Vera Wayfromee
New Member
<opens door>
<trips>
<falls in with a crash>
errr... hello!
You seem like a friendly lot so I'm dipping my toe in the water here. I'm not new to forums, but I am very definitely pretty new to cycling.
Here's my cycling story for anyone who might have the time and inclination to waste on such frippery (I won't be offended if it doesn't get read. I realise I've rambled on a bit):
I never learned to ride a bike as a child. I had a tricycle when I was a toddler, but when I outgrew it, it never even occured to me to request a bike because, young as I was, I recognised my own wimpishness in learning to do things which might actually lead to me getting a little roughed up when I fell off (as I recognised I inevitably would).
The upshot was I went through my childhood, teens and early adulthood feeling envious of those who could ride, but never getting on a bike myself. As I got older, and my waistline spread, the envy lessened, especially once I got a car. But I never quite lost it completely.
So I reached my milestone 30th birthday, and although it wasn't quite the crisis some people make of such milestones, I had this mad notion that I needed to challenge myself by learning a new skill and decided it was time to do what my young nieces could do without any problem at all - ride a bike.
I borrowed an old pushbike (with 3 gears) and when I did eventually get on a bike for the first time in my life (that is, to do anything other than sit astride it and pose, in the manner of teenage girls preying on a young man, and out to impress, even if it necessitated deceit), it was at 5.30 or so in the morning. I'm not really a great "morning" person, but the early starts were worth it as it not only gave me the quiet tracks on which to practice, but it meant I was pretty safe from onlookers. One of the first obstacles I faced was my own self-consciousness... here I was, quite a large mature lady... wibbling around on a bike which looked as if it might actually give up the ghost before I did (and that's saying something!) I would never have got on with anyone watching - even those nearest and dearest to me who knew the challenge I was facing.
I wasn't sure how to go about things, but it seems that I got something right, judging by advice I've read since. I taught myself first to balance, by ignoring the pedals. I just spent several sessions wobbling down a lane, then back up again. Eventually I was able to push off from a hump on the path (I couldn't do it from level ground) and pedal.
Unfortunately, before I could fully develop my basic skills, the Winter set in and I lost the impetus, and gradually became more worried about getting back on a bike. Thus followed my 17 year "wilderness period" between learning to balance, pedal and steer at 30, and getting back on a bike at 47 years old, following a new wave of determination. Of course, by now, I was basically starting from scratch on a bike again - but this time had the pleasure of being more overweight and unfit to begin with!
This latest foray took place 3 weeks ago, and I'm back to the skill level I got to when I was 30... I can balance (sort of, in a wobbly "Oh my God, she's about to fall over in front of me!" kind of way), pedal, steer (but not do a U-turn or make any indication that I'm turning) and brake (I've had a lot of braking rehearsal!) I've yet to ride past anyone, because of the very real prospect of riding straight into them instead! If I meet anyone coming in the other direction on my early morning travels up and down the nearby cycle path, I stop and pretend that I'm making a mobile phone call until they are past me. If it looks as if I'm about to overtake someone walking in the same direction, I just turn around and go the other way. (Cunning plans, eh?)
My latest achievement: last week I actually managed to briefly take one hand off the handlebar to push my specs back up my nose, before they fell off. Up until then I'd had to stop (frequently) to perform this task as I haven't developed the desired length and dexterity of the tongue which would allow me to push my glasses up in this alternative manner! I feel superhuman! Why, if I carry on like this, I might actually be able to signal my intention to other road users in a few years time.
Tomorrow, I get a bike of my own, and will be adding regular cycling to the "get fitter" exercise routine I started as a New Year resolution back in January. My goal is to be able to cycle to work one day. It's not far, and I could probably do the outward journey in a short time frame... but the return is something else, because it's uphill all the way - and although my "get fitter" routine has had an impact of a 2 stone weight loss, I have a long way to go yet before I'm more than fit to drop! Still, I'm going to get fit if it kills me!
Maybe I'll start a blog of my efforts, so that one day I can look back at it and think, "Who was that sad non-bike riding wimp?"
Anyway, if you've stuck with this post to the end, thanks for taking the interest. If nothing else, at least you'll know to avoid future ramblings from me!
~~~~~~
Vera Wayfromee*
*This is the best advice I can give anyone!
<trips>
<falls in with a crash>
errr... hello!
You seem like a friendly lot so I'm dipping my toe in the water here. I'm not new to forums, but I am very definitely pretty new to cycling.
Here's my cycling story for anyone who might have the time and inclination to waste on such frippery (I won't be offended if it doesn't get read. I realise I've rambled on a bit):
I never learned to ride a bike as a child. I had a tricycle when I was a toddler, but when I outgrew it, it never even occured to me to request a bike because, young as I was, I recognised my own wimpishness in learning to do things which might actually lead to me getting a little roughed up when I fell off (as I recognised I inevitably would).
The upshot was I went through my childhood, teens and early adulthood feeling envious of those who could ride, but never getting on a bike myself. As I got older, and my waistline spread, the envy lessened, especially once I got a car. But I never quite lost it completely.
So I reached my milestone 30th birthday, and although it wasn't quite the crisis some people make of such milestones, I had this mad notion that I needed to challenge myself by learning a new skill and decided it was time to do what my young nieces could do without any problem at all - ride a bike.
I borrowed an old pushbike (with 3 gears) and when I did eventually get on a bike for the first time in my life (that is, to do anything other than sit astride it and pose, in the manner of teenage girls preying on a young man, and out to impress, even if it necessitated deceit), it was at 5.30 or so in the morning. I'm not really a great "morning" person, but the early starts were worth it as it not only gave me the quiet tracks on which to practice, but it meant I was pretty safe from onlookers. One of the first obstacles I faced was my own self-consciousness... here I was, quite a large mature lady... wibbling around on a bike which looked as if it might actually give up the ghost before I did (and that's saying something!) I would never have got on with anyone watching - even those nearest and dearest to me who knew the challenge I was facing.
I wasn't sure how to go about things, but it seems that I got something right, judging by advice I've read since. I taught myself first to balance, by ignoring the pedals. I just spent several sessions wobbling down a lane, then back up again. Eventually I was able to push off from a hump on the path (I couldn't do it from level ground) and pedal.
Unfortunately, before I could fully develop my basic skills, the Winter set in and I lost the impetus, and gradually became more worried about getting back on a bike. Thus followed my 17 year "wilderness period" between learning to balance, pedal and steer at 30, and getting back on a bike at 47 years old, following a new wave of determination. Of course, by now, I was basically starting from scratch on a bike again - but this time had the pleasure of being more overweight and unfit to begin with!
This latest foray took place 3 weeks ago, and I'm back to the skill level I got to when I was 30... I can balance (sort of, in a wobbly "Oh my God, she's about to fall over in front of me!" kind of way), pedal, steer (but not do a U-turn or make any indication that I'm turning) and brake (I've had a lot of braking rehearsal!) I've yet to ride past anyone, because of the very real prospect of riding straight into them instead! If I meet anyone coming in the other direction on my early morning travels up and down the nearby cycle path, I stop and pretend that I'm making a mobile phone call until they are past me. If it looks as if I'm about to overtake someone walking in the same direction, I just turn around and go the other way. (Cunning plans, eh?)
My latest achievement: last week I actually managed to briefly take one hand off the handlebar to push my specs back up my nose, before they fell off. Up until then I'd had to stop (frequently) to perform this task as I haven't developed the desired length and dexterity of the tongue which would allow me to push my glasses up in this alternative manner! I feel superhuman! Why, if I carry on like this, I might actually be able to signal my intention to other road users in a few years time.
Tomorrow, I get a bike of my own, and will be adding regular cycling to the "get fitter" exercise routine I started as a New Year resolution back in January. My goal is to be able to cycle to work one day. It's not far, and I could probably do the outward journey in a short time frame... but the return is something else, because it's uphill all the way - and although my "get fitter" routine has had an impact of a 2 stone weight loss, I have a long way to go yet before I'm more than fit to drop! Still, I'm going to get fit if it kills me!
Maybe I'll start a blog of my efforts, so that one day I can look back at it and think, "Who was that sad non-bike riding wimp?"
Anyway, if you've stuck with this post to the end, thanks for taking the interest. If nothing else, at least you'll know to avoid future ramblings from me!
~~~~~~
Vera Wayfromee*
*This is the best advice I can give anyone!
Don't know if it's been mentioned, but get yourself a copy of Franklin's "Cyclecraft", it covers pretty much anything you need to know about feeling more confident on a bike (and in traffic once you get to that stage)!
