Many people gave up cycling as adults and now they just forget how to do it. Some have never ridden for various reasons: there is no money for a bike, then there is no place for it. If a person wants to skate, but finds various reasons, for example, “I have poor coordination,” “I never did it,” “I can't keep my balance,” then the problem is not in physical capabilities, but in psychological preparation.
Psychological issues aside and consider the basic question: how to learn to ride a bike.
Equipment
First of all, you need to prepare the accessories and the bike for riding.
What can be useful for riding:
- Special comfortable but closed shoes.
- Sportswear that wicks away sweat (you will be very tired from habit).
- Warm clothes if it is less than 25 degrees Celsius outside.
- Protection: knee pads, elbow pads, bicycle helmet.
Protection and shoes are a must for beginners, as falls can occur even on the most talented riders.
- Adjusting the brakes and switches is too difficult to learn from "loose" mechanics.
- Set the saddle slightly below the standard for easy getting off.
- Adjust the handlebar height if possible.
- Remove unnecessary accessories from the bike as much as possible (bike computer, bell, etc.).
Fine. Both the learner and the bike are now ready for lessons.
- It is necessary to psychologically prepare for falls and failures. The key to cycling is practice and perseverance.
- The balance is easier to maintain at speed, so you should not drive too slowly.
- The steering wheel should be held without tension, but it should not be released either.
- Do not bend your feet and knees, this leads to quick fatigue.
- All movements should be smooth and smooth.
- Abrupt braking is prohibited.
Learn on your own
In fact, no teachers are needed to teach cycling, you can quickly learn on your own. Sometimes, especially for adults, it is better to carefully and calmly learn to ride without witnesses than to listen to not the most flattering comments from your friend, boyfriend or coach. After all, for most people it is "sat down and went."
2. Sit on the bike and try to balance with the brake applied. It won't work, but it will allow you to feel some balance on the bike, which is what you want.
3. We begin to move without pedaling - we make a scooter out of a bicycle, pushing off with our feet. It is advisable to learn to ride in balance, without resting your feet on the ground. A slight slope or fairly flat asphalt will help with this. It is important to brake first, and then stand with your feet on the ground, otherwise you can get injured.
4. Learn to pedal. First with one foot. We set the speeds, if any, to 2-4 (middle of the range), sit down on the bike. We expose the pedal at 45 degrees up and forward and press with one foot to the bottom position. We roll similarly to the previous point, we stop. We repeat to automatism with each leg.
5. Synchronize the legs - repeat the previous exercise, but continuously. It won't work right away, it will take a lot of practice. Don't forget about balance!
6. We consolidate the driving skill, starting the turns, at first smooth to the left and right, it is important to feel the tilt when turning. This is the norm when riding.
7. The final exercise is a reversal. After it works out, we begin full-fledged skiing: we drive 100-200 meters, turn around, accelerate and slow down.
So, you know how to ride! The next task is the correct gear shifting, but this is a topic for a separate lesson.
Teach the child
Children are usually taught to ride from an early age. Even up to one year old, children can use toys with wheels, and at 1.5-2 - ride a tricycle. At 4 years old, you can start practicing on a two-wheeled bike. You can use additional wheels at first, but it is better to choose for training and brakes. By the age of 10-12, you can switch to a full-fledged teenage bike.
Teaching a child requires constant attention and great responsibility:
- It is required to monitor not only the riding technique, but also the posture and breathing of the child.
- You can't work out after eating - it's doubly hard.
- Limit loads. Up to 13 years old - no more than 10-15 km, a teenager under 15 years old - no more than 20.
Teach an adult
It is difficult to teach an adult, he easily maintains his balance, but in unforeseen situations he is usually very squeezed, and falls are not only physically dangerous, but also undermine the learning process, since adults are psychologically vulnerable.
You should never hold the bike or give advice frequently. The main part of the learning process is a physical sense of balance and capabilities. The "coach" is only needed to explain the basics and, possibly, provide the most correct feedback on the results of the exercises. However, the most comfortable for adults is self-study.
Conclusion
In fact, learning to ride a bike is very easy at any age. The main thing in this business is to get ready for a fairly long practice, because the "sat down and went" scheme is only in the minds of those who already know how. The child should be looked after and bought bicycles (or balance bikes) by height and age, and for adults the main thing is to understand the general recommendations and have time to practice.
Is cycling good for you? Undoubtedly. And if you still do not know how to drive this two-wheeled vehicle, we advise you to read the information below.
Choosing a place for training
Concrete may be the most suitable surface for rolling, but keep in mind that it is very painful to fall on it. Therefore, if you are just learning how to ride a bike, choose a mowed lawn or gravel path. But these surfaces also have their drawbacks: they are not easy to balance on, and the tires, in turn, experience more resistance. It is desirable that in the selected area there are both gentle slopes (for a convenient push off) and flat areas. Choose a location where there is no traffic and no sharp turns.
Safety comes first
Before starting to learn how to ride a bike, consider the specifics of the rules for safe movement on this vehicle. First, adjust the seat so that your heels can touch the ground unhindered while seated. Check the brakes and the tire pressure. Roll up your right leg if you are wearing long jeans or trousers. When learning how to ride a bike, do not wear open-toed shoes for training, otherwise it will not be very convenient for you to apply the brakes. Also, keep in mind that driving on the sidewalk in the city is both inappropriate and unsafe. Remember to wear a helmet before starting your workout.
Learning to slow down
As you learn how to ride a bike correctly, do not forget about the importance of a timely and correct stop. When riding long distances, slow down from time to time as if you really needed to, and then keep driving. Review your vehicle. If the brakes are mounted on the steering wheel, determine which one drives the front wheel and which one drives the rear. This system may vary on bicycles made in different countries. To check, raise the front of the vehicle and rotate the tire by hand. See where the right and left brakes are. Newbies generally use the front wheel brake as it makes it easier to stop. However, if used incorrectly, an emergency situation can be created.
What if the handbrake is not installed on the bike? In this case, look for a brake on the rear wheel. To stop, rotate the pedals so that your feet can feel them more or less, and then press on them with maximum effort. Then the vehicle will either slow down or stop. You just have to adjust the force of pressing the pedals, depending on the situation.
What is the correct way to ride a fixed gear bike? Reduce the pedaling speed for gradual braking. For an abrupt stop, it is better to skid. In more detail, this process can be described as follows: you lean forward to transfer some of your own weight to the brake wheel, then straighten and lock the pedals in a horizontal position. The obvious fact is that riding a fixed gear bike is a complicated process. Therefore, such a vehicle should not be chosen by beginners.
Trying to balance
How to ride a bike confidently? For this, it is important to maintain balance. During your workout, try to push off the plane with your feet to get a feel for how the bike is steering and leaning. Practice until you are confident you can control the vehicle. Try to push off with your feet and not put them on the pedals, using only your hands. You will be able to notice how the body bends slightly to maintain balance. Spend most of your workout doing these exercises. This way you will learn two basic riding skills - steering and balancing.
How to teach to ride a bike? To do this, support the vehicle from the back to make the rider feel more confident.
We are looking for small slides
Roll your bike up a hill that ends in a flat area. Sit on the "two-wheeled horse" and take a firm position with your feet on the ground. Then start moving slowly. As you gain experience, increase your speed.
Do not stop
Go down the hill to a level surface and continue driving. Then try to gradually enter the turn and turn.
We train on a flat surface
How to learn to ride a bike correctly? In this process, it is important to be able to start not only from a hill, but also from a flat surface. Make sure your right foot is level with the free left pedal. Then start moving. Train until you can confidently start and brake on a level surface.
What to do during the cold season?
How to ride a bike in winter when the grip is not very good? For this, it is important to properly prepare the vehicle. Let's consider this process in as much detail as possible.
Frame
If the part is steel, inspect it for chips or scratches. Otherwise, the frame will corrode and the unpainted metal will quickly become rusty. Deal with all scratches and chips, degrease the surface, and then prime and paint it. A simple cleaning of problem areas and their subsequent coating with colorless nail polish will help to protect the frame for a short time.
Aluminum and carbon parts become more fragile when exposed to low temperatures, so it is recommended to place your bike on a staircase or balcony before going outside. Do the same when you return home so that the bike does not suddenly fall into the heat.
Wheels
Air at subzero temperatures tends to compress. For this reason, check the pressure level in the tires and inflate them as necessary to standard values, bearing in mind that in a warm room the air will expand again. It is recommended to install special studded rubber for the winter.
Mechanisms
All bearings and other mechanisms are treated with special grease. In the cold season, it gradually thickens and can freeze, so in winter it is recommended to use more liquid or non-freezing compounds. In cold weather, the quality of the switches operation is significantly reduced, so you should not save on high-quality lubricants, because the safety of others and yourself is at stake.
Brake system
How to ride a bike in the cold season if it is equipped with conventional rim brakes? Stopping in this case will be significantly more difficult, since the rim is in continuous contact with the snow. As a result, this part freezes, the adhesion to the pads is lost.
Disc brakes provide much more efficient stopping. If there is a hydraulic system, periodically check the condition of the brake fluid and promptly replace it with winter fluid.
Forks
The widest range of these parts is presented on the modern market. Service your plug according to the instructions supplied. Please note that if the above part is of the elastomeric-spring type, then in winter its properties will deteriorate significantly. If you have an oil fork, then before the cold weather, do not forget to change the oil, and if it is airy, then periodically pump it up.
Cold season precautions
- Don't wash your two-wheeled horse. Water entering the mechanisms and cable jackets freezes. This could result in vehicle breakdown or fall.
- Do not use heavy grease on machinery in winter. It hardens in the cold, which reduces the bike's performance.
- How to ride a bike in winter? It is preferable to use the front brake to avoid uncontrolled skidding.
- Don't dress too warmly. Keep in mind that as you ride, your body temperature will increase.
- Do not drive long distances at once. It is better to drive a little to feel all the peculiarities of the winter road.
- Stop often to check the brakes. If they freeze, they will cease to perform their function.
- Wear both protection and a helmet.
Increasing the speed
How to ride a bike fast? We offer an exercise that will provide you with the enjoyment of speed, called "Fast Pedals". It helps improve endurance and muscle coordination. Most importantly, it will teach you how to pedal effectively.
You will need to find a long, level road. Set the gears so that you can pedal without effort. Try to bring the cadence up to eighty to ninety revolutions per minute. Stay in the saddle. Concentrate on correct rotational movements. Imagine that the pedal is an hour hand. From 11 to 13 you need to push forward, from 13 to 17 you need to push down, and from 17 to 20 you need to push back. Try not to pull the pedals up. Do not forget about the correct technique of movements while increasing the rpm as much as possible.
Features of riding "two-wheeled horses" of different types. Short review
- How to ride a road bike? Please note that such a vehicle is equipped only with a rigid fork. It makes the bike less controllable. Therefore, it is not recommended to choose it for beginners. It also takes some getting used to riding narrow wheels. "Rul-ram" is a kind of business card of a road bike. This vehicle will be an excellent choice for those who prefer long journeys on flat roads. On the road bike, you can develop and maintain an impressive speed.
- How to ride a mountain bike? Such a vehicle allows you to ride quickly without significant effort. The main thing is to switch gears correctly. After mastering this skill, even the quality of the road will not significantly affect the process of your movement. Shifting the gears will allow you to find the right combination of chainrings and chainrings to get the best result. How to ride a speed bike? Change the pace when changing gears. Thus, while pedaling slowly at high speeds, you can maintain the same speed, but you will have to apply more effort. The most common problem for aspiring mountain bikers is choosing the right gear. Everything will come with practice. Try to find the gear that will maximize your pace without compromising your efficiency.
- When driving over roots and mud, shift to a higher gear. This allows you to pedal less often and reduce the risk of getting stuck.
- One of the conditions for a comfortable ride is maintaining an even pace of pedaling.
- Before climbing a steep hill, when it becomes necessary to shift from a medium to a small chainring, accelerate enough so that the pedals are scrolling almost idle, and only then change the gear. By following this recommendation, you will learn how to shift smoothly.
- In unfavorable weather conditions or in winter, it is recommended to completely cover the cable with a “jacket”. Although the gear change will not be so fast, it will be trouble-free.
- Be careful when changing gears while pedaling. The chains, which are rated for nine speed cassettes, are thin. Under heavy load, they can simply break.
Both pleasant and useful
Cycling is a process that puts a lot of stress on your legs. Observing certain rules, you can get an even greater effect from riding. How to lose weight by cycling? First, choose a vehicle for yourself. Ride with your back straight. Otherwise, most of the load will be on the chest and arms. As you ride, make sure your knees are slightly bent, not straight, at the lowest point on the pedals. Do not spread them apart, otherwise you will expose the knee joints to excessive loads. The same goes for the elbows. If you feel pain in your shoulders after riding, you may need to choose a narrower handlebar.
The first lessons should not last more than twenty-five minutes. As you gain experience, gradually extend the rides by 10 minutes. At a pedaling speed of less than seventy times per minute, fat is burned much more slowly, and the stress on the joints increases. It is best to pedal where your toes begin to grow.
It is equally important to control the pulse. The optimal indicator for intensive skiing is from 120 to 140 beats per minute. It is best to train in the morning, because it is at this time that your rested body is well prepared for stress and quickly gets rid of excess fat, turning it into energy. It is not recommended to ride immediately after a meal, as only when the stomach is empty will body fat be used most efficiently. The main thing is not to forget to combine training with the right lifestyle and healthy eating. The first step in this direction is to eliminate fried and fatty foods from your diet.
The key to successful training is comfortable sports shoes and clothing. Ride regularly and follow the above recommendations, then you will pump up not only calves, but also get rid of extra pounds on the buttocks, waist, hips and stomach. In addition, the posture will become beautiful. After each ride, you will feel an incredible surge of energy.
The choice of professionals
Cycling is an activity that not only amateurs love. Surprisingly, it can generate a lot of income. We are talking about experienced athletes. What bikes do professionals ride? First of all, such vehicles are lightweight and impressively efficient. Gear shifting in them is done accurately and quickly, and braking is as efficient as possible. Most of these vehicles are equipped with a wide range of options. These are usually track and road bikes. The first ones are designed for driving on specially equipped tracks. They have no idle wheels and no brakes. The latter allow you to develop excellent speed on smooth asphalt roads. These road bikes cost the pros in the tens of thousands of dollars. Their weight is no more than six kilograms due to the special frame design and lightweight material of manufacture - carbon.
With some stretch, you can include BMX bicycles in the same group. Various tricks and jumps are performed on them. Such a vehicle is unsuitable for a long trip. Now let's take a closer look at what bikes the professionals ride. Let's start with the road bikes.
Cube
These "two-wheeled horses" help to conquer high-speed peaks. Almost all modern models boast an aluminum frame designed specifically for road racing, Shimano attachments and v-brakes. They can be installed from twenty to thirty speeds. Depending on the model, the cost can vary between $ 1100-1500.
Victory
Optimum stiffness and weight parameters are achieved with an aluminum frame. The number of speeds on bicycles of this company is 14. V-brakes and attachments from Sunrun are used.
Trek
Professional bicycles of this brand will cost about five thousand dollars. Quite a high price due to the presence of high-quality aluminum frames with carbon forks and well-proven attachments from Shimano.
GT
This company is widely known for its two-wheeled track horses. However, its history began with BMX bicycles, which have been successfully sold around the world since 1975.
Pinarello
The mission of this manufacturer is to create the fastest track bikes. To this end, experts scrupulously analyze every aspect of this type of vehicle. Invaluable information was also collected through feedback from athletes who participated in the Olympic Games. The most popular model is Pinarello MAAT 60.1. You will have to pay five and a half thousand dollars for it.
Cinelli
To increase the efficiency of the track bikes of this brand, the Vigorelli frame has been slightly modified, which is immediately noticed in practice. Columbus Airplane No-Flex profile and down tube provide maximum stiffness.
As for BMX bicycles, the most popular models from the following manufacturers are Format and Kross Spade Pro.
Conclusion
When learning to ride a bike, do not forget about safety. Traffic in the city requires the utmost care and attention. Patience and focus will allow you to learn how to ride at a decent level. Good luck!
With patience, perseverance, support, and the right technique, almost any adult, regardless of age, can learn to ride a bike. Our overview will show you where to start. So let's get started.
A place
First, find a suitable location. An asphalt surface, on which there are no cars and where there are not many people. For example, a park or an empty parking lot. It is even better to try on a flat area with hard ground.
Check the bike
Most bikes will fit you if they are the right size for you. Check if both brakes are working, the tires are inflated, and the seat is well secured. Also, pay attention to rim wear and cracks in the frame. Spin the pedals and make sure the chain is well lubricated.
The person you want to teach should be comfortable sitting on the seat with both feet on the ground. In addition, it should easily reach the brake levers. You may need to lower the seat height at the beginning, but once your student starts pedaling with confidence, you can return him to the starting position.
Check the rider's equipment
The student should wear suitable clothing for cycling so that he is not too hot, but not too cold. It is generally worth dressing lighter than walking. The legs must not get caught in the moving chain. You should also wear sturdy shoes. Clothes and shoes do not have to be cycling, just something comfortable and free of movement.
If the student wishes to use a safety helmet, make sure he / she is wearing it correctly. The helmet should cover the forehead to the eyebrows, and its straps should be tightly fastened.
Ask if the person is ready to start the lesson. He should warn you about anything that might interfere with the activity, such as a health hazard, a psychological problem, or learning difficulties.
How to get on and off a bike
Tell the student to stand to the left of the bike and apply the brakes with both hands so that it does not move while the person tilts the bike, throws their right leg over the other side, and sits down comfortably. To get off the bike, you need to repeat the same steps in reverse order.
Bicycles are the easiest form of transport. But the older you are, the more scary it is to tackle it. And where to do it? In the city, people - and laugh, and scary to crush ... If you have such sad thoughts, we have good news for you.
Text: Svetlana Grebennikova
Last week in Samara opened the first bicycle school, which is located in the existing bike rental on the street. Frunze - 80. Classes are held at Leningradka or pl. Kuibyshev from 19.00 to 21.00 or from 20.00 to 22.00 3 times a week. The three-day course helps to "put on the wing" even the most seemingly hopeless students. Who has been riding a bicycle since childhood does not understand how to tell the rules of riding - which is easier, sat down and went. However, in the classroom, the instructor not only shows by his own example, but also tells a lot of subtleties, the ignorance of which prevents him from learning to ride on his own.
Secret number 1. Keeping balance
Adults tend to be hampered by stiffness in movement, so they lose balance and are afraid to fall. Keeping balance is fundamental to cycling. In the first lesson, it is the balance exercises that are performed. To get started, walk around the bike, hold it by the seat, try to tilt it back and forth and thus control the turn. This activity will help you feel more psychologically comfortable around a strange two-wheeled car. Then lower the bike seat a little lower so that your feet reach the ground. Pushing off with your feet, step by step, roll the bike forward. Finally, put one foot on the pedal, the other - push off, play the scooter, this is also good for a sense of balance. So a person feels support, and fear is automatically removed. The more you drive this way without leaning sideways, the better. When you get tired of "playing a scooter", you can start riding the bike for real.
Secret number 2. Get under way correctly
Once you have passed the first stage of communication with the bike, try to ride it. Many people get on the bike incorrectly, first sit down, push off, and then begin to grope for the pedals. It would be more correct to throw your leg over the seat, slightly tilting the bike towards you, raise one of the pedals, and then, pressing it, set the bike in motion. The main thing is, don't panic!
Secret number 3. Calm, only calm
There is no need to grip the steering wheel with a death grip, after 15 minutes you will begin to feel pain and tension in your hands. In addition, unnecessary fuss and stress will only harm the movement. The steering wheel needs to be held freely, lightly, but this is acquired only with practice. Then you yourself will begin to make a "spacer" between the steering wheel and the seat, leaning evenly on four points of support (arms and legs). In this case, the back should also be relaxed, but in good shape, like the arms.
Secret number 4. Do not make sudden movements
Movement on the bike should be consistent, without jerking. It is important to do everything slowly, smoothly, calmly, so as not to injure yourself physically and mentally. There is no need to rush anywhere, to urge yourself on, you will not learn faster from this, but you will make a bunch of mistakes and eventually you will fall. Remember that any hard braking, any sharp turn of the steering wheel maybe leads to falls and stress.
Secret number 5. Look ahead
In an amicable way, while moving, a cyclist of any level of preparation should look forward at 5-10 meters. But more often the beginner looks at his feet or at the wheels of the bike. Almost everyone finds it difficult to look in front of them, and therefore bicycle neophytes, it happens, crash into pedestrians, pillars, buildings. During the first lesson, students are provided with "greenhouse conditions", but already in the second lesson they need to be "thrown out" into real life, specially to choose sites "with corners".
Secret number 6. Learn to turn
From the very first lessons, obstacles may arise in front of a beginner: trees, flower beds, corners of houses, pedestrians. From that moment on, his eyesight turns on, and the future cyclist begins to learn to go around. Some mentally calculate the distance to the object, some go at random, twisting the steering wheel all the way. It is worth remembering that you do not need to pedal in a turn, since the speed gained only increases the turning radius and can provoke a fall. You also need to be careful and keep your distance from parked cars, it is advisable to slow down a little. Not only a beginner, but also an experienced cyclist does not always react to a driving off car or a sharply opened door. If there is a large crowd of people in front of you, which is difficult to go around, you can cheat - shout "The brakes do not work!"
Secret number 7. Brake correctly
In the first lesson, the instructor explains where the brakes are located and how to properly control them. After that, the student is not only not afraid to slow down, but on the contrary often presses on the brake, intuitively, so as not to fall. What a secret - if you are "led" and you are afraid to fall, smoothly press the rear brake, the bike will stop and everything will be fine. On the practice site, students also try to brake with straight legs and feet on the pedals. Slowly slowing down, you can easily go down from any slide. But the front brake is better to use carefully - if at full speed with grab the front brake and fly over the steering wheel.
Secret number 8. Optimal speeds
There is no optimal speed for beginners: some immediately learn the advantages of speed (it additionally helps to maintain balance), others are still afraid to accelerate and ride “walking pace”. In modern bikes, there are more than 20 speeds, and the need to use one or the other is found out most often in practice. This knowledge is for the brain, not for the body. Therefore, you should not bother with them from the first lesson, for a start it is worth bringing the control of the movement on the bike to automatism. When you “seem to have already learned”, you can start experimenting with speeds. However, you can switch to fast riding only when a person feels confident in the saddle. After a couple of classes, men begin to drive on the roads, and girls should first practice in a straight line - on the embankment or in the park.
Secret number 9. Control the position of the steering wheel
The main rule that you need to understand for yourself is that to maintain balance, the handlebars must always be turned in the direction of the tilt of the bike. Mastering accurate steering will also come in handy when overcoming uneven surfaces. If you have rails, a track or a speed bump in front of you, you just need to put the steering wheel perpendicular to the obstacle. If you do not twist the steering wheel, you will feel almost the same as a motorist in a rut, you will begin to skid, and the wheels will skid.
Rule # 10. Climbing over the bumps
Cycling is not so much a skill as it is fun, a sense of speed and new possibilities! Try to learn to ride on your own, if you still don't know how, and if it doesn't work out - now you know who to turn to!
Denis Frolov
Communications specialist and co-founder of the PR of Things project, which helps IT companies and startups build productive relationships with the press, users, clients and partners.
I was 25 years old and did not know how to ride a bike. I was going to learn from the age of 18, and every year it was harder and harder to decide. I imagined how creepy I would look: a grown guy who rides worse than a child and constantly falls. Easier to score. Moreover, a lot of people in the world do not know how to ride.
There were tons of articles on the internet teaching adults how to ride a bike. But they did not help to overcome fear and embarrassment, which means they did not solve my problem.
I am now 27 years old. I ride my bike safely for a couple of hours.
I like to ride the waterfront on Saturday mornings, accelerate in front of the hill and slow down on the slope. These skills came with practice. The following steps helped me to cope with myself and get started.
Step 1. Determine Your Benefits
In theory, everything is easy. I got angry when my friends said, "Don't be afraid, just sit down and pedal." I couldn't do anything, I couldn't even get under way. I was afraid to get on the bike: what if I lose my balance and fall?
And the truth was falling. It was difficult to maintain balance even for a couple of meters.
But when I focused on the benefits of cycling, things got easier. I wrote out the benefits of cycling and ran them through my head along the way to each workout. It helped me fight fear and shame. I imagined how I ride a bike around the city, park at a cafe, and manage everywhere. I thought how great it is to keep myself in shape, learn new things and prove to myself that I can. It worked for me.
Desire turned out to be stronger than fear.
During practice, I tried to monitor my body and specific actions: put my foot on the pedal, hold the steering wheel, straighten my back, control the road. On the fourth workout, the fear receded: the brain was not up to it.
Step 2. Find a teacher
The hardest part for me was getting on the bike and getting under way. I was afraid that I would not have time to put my foot on the pedal and crash into a tree.
I didn't know anything about speed, brakes, pads, I didn't understand how to handle it alone. Therefore, I asked for help from a friend who had been cycling for many years. He went to training with me and explained the basic things. He patiently drove me on a bicycle, like a child, walked beside me, advised me on how to deal with my arms and legs. I was angry, cursed, but in the third workout I was able to drive 50 meters without help. Thanks to the advice of a friend, I memorized the basic movements.
Do not call reckless drivers and beginners to mentor.
The first will not have enough patience, and the second - experience. Choose a person who himself does not mind trying himself as a coach: such comrades are less likely to go to the horizon, leaving you alone with the bike, and are more inclined to tinker with you.
If you feel that the request is straining a friend, it is better to look for another teacher. It was easy for me to find a coach: all my friends knew that I could not ride a bike, and offered their help. Therefore, when I made up my mind, one conversation was enough.
Step 3. Choose a location
On the eve of training, I was tormented by the thought of what people would think of me, how condescending they would look at me. I realized that I can go in two ways: to score on the opinion of strangers or not to catch their eye until I learn. Stopped at the second.
For training I chose the most deserted place where as few eyes as possible will see my shame, and I will not run into other cyclists and will not knock anyone down.
The first three months I learned to ride in a forest park on the outskirts of the city: almost no one gets there, but there are bike paths.
This is what my training bike base looked like for the first three months. If you are just starting out, look out for parks and small forests with paths. They may be far from home, but chances are, at first, you will only train twice a week - for the sake of a new skill, you can be patient.
Step 4. Decide whether to rent or buy
I didn't have my own bike. Accordingly, there were two options: buy or rent. Assessed the benefits and risks of both.
| Per | Against | |
| Purchase | It works as a voluntary commitment: once you spent money on a bike, you have to ride, as if you will learn. On Yandex. Market "a model for a beginner costs from 10,000 rubles. It will be a pity to throw that kind of money down the drain. | If you regret money for a bike, you will never learn to ride. |
| Rental | To start studying, 300 rubles are enough, or even less. Depends on the rental service you contact. Most of these services operate near parks, embankments and other places where you can ride. | If something goes wrong, you are responsible for the damage to the bike and others. Bicycles are usually not insured by bike rental rules. In the event of an accident, the renter is fully responsible for the damage caused to himself, the bike, people and objects around him. |
I chose the rental service: it turned out to be cheaper and more convenient for me. One of them was working near the forest where I learned to ride.
Step 5. Protect yourself
On a bike, you can crash into a pole, knock over another beginner, or fall. Therefore, there are traffic rules for cyclists. It describes in detail how to avoid an accident, how to behave on the roads, warn about a turn, and so on.
In addition, there are many helpful tips on how to protect cyclists and what to wear.
- Wear brightly colored clothing with reflective stripes to be more visible on the road.
- Wear tight-fitting clothing to avoid getting caught on rotating parts of the bike and outside obstacles.
- Choose shoes with a hard sole and a rough tread to prevent slipping on the pedals.
- Wear a helmet: it will protect your head from falls.
- Wear safety goggles to keep dirt and insects out of your eyes. Better special cycling goggles. Ordinary glass, if hit by stones, can shatter and damage your eyes.
- Wear knee and elbow pads to protect your joints from injury.
But that is why they are instructions, that no one takes them seriously.
During the first month of training, the steering wheel rubbed my hands to calluses. They hurt and slowly healed - it's also fun when you type a lot at work. After another couple of months, I somehow flew over the bike, skinned my hands and stretched a tendon on my wrist. A friend said that it could be worse and I was lucky. I had to take a break from training: the tendon healed for three weeks.
For the new workout, I bought regular fitness gloves for 300 rubles - I stopped rubbing my palms, held the steering wheel tighter, there were fewer reasons to fall.
It didn’t come to the helmet and knee pads, but this year I’ll definitely buy it: health is more expensive. I had enough sinew to think about it and forget what the tough mountain bike riders would think.
Step 5. Practice constantly
At first I drove badly, no more than 100 meters without stopping. Because of this, I got angry and looked for an excuse to skip the workout: sometimes I was too lazy to go far, then other things. As a result, in the first month I spent only three hours with the bike.
It took me a while to realize that a principle common to the development of any skill works here: you can learn if you constantly practice.
As soon as I forced myself to train for at least two hours a week, I noticed progress. The first two weeks I rode on a flat road in order to get used to the bike, to deal with the speed and brakes, and to learn how to control the steering wheel. After that, the ascents and descents were much easier. A month later, I was already dashingly climbing a steep slope.
I continue to learn: with each workout, I learn something new, consolidate my skills, ask my friends questions and look for information on the Internet.
Check list
- Don't be afraid and think about the pros.
- Find a patient teacher.
- Choose a quiet, uninhabited place.
- Rent a bike next to it.
- Practice constantly.
- Wear a helmet, knee pads and be mindful of protection.
Loading ...