"It's like riding a bike"

Angelicdevil

This made me chuckle.

I went 12 years without riding a bike and thought it would be a brilliant idea last year to get myself one.

Scared the bejeeeesus out of me! I was so wobbly and it just felt so unnatural, especially going round corners!

Bare in mind I used to spend every day as a child on my bike and I also ride motorbikes too! So definitely not easily scared.

I bought it and haven't used it since lol

pulliptears

fluffnutter wrote: »

My cousin fell off the back of a Chopper back in the early 80s and burst his liver.

How the hell do you fall off the back of a chopper!? :eek:

I fell off the back of a grifter, I'd owned and loved a chopper but my parents bought me a grifter for Christmas. I'd been used to riding down the hill by my Nan's house, letting go of the handlebars and leaning back on the backrest of the chopper seat and coasting. Of course a week in to riding the grifter I totally forgot which bike I was on and leaned back.......:o
It came a bit keen did that

I can't ride a bike now with my joint issues, I've tried and exercise bike and it leaves me in agony with my knees now

Other half has bought me one of those exercise horses, I thought I was going to hyperventilate last night laughing at the thing but I have to say I bloody ache this morning for spending 15 minutes on it last night.

Tish_P

Go for it! You'll be a bit wobbly at first, so plan your first ride along traffic-free paths until you get into your groove. I wouldn't bother with the elbow and knee pads. Ice-skating requires you to actually balance, but when riding a bike physics is on your side and it's much easier to stay upright.

Speaking of getting into your groove, you really don't want a narrow men's saddle. My current bike - a new and very non-MSE Brompton folder - has a "unisex" saddle, which is not unisex at all as far as I can see, and I will replace it with a wide ladies' one as soon as the shock of paying for the bike itself has worn off.

loracan1

I'd start off with a few easy routes (round the block a couple of times) avoid heavy traffic and traffic lights to start with, read about cycling - 'cyclecraft' is a good book. And be ready for ignorant car drivers. Also, if you use a chain to lock it up, remember to take the keys with you.

I'm a few years older than you, got a bicycle last year after about 30 years out of the saddle and it took me a while to build up confidence (I've not been on it for a while but I had worked up to cycling to work on it and going into town)


Also, have a look at http://www.cyclechat.net/

msb5262

Re the saddle - a friend of mine has a posh bike with a special saddle designed for women...it's called a Giant saddle. You can imagine how much her boyfriend laughed at that!

Re the painful bottom - you might consider getting some cycling undershorts which are thin cottony shorts with proper cycle short padding. These can be worn under pretty much anything so wearing your lovely summer dress is still a distinct possibility.

HTH

MsB

Tish_P

ABUS make excellent folding bike locks - they bend almost like a chain but are as strong as a D-lock, and they aren't too much of a pain to lug around with you.

busiscoming2

I am probably the most un-coordinated person there is, but it's true about never forgetting how to ride a bike, although I was more cautious than when I was a kid I had no problem. Exactly the same with ice skating.

bylromarha

I had a 10 year break - and got back on with minimum wobbles. Still can't bring myself to wear a helmet though