Do you forget how to ride a bicycle?

Wyndham

I last rode a bike about 15 years ago. I used to do this a lot, and in my teenage years, it was my main way of getting around. Then life (and a car) took over, the bike slowly rusted in the garage...

I'm now wondering about starting riding a bike again, and famously you don't ever forget how. But is this really true?

I'm also heavier than I was all that time back, less fit, and live at the top of a big hill. I've found somewhere to hire a bike that is by a prom, so that may be a good way to find out how I feel about it, but I wondered if anyone had any other hints and tips?

[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]

nexuss

I recently started to ride a bike again after 22 years and i picked it up quite easily after about 10 minutes.I studied the guys blog below to see how much weight he lost over a year.It also has a calculator to work out how much weight you would lose per mileage and how long it would take you to cycle the amount of miles.

http://www.cycletoworknow.com/community/blog/1/1/fat-bloke-2-fit-bloke-%3D-c2w



http://www.cycletoworknow.com/info/calculator/Fitness-and-savings-calculator

TimothyEBaldwin

The skills of pedalling, balance and steering are as unforgetable as walking, however you may be a bit wobbly to start with so pick a flat traffic free area to start with.

Never ride a bike without two independent working brakes, nor cross tram lines or similar cracks at a shallow angle.

You may need to relearn other aspects od cycling. Read the highway code but don't follow it's advice to always use cycle lanes etc; but don't expect other road users to follow it. Read Cyclecraft by John Franklin.

diable

You will quickly remember how "tender" your rear end is once you have spent a little time in the saddle............

Kavanne

I get confused when I ride a bicycle as there's no clutch or throttle. Very troubling when you are trying to change gears.

jackomdj

When I started riding a bike again after about 20 years I was fine, but a bit wobbly. OH (wonderful man that he is) made me do an 8 mile ride - how I ached, as you use quite specific muscles that I obviously did not use much.

Also I found the gears quite hard, but I think my old bike when I was growing up only had 3 gears!

Have fun
Nicky

Wyndham

diable wrote: »

You will quickly remember how "tender" your rear end is once you have spent a little time in the saddle............

Thanks - but I'm *ahem* well padded in that area naturally, so I'm not expecting issues there at least!

Rikki

Wyndham wrote: »

Thanks - but I'm *ahem* well padded in that area naturally, so I'm not expecting issues there at least!

Its not the padded area that gets tender :eek: so to speak.

Its the base of the pelvic cage bones that feel bruised . It does get better soon though.

nexuss

They do not make them like the raleigh chopper or grifter any more

AHAR

When I got back on a bike after a long gap the main things I had to get used to was how direct the steering is on a bike compared to a car, and also remembering to change into an appropriately low gear before stopping at a junction...makes getting moving again much easier!

AdrianHi

The toughest part is definately getting those muscles into shape that haven't been used for so long. The saddle really hurts for a while until your back in shape.