Operation: Bike

[Laurelin]

So I want to start biking. My end goal would be to bike with Hank a few times a week once he's older.

BUT.... I have not been on a bike since middle school. I'm almost 30.

I got my bike all aired up and ready to go. But how does one go about getting back on the bike? I'm terrified I'm going to crash.

 

[release the hounds]

Get on it and go. Don't crash

Go without a dog and go where there isnt a lot of traffic so you dont feel nervous,and just start peddling. You dont forget

 

[milos_mommy]

Yeah I've many times gone years and years without being on a bike and get right back on. It's really not too hard for most adults to balance a bicycle anyway, even if they're never ridden before, although it is harder if they never learned.

You might feel a little bit shaky for a moment at first, but once you start going you'll feel perfectly comfortable.

 

[HayleyMarie]

Pretty much that. ^^^^

You can do it. !!! It comes back really fast. I have not bikes in forever then Tyler bought me a mountain bike and now I can down hill mountain bike... Not gracefully I might add, but still. I can do it so can you.

 

[Beanie]

This is where the phrase "just like riding a bike" came from LOL. It's seriously pretty easy to get back into it!

Get a helmet though. Seriously... invest in a good helmet. Especially if you ever go anywhere there are cars. Cannot stress that enough.

 

[JazzyTheSibe]

Get a helmet though. Seriously... invest in a good helmet. Especially if you ever go anywhere there are cars. Cannot stress that enough.

This. Definitely this.


It may seem scary at first, but once you get it down, you'll be glad you did it. It really isn't hard as you think, I'm sure you'll catch on quickly!

 

[Snark]

This is where the phrase "just like riding a bike" came from LOL. It's seriously pretty easy to get back into it!

Get a helmet though. Seriously... invest in a good helmet. Especially if you ever go anywhere there are cars. Cannot stress that enough.

Even if you go where there aren't cars, get the helmet. You're too old/too young to drool in your shoes. Biking gloves would be good, too, so if for some reason you fall, you won't scrape or wind up picking out gravel out of your palms.

 

[amberdyan]

I got back into biking last year after not biking since childhood and it was easy to start back up except OMG BUTT MUSCLES, lol. It took ages to get the muscles so my butt wasn't super sore after each ride.

 

[Ozfozz]

I went through this over the summer at the cottage, I totally get where you're coming from. I was terrified to get back on!

But just like Beanie said that phrase, it exists for a reason

Get a helmet, and good luck!

 

[Raegan]

Helmet, gloves.

Find a nice parking lot to practice in first, rather than roads or sidewalks. The ground will be a little more even and less obstacles. The faster you go, the easier it is to balance.

 

[Kat09Tails]

Get on and start peddling. Enjoy that thigh burn. Also get Mia and Summer a basket so they can come along.

 

[release the hounds]

I just don't get the fascination with bike helmets in the past 20 years. Unless you're bombing down mountain sides or regularly doing 40 on a road bike, are they really necessary? I mean if it's for "safety", why aren't people wearing them in the shower or when they walk down steps at home?

 

[AllieMackie]

A helmet and half-decent bike gloves (both of which should run you no more than $60 total) are good investments. Also give your bike a tune-up, or take it in for one if you haven't. Air in the tires is good but I bet everything will need a good lubrication and inspection!

Other than that, seconding the others - find some quiet streets, don't take the dogs for the first while. You won't forget how to ride, but it will be tiring at first and getting back into good riding habits is important. I started cycling again two years ago after a long long break from it, and it did take a bit of getting used to - at first I was a bit nervous and wobbly - but I fell into the habit quickly, in about 3-4 good cycling sessions.

Start running errands on your bike too! Get some saddlebags, it's a great excuse to get exercise.

Have fun! Biking season is non-existent here until at least April, so I'm a bit jealous.

 

[Laurelin]

Get on and start peddling. Enjoy that thigh burn. Also get Mia and Summer a basket so they can come along.

Haha that's a brilliant idea!

I think I am going to try it Friday! Wish me luck! I do have a helmet but i feel like maybe I should strap pillows all over me too.

 

[AllieMackie]

I just don't get the fascination with bike helmets in the past 20 years. Unless you're bombing down mountain sides or regularly doing 40 on a road bike, are they really necessary? I mean if it's for "safety", why aren't people wearing them in the shower or when they walk down steps at home?

What?

I regularly bike on roads where I am less then 3 feet from automobiles. Ottawa is a bike-heavy city and despite having a great interconnected bike path system, motorists share the road with cyclists in a lot of areas.

Not exactly biking alongside cars going 60-70 when I'm in the shower or going down stairs... kind of a silly comparison.

Even on the quiet bike paths I've hit squirrels, had birds or insects fly in front of my face and freak me out... etc. My SO had a bee sting him on the face while driving next to busy cars. Over the handlebars, wrecked his shoulder and would have wrecked his head had he not worn a helmet.

Lots of ghost bikes around our city remind me to not mess with my odds by not wearing a helmet.

 

[release the hounds]

You think a helmet is going to help you against a car going 60?

 

[AllieMackie]

You think a helmet is going to help you against a car going 60?

It might, it might not. I like stacking my odds. They have saved a great number of people in bike-vehicle collisions in this city and seriously, not hard to strap on a helmet.

 

[release the hounds]

if you like stacking odds, I wouldn't ride next to cars going 60, will probably go a lot further than a piece of styrofoam.

 

[AllieMackie]

if you like stacking odds, I wouldn't ride next to cars going 60, will probably go a lot further than a piece of styrofoam.

I just realized, you probably think I'm talking about 60 miles... :rofl1:

 

[Laurelin]

Well at this point I am hoping to bike on bike paths with no cars, only walkers, joggers, other bikers, etc. Definitely going to wear a helmet and I think gloves sound like a good idea.