Advice on learning to ride a bike

[Elta]

*Brief backround* : I am 19 and I've never learned to ride a bike. My dad bought me a bike with training wheels when I was (don't recall exactly somewhere in between 4 and 1st grade) I would go and mess around with it a little bit but I never liked the outside - when my older brother (step technically) asked to borrow it I let him and he changed every thing on it so i couldn't even try and I just forgot about it.

That same brother tryed to teach me when I was in 3rd grade (I think around there anyhow) I keept screwing up for about an hour before we both gave up.

I tryed agian in 6th grade solo in my backyard because I was to ashemed etc etc.

Anyways I am now 19 and I have a job that pays 900-1000 a month and insurance+gas = 250 a month. My job is only 4.75 mile a way and allthou I have lost 90 lbs I am still 70lbs a way from a healthy weight (100 from what I want to weight) So going to work and the gym twice a day on a bike could help me out alot (+200 a month twords things I need/want).

Tomorrow when I pick up my check I am going to buy a bike and I am going to try and learn to ride it with the help of my friends. (Don't worry i'll film it and put it on youtube for your entertainment )

Any advice?

 

[JonnyB]

Don't just use the front brakes when you need to stop quickly.

Don't get a really skinny bike seat, My bike came with one, I called it "The Rapist"

 

[CaptainF]

Pedal fast. Keep your arms steady. Don't swerve the handlebar when riding.

Its all intuitive.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

training wheels FTW. I am dead serious.

 

[Perfection]

On that youtube clip can you go topless with a painting of my avatar on your back?

Will you be getting training wheels?

 

[Elta]

Don't just use the front brakes when you need to stop quickly.

Don't get a really skinny bike seat, My bike came with one, I called it "The Rapist"

and there is alot of ass to go around here. Should I get a regular "speed" bike or a mountin bike?

 

[mangxema]

And whatever you do, don't accidentally get your shoe caught in the front spokes, or you just might do a flip and land on your back.

 

[Perfection]

and there is alot of ass to go around here. Should I get a regular "speed" bike or a mountin bike?

I like speed bikes, they're speedier.

Don't get mountain bikes unless you plan to go offroading a lot.

 

[CaptainF]

and there is alot of ass to go around here. Should I get a regular "speed" bike or a mountin bike?

A road bike.

You live in Vegas, a mountain bike would be terribly impractical.

 

[Elta]

On that youtube clip can you go topless with a painting of my avatar on your back?

Will you be getting training wheels?

Nah I would never live it up with my friends....or my younger sisters for that matter. I am conciding the helmet thou, when my older brother tryed to teach me I allmost cracked my dome piece a few times.

I can't go topless trust me NO ONE wants to see that

 

[Elta]

A road bike.

You live in Vegas, a mountain bike would be terribly impractical.

There is some desert I could go through on th way to work *strokes chin*, road it is. (well as far as my 100 bucks gets me anyway)

 

[JonnyB]

and there is alot of ass to go around here. Should I get a regular "speed" bike or a mountin bike?

This is very similar to mine, I find it's good at everything I need it for.

 

[cegman]

Elta if you are going to buy a bike you have to decide if you will only do road biking or if you will go on any nature trails. IF you go on nature trails you want one of the mountain bikes or something inbetween mountain and road I can't remeber if there is one.

About learning well don't start by climb a hill try to do it on a level area. Try it with really loose training wheels by loose I mean that you have room to wiggle just on the main wheel because you know you are good when you don't use the training wheels at all on a straightaway.

 

[GenMarshall]

*Brief backround* : I am 19 and I've never learned to ride a bike.

You're not alone, I never learned to ride a bike . Even to this day at the age of 23, I am still ashamed to learn.

 

[Elta]

Elta if you are going to buy a bike you have to decide if you will only do road biking or if you will go on any nature trails. IF you go on nature trails you want one of the mountain bikes or something inbetween mountain and road I can't remeber if there is one.

About learning well don't start by climb a hill try to do it on a level area. Try it with really loose training wheels by loose I mean that you have room to wiggle just on the main wheel because you know you are good when you don't use the training wheels at all on a straightaway.

Vegas is very flat so I guess I will be getting a road bike (okay northtown is there are some rivers where the rivers used to be but, I doubt I'll be riding that far)

I suppose I could borrow some training whells from my little sister, hopefully they fit.

 

[Elta]

You're not alone, I never learned to ride a bike . Even to this day at the age of 23, I am still ashamed to learn.

Film it! It will be fun I am hoping to bring at least 3 or 4 friends and to do it in my old high school parking lot .You can't be ashamed when your friends are there supporting you

 

[GenMarshall]

I am just afraid of being laughed at as well as banged up and brused from falling all the time

 

[Elta]

I am just afraid of being laughed at as well as banged up and brused from falling all the time

It can't be that bad! .....wait maybe it will be ohwell you can pass judgement after it's over The chance at being in shape and saving 250 bucks a month is too much to pass up. + if your m8s can' laugh at you who can?

 

[sanabas]

Get a mountain bike without suspension, they tend to be sturdier for a similar amount of money at the lower end of the market. They're also easier to learn to ride on, and they have a smaller chainring at the front, which is helpful if you aren't particularly fit. If you're only planning to commute on it, ask the bike shop if they'll put a smoother set of tires on it, rather than the chunky treads they come with.

 

[Turner]

Any advice?

Buy a helmet, you'll need it. And don't be afraid to get back on when you fall.

I miss bike riding. It was my main mode of transport when I lived in CA. Had a lot of fun with it.

This also just occured to me. Try going to a park where they have balance beams. Walk that a while, and that'll help you get your balance for the bike. Kinda different muscles, but it's the same concept, keeping yourself upright on a narrow platform.