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adult learner help
robbie 
| 27 Sep 10:36 |
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Posts: 10 Bike: My Profile | Does anybody know the best way to teach my wife to learn to ride. I regularly go out with my 2 daughters but now she said she would like to join us but cant ride a bike. I suggested I could buy a tamdem so I thought she could at least get used to balance, and I even thought about adult stabilisers which are costly but cheaper tha a tandem. She is not overly impressed with thosed two ideas as she said she would feel a bit embarrased. |
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keep_fit
| 27 Sep 11:19 |
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Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 25 Bike: My Profile | I would suggest finding a quiet grassy field and just telling her to go for it. so that if she falls of it be a soft landing. its all about falling off, and then one day you stop falling off and that's the day you have learnt how to ride a bike |
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Shortbusdriver1969
| 27 Sep 11:20 |
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Joined: 16 Sep 2009 Posts: 19 Bike: My Profile | 'Stabilisers' ?? LoL arer you looking for a DIVORCE ?? best places are off road cycle routes, vist it your local cycle shop for the free cycle routes for UK / local area, little bit at a time, once more confident then start with minor roads etc etc most of all have fun 10.10 |
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Demon
| 28 Sep 08:19 |
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Joined: 23 Aug 2009 Posts: 29 Bike: My Profile | Make sure she has the right bike with the seat set so that she touch both feet flat to the floor. This will make her feel more confident, you adjust to the right height once she's stopped falling off. Then find a suitable place and just leave her to it, you can't teach someone how to ride a bike they have to figure it out for themselves. Once she has figured out how to ride the bike without falling of you start the teach her how to ride it properly. |
| My Latest Route: May 2010 Circular round Isle Of Anglesey | |
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bazuti
| 28 Sep 09:46 |
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Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Posts: 11 Bike: My Profile | Hi, I am hardly surprised she is less than impressed with your suggestions. Teaching partners driving, swimming,cycling etc. is fraught with danger, especially if you have been together a while. Not sure how professionals do it but trotting alongside holding the saddle certainly worked with my kids. For cycling, roller skating etc.I used to try and find some astro turf; there is plenty about that used to be used for field events, running or football. Great for falling off. Most of all "when" you suceed; try and refrain from quoting time's of Tour de France cyclists! The best of luck! |
| My Latest Route: Aug 2010 Birmingham to Stafford Canal Loop | |
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mattk
| 28 Sep 12:26 |
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Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 116 Bike: My Profile | A few of the comments got me chuckling here... I was going to make a comment about old dogs and new tricks, but seeing as I don't know your wife or yourself for that matter I didn't want to offend! It is a bit tricky to find an effective way to teach her without her getting embarrased. I guess people just assume everyone knows how to ride a bike when they're kids. To add to others' comments maybe it would be less painful for your wife comfortable but protective clothing... as in good quality jeans (possibly knee pads under them), plenty of padding on the arms and elbows and don't forget the helmet (a blow to the head could put anyone off cycling). Get her comfortable with sitting on the saddle and balancing with her feet slightly off the ground. This is actually harder than staying balanced when cycling so if she can master that she'll be winning! Good Luck :) |
| My Latest Route: Feb 2010 National Cycle Network 15 NCN | |
| Dizzybird | 01 Oct 18:49 |
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Joined: 01 Oct 2009 Posts: 2 Bike: | Remove the pedals, set the seat so that she can touch both feet on the floor and let her scoot it like the original boneshakers, difficult with the pedals in place. She will have the confidence of being able to stabilise herself at any time and the scooting will enable her to develop the balance that goes with a moving bike. Doing this on a slight downhill will make it easier to maintain momentum and give longer freewheel periods without the need to scoot. When she is confidently riding a good distance without dabbing her feet, reinstall the pedals and gradually raise the seat. Try to use a bike that has slow steering like a dutch style bike. Mountain bikes with straight forks can be a litte too quick steering to help build confidence. The upright stance of the dutch bike is also more confidence inspiring to the new rider. |
| wobblybubbly | 29 Sep 17:24 |
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Joined: 29 Sep 2011 Posts: 2 Bike: | evening everyone, i could BE that dear wife, whose kind husband is going to risk all to help learn to cycle. i never learned to ride as a child, never had a bike. at 21years old i got a 2nd hand one, and taught myself to 'ride' it of a fashion, having to get off to cross the roads or go round corners! this lasted a few weeks and then i left the country and havent been on a cycle since. i have tonight taken ownership of another 2nd hand bike - 31 years later! i read this conversation with great interest and will take your comments with me when i try to ride again. . . . do they do L plates for pushbikes? . . . shall i fly a flag from one of those long aeriel type wires warning everyone? wish me luck |
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