Conference noted::bicycle

    The only pointer I can give is to relax and stay loose.  Don't grip
    the handlebars for dear life; most steering is done with subtle
    shifts in weight which seems to come natural.  The bike will stay
    up and go straight if you let it.
    
    Good luck.
    
    Phil

    	Learn to ride it comfortably first, then learn to use
    	the gears.
    
    	Scott

>    	Learn to ride it comfortably first, then learn to use
>    	the gears.
    
I'll second this ... get so you can ride smoothly (it'll come fairly 
quickly if you keep at it; if you lay off for winter spring oughta be 
interesting!). Anyway, after you can ride smoothly start practicing 
moving your hand to the shifter. Touch it without shifting, get back, 
and ride for a while. Keep touching until you can do that smoothly 
before you actually shift - most beginners tend to upset the balance of 
the bike somewhat by just shifting body position to reach the shifters, 
so practicing that should save a skinning or two...
                                                       ken

    
    It's really hard to give someone pointers through the notes file.
    Here are two:
    1) get someone who knows how to ride to check your form/fit on the bike
    2) get a helmet. The kids you see riding with ease also break bones, 
         knock heads, skin knees. Adults don't heal as fast.
    
    Riding a bicycle is like any other balancing sport ( skiing,
    rollerskating, skate boarding, tight rope walking, etc.)....the only
    way to learn is to practice, practice, practice. All someone can really
    do is make sure the bike fits correctly. The rest is up to you. Adults
    DO tend to have better balance/coordination, so you should be able to
    pick it up quickly. My first bike experience (as a kid): my brother
    pushed me down a 5 foot slope (about 45 degrees), and I coasted to the
    end of the yard where I immediately slammed into a fence. I had no
    idea how to use the coaster brake. 8^)
                                                       
      

Dave here are a couple of things to do that will improve your skills.

Put out a cone or something similar and ride around it in a circle. Do this
slowly using you brake to keep your speed down. See how tight and slow you can
make the circle. Now do it in the other direction.

Put out another cone and do a figure 8 around them. Start with the cones a good
distance apart and move them closer together. See how close you can get the
cones together. Do it Slowly, you want to improve your balance not the
handling. Also keep pedaling while doing these exercises use you brakes to
control your speed don't coast.

When this gets easy try removing your hand from the handle bar just for a
second and then put it back.

Practice stoping. Ride in a straight line and apply the brakes, use your front
brake as well as the back brake, see how fast you can stop without wobbling.

Take your time you've got the rest of your life to learn :-)

Tom

    Over time, I keep expecting this conference to become duller,
    interested only in the most esoteric, silliest discussions, like what
    alloy is best for brake lever handles.  Instead, very challenging and
    general topics like this one come up.  I'm impressed!
    
    I only wish I had something to offer.  I still remember clearly when my
    father took the training wheels off of my trusty red Schwinn, and
    launched me off of our steep-angled driveway into the street below. I
    managed to keep the bike upright down the street, and into the
    neighbor's driveway.  Then I lost control and ended up with a skinned
    elbow and knee.  I was really upset at my father, because I had been
    king of the road with my training wheels.  But very soon I learned
    to lean on the corners, and we made peace when he bought me a
    five-speed "banana" bike for my seventh birthday.
    
    Maybe if things were put in the same absolute terms as they were when
    we were kids, it would be easier to learn how to ride.  After all, if
    Eddie is showing you up by doing wheelies on his pea-shooter, and the
    girl you've got a crush on is watching him, you get very motivated to
    sharpen your biking skills.  
    
    So I guess I don't have anything to offer to an adult learning to ride.
    Maybe you should treat it like the rest of the world treats
    windsurfing, or tennis, or snooker: find a master and take lessons. One
    positive note: some of the most expert people in the conference have
    written the first five replies to your note.  See if you can get one of 
    them to help!

    I too did not learn to ride when I was a child.  Whether or not I have
    learned yet is a matter which can be debated.
    
    Dave Topham in Salem, NH, teaches a course in Effective Cycling,
    603-898-9926.  The course teaches you many things about riding
    and caring for your bike.  He usually offers it each spring.  There
    are other EC instructors in the world.
    
    Local bike clubs are SOMETIMES a good place to learn things.  You
    would be more interested in a touring club than a racing club, at least
    for now.
    
    It was a few 1000 miles before I did things like shift in traffic
    or on bumby roads.
    
    ed

    	Bike riding is much like driving a car: most people can do it
    in some fashion. But to get good at it, some training helps - the
    EC course is great! I wish more cyclists, new and experienced, would
    take it. Or at least read Forrester's book (available from LAW)
    "Effective Cycling", the text used in the course. 
    	'Til then, you could make some real headway by finding a deserted
    area and practicising balance, handling, and braking skils as mentioned
    (like we practice skid control skills in the winter with cars).
    Make sure your first rides are in uncongested roads. You need to
    build confidence so you can progress to concentrating on traffic 
    and let the riding become a lower brain function.
    	(My folks tell me that they gave my first bike a shove, I wobbled
    once and was riding with gusto. That night they found me sleep walking,
    in the bathroom holding onto the basin with both hands, standing
    on one leg, trying to get the other foot onto a pedal.) - Chris
    

    Thank-you for the replys so far. I have been implementing the
    suggestions.  Last night I rode for an hour with my son, around and
    around the cul-du-sac again.  The center island delimits my path, and
    we have swept all of the rocks and gravel off the asphalt (the
    neighbors think my circling is strange enough, but I'm sure they
    appreciated my sweeping the road for them).  I go clockwise then
    counterclockwise to balance my left and right turn practice.  My right
    side is still sore from my early crash (minor road rash and a strained
    ankel).  We decided to try a go-around on the block, which includes 
    two minor hills,  the first one was not bad, but after much huffing and
    puffing and gnashing of gears, I made it! 
    
    I plan on getting a helmet (also one for my son).  Also an odometer to
    check my milage.  I have been reading several books, "Complete book of
    Bicycling" and another one published by "Bicycling" magazine having to
    do with riding and racing techniques.  Thanks for the tip on the other
    book "Effective Cycling", I will try to find that one.
    
    I am "in the field" so don't have access to New England bike clubs,
    (Minneapolis area).  But I can check locally for courses.
    
    Thanks again for the encouragement and pointers.
    
    Dave (getting less wobbly)
    

    	What a bunch!
    
    	We've got Ed riding over, by his own admission, "bumby"
    	roads.
    
    	And, if that's not bad enough, we have Chris trying to "ride"
    	the basin (or stool) in his bathroom.
    
    	Scott

    I recall trying to learn to ride a bike as a kid. One of my
    main problems was staying relaxed. I can remember just bumping
    into telephone poles...clunk...I would see a telephone pole,
    and than focus on it, and the more I focused on it, the more
    I would steer for it...and then eventually....clunk...I'd 
    make contact...fall over and cry, and yell for MOMMmmmmm!!!!
    It was a miserable habit...that I learned finally to overcome. 
    
    Just keep it simple and don't try and think about everything 
    you are trying to accomplish. Like was said before, stay loose
    and KISS...KeepItSimpleStupid! Not that you're stupid...;-)
    When your turning...just turn...when stopping...just stop...
    
    A little Zen Bike riding advice..for what its worth       
    
    -Arthur

	One thing that might help... Remember that bicycles turn by
	leaning.  

	Find a large empty parking lot in which to practice... Schools
	after hours or shopping areas early on Sunday.  Remember that
	if you approach any object (a lamp post) or any object approaches
	you (a car) then STOP the bike and try a different direction.

	Start by going straight as far as you can.  If you start to
	wobble, just STOP and try again.

	After you can go straight with some confidence, try leaning a 
	bit to one side into a very slow turn.  Practice a making your 
	turns tighter until you can do a complete circle without getting 
	close to any obstacles.

	Once you can do a circles in each direction you have mastered
	the basic skills of riding... straight riding and turns.
	You can then go anywhere.  

	Remember... if you feel like you are getting too close to danger 
	and you are about to panic... hit the brakes and STOP. 

	[Don't forget to wear a helmet out there!]

    Yes, the look-at-it, crash-into-it phenomena (sp?) has been
    experienced.  That is how I ran into the car.  I spent a lot of time
    last night practicing stopping.  That gave me more confidence.  I found
    out that my right hand brake lever was stopping the front wheel, and
    the left hand was stopping the rear wheel.  This felt funny, and when I
    checked my son's bike his was the other way around.  Right hand-rear
    brake made more sense since I am right-handed, so I reversed them.  
    
    I think I will try the empty parking lot practice this weekend.  I
    still get sort of panicly when I see a car, or kid, or anything enter
    the cul-du-sac. 
    
    Now if I can just learn to "standup in the petals".
    
    Dave

    Having the left-hand brake as the front is normal.  The other way
    around is "motorcycle" style.  Still, you should know that the
    front brake will stop you quicker than the rear, and that you
    should concentrate on using it most.

    Standing up took me a long time.  It was 4 or 5 years before
    I would stand to climb and another year before I'd do it with cars
    or riders nearby.  It was another year before I found out I should
    not take my hands off the bars when standing.
    
    ed

>    the front brake will stop you quicker than the rear, and that you
>    should concentrate on using it most.

    One thing to be careful of:

      If you are riding at any reasonable fast speed and you jam on the
front brake without also using the back one, you may go flying over the
handlebars.....A lesson I learned the hard way as a kid riding his first
ten-speed bike.

			Dave (who like to stay behind the handlebars :-)!
   

    I put in about 12 miles of riding over the weekend.  I went to a
    schoolyard as suggested in a previous note and practiced turns,
    straight riding, stopping and avoiding kid on bikes.  It seems that I
    have gained some notariety (sp?) with the kids for being not only one
    of the few adults who rides a bike, but one who just learned.  I have
    learned a lot from the kids too (especially my son). 
    
    Some asked questions like "did you use training wheels?", I put 
    on my best Clint Eastwood face and answered "Nope... I did it the hard 
    way.", "Did you crash?" "Yep...  once. (and I show them my wounds).  I
    also noticed some pretty bad riding habits, pulling wheelies, no-handed
    rideing, skidding out in front of other riders (like me), no helmets,
    ect... I hope I can set an example by wearing a helmet and of course, not
    pulling those other stunts(as if i could).
    
    My wife is interested in riding now, so we went to a bike shop and
    tried out some bikes.  We liked the Schwin(sp?) Probe.  I test rode
    one, and immediately fell in love with the SIS shifting, thoughts of
    returning my Sears Free Spirit briefly went through my mind, but I
    decided to keep the trusty bike, after all I am getting pretty attached
    to it.  We didn't buy the bike, but will keep looking (good price
    though, $260.00)
    
    I tryed two bike trails, one was 3.6 miles and the other was 1.6 miles,
    I swallowed my first bug, so I think I am getting to the point where I
    can begin to call myself a biker.
    
    I thought I would share my progress, the more I ride, the better I get,
    but I have a long way to go.  
    
    One of the local DEC bike enthusiasts and noters (Dave Perez) has offered 
    to check my bike for fit and proper assembly (he does not trust Sears 
    either) we will probably do that this week.
    
    Thanks again for the advice and encouragement,
    
    Dave
    
    

    Re .15
    
    >  It was another year before I found out I should
    > not take my hands off the bars when standing.
    
    
    Ed, may I dare ask why it took a year for you to figure this out?
    
    	-Nancy

    re:.18: It was a year before I tried it?
    
    ed

    Hi Dave, its sounds like you are finally getting the hang of it.  By
    next summer you may be ready to ride RAGBRAI or TRAM.  You ask, what
    are these, RAGBRAI is the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle
    Ride Across Iowa and TRAM is The Ride Across Minnisota.  I've done
    RAGBRAI the last 4 years and its a real kick and TRAM has always been
    advertised because it starts the day after RAGBRAI ends.  Each of these
    rides are hundreds of miles over a week period.  There are about 10,000
    riders on RAGBRAI.
    
    I ride the roads and trails of Colorado.  I live at 8500' and simply
    leave my house and within minutes I'm in Pike National Forest on
    single-track trails.  Keep up the practice and for sure Get a Helmet!
    

Hi Michael!  Sorry I missed you on your trip to Minneapolis a while back.  

I got a helmet, actually two helmets, one for my son and one for myself.  I made
sure they were ANSI/SNELL certified.  Now we ride together with matching
helmets (Rhode Gear).  

I went over to Dave Perez'es home last night, and he kindly did a complete
mechanical check of my bike plus a fit.  The wheels were out-of-true, the brakes
were adjusted wrong, and my seat was too far forward and low.  It sure made a
difference to have those changes made!  It was an education to find out what
"rules of thumb" are used for fit.

We are going to hit the trail again this weekend, St. Croix State park has a
10+ mile trail that I am going to try.  With the leaves beginning to turn I hope
to have plenty of enjoyable rides yet before the snow falls.  I have a 
stationary bike that I will give a try this winter.  If that turns out to be
too boring, who knows mayby I can learn something like cross-country skiing
or such.

Now if I can only convince my wife, that this is the best time to buy a bike!

Dave

    In the UK  the front brake is on the right on almost all machines,
    and is considered the standard position, even on mopeds without
    gears.
    
    	chris

    Just a final reply here in case anyone else out there ever has to learn
    to ride a bike as an adult....
    
    I still don't consider myself very good at riding, and I imagine that
    it will take months before I am completely at ease.  I hope that, like
    other things in life, I will always be learning something new.  I found
    the suggestions in this note, and in other topics in this conference
    most useful, and thank those who responded once again.  
    
    My endurance is slowly building, I was able to do a 12 mile bike trail
    without too much problem over the weekend.  I am looking at a nice
    trail that uses an old railroad bed, it goes though forest, bogs,
    and should be a nice ride.  It is called the "Hinckley Fire Trail" and
    goes for 32 miles from Hinckley Minnesota to Moose Lake Minnesota.  The
    fall colors will peak in the next two weeks, and the daytime temps have
    cooled down to the around 60-70 deg F. during the days.  I tried my
    first "off-road" ride, and it was really fun!  Since my bike is
    supposedly designed for both city and off-road, I gave it a try.
    
    Here are a few notes on what I would do differently if I were starting
    over again.
    
    1) Start with a better quality bike and buy from a bike store.  
    
    2) Don't get a bike that has dual-purpose tires (the ridge in the
    middle causes problems when learning to balance and turn by leaning).
    
    3) Make sure the bike is fitted to your body dimensions, before you
    start learning.
    
    4) Find a local adult biker who is willing to coach you.
    
    5) Learn starting and stopping skills early (running into backs of cars
    are not the best way to stop).
    
    6) Buy a helmet when you buy the bike.
    
    7) Your first rides should be at an empty parking lot or schoolyard
    (chase all kids on bikes away from schoolyard first).
    
    I found learning to be a very positive experience, although I did have to 
    ignore comments from neighbors, about my continuous circling around the
    cul-du-sac.  
    
    The most important thing that helped me while I was learning was from
    one of the early replys to this topic, "relax and have fun".  I will
    continue to follow this advice.
    
    Regards,
    
    Dave Ventura