Do you forget how to ride a bicycle?

chorlton

I (re)started cycling after not riding a bike for 15 years and was anxious to say the least on the day I had to ride my new bike 5 miles home from the shop...
But I loved it, started cycling to work 3 days a week then after a few months 5 days a week. It took a few weeks to get through the aches and pains phase (mainly thighs and knees for me!) but it was the best thing I ever did.
Saves me £40 a month on bus fares (bike paid for itself in 6 months) and my health is massively improved.

Wyndham

Well, I did it! Hired a bike this afternoon and cycled about 8 miles. I'm exhausted, but elated! Loved it very much, and it didn't take long to get back into the swing of it at all - don't know why I ever gave it up!

Of course, I may not be saying this later this evening/tomorrow morning, as I already ache to a certain extent and I can't see that is going to get any better over the next 24 hours. But I think it's helped me decide that I do want to buy a bike, which was the reason for doing it.

Thank you all for the comments and advice - they are very much appreciated. But I think I can now answer my own question - you DON'T ever forget how to ride a bike

peter_the_piper

I last rode a bike about 48 years ago, got on one last year. No you don't forget but the soreness, oooh!

carras

In 2002 I had a brain tumor removed together with my driving license. The local bus service is a pain and the food shops are a distance away making life difficult - so I though I used to ride to school and you never forget....
Well I have, it may have been a lack of confidence as I tried to ride round the block but something failed. I could not turn the pedals full circle and I wobbled, after a few attempts the bike was left in the back of the garage.
Now I am 60 and have gone green by selling my car which brings me back to the 'lovely' bus service (admittedly with a free pass) and the bike bug is hitting me again. The local council is advertising training so I am thinking about it....

runicfire

You'll never forget how to ride a bike...but your brain take time to get used to the sterring and balance again!

I picked up cycling again in August last year, started off with a cheap heavy bike doing short rides (5-6) miles a day.

Just bought a proper lightweight road bike, and I'm now commuting to work by bike - 20 miles each way, 40 miles a day. I have never been this fit!

So go for it, it gets you fit, you're outdoors and best of all...no petrol to buy - although you do get hungry quite quickly!

SailorSam

Getting back on a bike was easy, you don't forget, but my poor bum !
I've just got one of those 'jelly' seats, according to the box they're suppose to help but i've not fitted it yet, if it works i'll go out more.
One thing i did notice, i'm a lot more nervous on the roads. I can't remember being scared of the traffic when i was young but now when you hear a vehicle behind you i start to get nervous.
Maybe i'm more aware now of what could happen, maybe it's just there are a lot more cars out there, and they are all in a hurry.

BillScarab

Softer seats don't always help with soreness. I find the best thing is padded shorts. If you dont' want skin tight Lycra you can buy baggy shorts with padded liners or wear Lycra ones under normal clothes.

The one thing I woudl say is if you haven't cycled for years start again on something upright and stable. I started again a few years ago on a hybrid and was fine. Then after a few months I bought a lightweight road bike with drop bars and very narrow tyres. It was so twitchy it was hard to ride at first. Mind you once you get used to it it's great.

goldspanners

SailorSam wrote: »

One thing i did notice, i'm a lot more nervous on the roads. I can't remember being scared of the traffic when i was young but now when you hear a vehicle behind you i start to get nervous.
Maybe i'm more aware now of what could happen, maybe it's just there are a lot more cars out there, and they are all in a hurry.

i agree here, i go out early in the morning to try and avoid them.its quiet round my way at 6am.
i think the hesitation and fear is something that comes with age as well as seeing so many poor drivers who really dont pay attention.
i used to be totally fearless on my bike, it would go everywhere,very fast,but now i always find myself hesitating,which isnt always a good thing.

Slimboy_Fat

Got back on a bike about 12 months ago after a gap of approx 20 years and I love it. As other posters have said, you will get sore especially when you 1st start but every time you return and you have beaten your previous furthest distance its another little victory.

The best advice I can give is think about what you want to use the bike for and where you are going to use it as there is now more choice than either a racer or a BMX like it used to be.

I say this as myself and a mate had both decided that we where going to get bikes, as we are both blokes we had decided that we needed a Mountain bike with as many gears as possible, disc brakes and suspension all round. Mate went looking round the shops 1st and they where all pointing him at £400 / £500 bikes (too much when you don't know if it will be used once then stored in the shed )

Then one guy at a shop asked him what he was going to use it for (Relatively short distance on road and track (canal paths and disused railway lines, we are fairly close to the Trans Penine Trail). Shop Guy said he didn't want the bike that he had described as...
Mountain Bikes: OK for mountains . Fairly heavy. Large tyres will make it harder on road surfaces.
Gears: You used to have 5 if you was lucky, Even cheap bikes have 21 now. Why do you need more.
Disc Brakes: Unless you are likely to be going down a mountain in torrential rain then blocks will stop you fine. Disc Brakes are harder to maintain.
Suspension: Every time you turn the pedal some of you energy will be used up by compressing the suspension. Instead of a smooth line forward you will be going up and down as well which waste the energy.

We both finished up going for a Hybrid (Claude Butler Urban 100). These are sort of cut down mountain bikes with thinner wheels (better for the road and tracks) and the gears are spread out better for road use (mountain bikes will have more lower gears, great for riding up mountains but not so good for relatively flat roads and tracks)

simonne15_2

I haven't forgotten how to ride but the body has changed and I need a different style of bike to help me cope with that.
Has anyone any advice for the following?
I had a prolapsed disc two years ago which has left me with a numb sciatic nerve in one leg, affecting my walking, posture and limiting the extent of activities I can sustain for long. I do want to ride to get some exercise and strengthen back and leg muscles. I have been told that the choice of bike needs to be upright to save the constant bending forward of my back but models these days all seem to be racing style with high seats and lower handlebars which I cannot manage.Does anyone know of any internet links to specific guidance for cycling after back problems please?
Many thanks in anticipation:)