is his mother. Its time for me to learn. It looks like fun and it is something I would like to do with my son.

In-between the taunts and the mockery, if anyone has learned as an adult or has taught an adult, and has some tips, that would be great!

I almost feel better already!

[widebody911]

By "bike" do you mean bicycle or motorcyle?

[Weaver]

Oh, yea....Bicycle...sorry

[Andy911sc]

Some words of encouragement

[intakexhaust]

Very commendable. Before acquiring or jumping on a nice or new bike, see if you can acquire a junker 26 inch standard, no suspension mountain bike. Being adult, your not learning the child's way with training wheels, etc. A donor, clunker beach type type bike is good too (with hand brakes, not a coaster) all you need and have the crank and chain removed. Make sure it has good brakes. Lower the seat and get comfy. (A local bike shop might be helpful in this.)

Start to push it with your feet touching the ground. Try it out in a flat parking lot. You need to move just fast enough to get a gyro action in the wheels and help you balance. Once you feel a balance and coasting, lift your feet to the outsides. When sufficient, reinstall the cranks and chain. Enjoy.

[kanadary]

if you need to take off the pedals, but i suspect your stance won't be a problem with the pedals on there. as others have said, just push and go, try to balance and in no time you'll be riding. both my daughters learned that way and i just completed a century this year with my 13yr old. her first and my i don't remember anymore. remember your helmet though.

[tweezers74]

I love your post. So inspiring and I respect people like you. To not be scared of the stares and giggles. It is your goal and you are gonna do it. No fear. Letting go of everything except your desire to learn to ride a bike. I love it!

And do what everybody says. Scoot along with just your legs and feet. Do it on the grass in a big field if you are scared to fall on the concrete. Then slowly start trying the pedals. I have all the faith in the world you are going to love it! Especially riding your bike with your son. I hope you let your son watch you try it. There is a lesson here for him.

So much respect for you.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Congrats and best of luck!

No falls, no balls!

[ckissick]

I worked as a bike tour guide in France one summer. On the first day of a new tour, there was a middle aged guy off to the side, struggling to get on the bike and get it rolling. Turned out, he'd never ridden a bike, but signed up for a 10-day tour of France anyway. He had it down within 15 minutes and was enjoying his 35-mile rides within a few days.

It's never too late. You will be riding in minutes. I predict threads in the future from you, asking for advice on the best chain ring combo to use on the Death Ride.

[ckelly78z]

I'm 48 and have been riding for 44 years now (didn't know if I could continue riding after my car accident last year with 17 broken bones /shattered pelvis) I jumped on a bike for the first time this year at about 7 months after my accident and rode just fine.

I think being an adult will help immensely with learning over being a small child, since you already have a developed sense of balance, and common sense to avoid potential accidents.

Good luck, wear a helmet/pads, and let us know how it goes, although a video of the event posted here would be grand fun (for us).

[scottmandue]

Get a $10,000 CF fixie!

But seriously.... really serious... get a helmet (they make cool looking ones now) some MX gloves... maybe even MX elbow/shin/knee pads...

I have been riding for 40+ years and won't go out without a helmet and gloves.

I it is not a matter of if... but when you go down, and with the right safety gear you will be able to laugh it off.

Enjoy!

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by tweezers74

I love your post. So inspiring and I respect people like you. To not be scared of the stares and giggles. It is your goal and you are gonna do it. No fear. Letting go of everything except your desire to learn to ride a bike. I love it!

And do what everybody says. Scoot along with just your legs and feet. Do it on the grass in a big field if you are scared to fall on the concrete. Then slowly start trying the pedals. I have all the faith in the world you are going to love it! Especially riding your bike with your son. I hope you let your son watch you try it. There is a lesson here for him.

So much respect for you.

couldn't have said it better myself but make sure you buy a helmet as you won't bounce as well as you use to when you fall off

soft grass is good, find a field with slight incline so you can learn to balance as your roll gently downhill

most importantly enjoy it, your son will I'm sure as he will be more excited about you learning to ride than you will be

your post makes me want to do something new I should have tried when I was younger, do you have any gorgeous younger twin sisters by any chance

[RANDY P]

Need billet steel training wheels with Civic suspension springs for a grown man

[Moses]

Grass is too bumpy!

I taught myself how to ride a bike. Super easy. Find a very gentle paved slope than flattens out at the bottom. Lift your feet. You will roll down hill slowly. If you wobble, just put your feet down. As you get more comfortable, start your glide a little higher up the slope. You'll gain speed and coast a bit longer. FORGET about pedaling. In 15 minutes you will have the balance thing mastered and pedaling will come naturally.

Congratulations! And have someone shoot video. After you've mastered bicycling you will love watching your first efforts.

[SteamWolf]

Never be too proud to learn. No matter how silly you feel doing it.
I'm 41 and just learned to snow board.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by Moses

Grass is too bumpy!

not on a golfing green it isn't

oh and another bit of advice stay away from the sand traps, you'll dig in and go over the handle bars

[bell]

Just get on and pedal........its not rocket science......
And just like snowboarding, its easier to go faster.......
Being the same age as me you have balance, so it should be a non issue.......

[jyl]

Cool thread.

Like others said: start with your saddle adjusted so low that you can easily place both feet flat on the ground, find some flat ground and paddle along, then start coasting, then pedaling. Plan on falling, wear a helmet and long pants.

After you are riding around a school playground etc pretty well, raise the saddle - you'll hurt your knees if you ride a lot with the saddle that low.

[LeeH]

My daughter was late to bike riding. Took off the pedals and had her push it around with her feet. 30 minutes later she was up and running.

If you do decide to take off the pedals, remember one side is reverse threaded. I remember "back off." Spin the wrench toward the back of the bike to take off either pedal.

[shoemakj]

Eyes up! Don't look at your front wheel; look where you want to go. Same as on the track.