A guide for adults to learn to ride a bicycle simply and effectively

As we all know, riding a bike brings us many benefits. There is nothing can compare to the sensation of relaxation and satisfaction given by riding, this healthy sport also being environmental- friendly and cheap. Some adults especially college students find that riding a bike tends to be the most convenient and economical method of transportation by avoiding the cost of maintaining a car and the associated parking fees. However, to take advaa guide fro adults to learn to ride a bikentages of all these benefits, the first thing you need to do is to learn to ride a bike.

In fact, for adult learners, bike riding isn’t as easy as it looks like. Less attention is paid to the adult learners of cycling shills compared to the children. There are plenty of adults who have never ridden a bike. Some adults even will feel a bit embarrassed and anxious when watching children race past them on their 2- wheels. In this post, I will give some tips for an adult to learn to ride a bike simply and effectively.

Choosing the right bike

Choosing the right bike is of great importance for the children if you want to have an enjoyable experience and the same true for adults. No matter you buy a new bike or rent one, here are a few things you need to take into consideration.

The size of the bike: the bike you choose should allow you to mount on the bike without effort. However, the bike shouldn’t be too low. Having a riding test is a good idea to see if the height of the frame fits your own height.
Weight: heavier bikes can have a better balance while the lightweight ones are easier to handle. You should choose the bike that fits you best according to your level and personal skills.
Adjustable saddle and handlebar: adjustable saddle and handlebar can help you adjust the height of the saddle and your position. You should keep the seat of the bike low enough so that you can touch the ground. Make sure the handlebars to be higher than the seat.
Safety preparation

Once you have found the right bike, it’s time for you to start to learn. The first thing you need to do is to do the safety preparation which includes an approved helmet, knee choosing the right bikeand elbow protection pads and comfortable clothing and shoes. One thing you need to pay attention is that the shoes you wear shouldn’t be going to fall off or they could get tangled up with the bike chain. Well-fit equipment will also help you to conquer the fear of injury and pain that may hinder the learning process.

Checking out the bike part

To check out the bike you ride, you should sit on the bike and get used to where all the parts are. Make sure to check the handles and shifter location even though they are not going to be used for a while. Then you also need to test the pedals without getting on your bike. Besides, you should practice squeezing both the brake to get accustomed to how the brakes work. Get on and off the bike without actually moving it and sit upright on the bike. Don’t hop on a racing bike with dropped handlebars because those are difficult for a beginner to use.

Learning procedure

During the learning procedure, you may need a proper training space and a yard or a quiet park is a good choice. Besides, it’s perfect if you have a friend who can support and encourage you when you feel embarrassed and demoralized. At last, what you need is a lot of patience.

Maintain the balance
Firstly, you need to learn how to maintain the balance. When children learn to ride a bike, they usually begin with training wheel to provide balance but there is no manufacturer to make training wheels for adult learners maybe because there is no market for them. To maintain balance, you need to adjust the saddle to its lower position with both your feet flat on the ground, and then move the bike when you are seated on the saddle. When you get used to it, then you should achieve a higher speed that can allow you to raise your feet and try to maintain the balance of the bike. During this course, if you feel like falling off the bike, then you should put your feet back on the ground and start it again.

Steer and turn
If you have gained enough experience in maintaining the balance, then you can go to the next step to learn other basic skills of riding a bike. They are steering, turning. The purpose of steering and turning is to keep balance and change your direction. You should sit on the saddle when your friend holds you as the shoulder and push the bike forward by the saddle. During this course, what you need to concentrate is steering and change your direction by turning the front wheel according to the instructions. In order to get used to change the direction, you could try it in a circle or draw “eight” on the ground.

Pedal and brake
If you have enough confidence, then you can go to the next step and get your feet up on ask your friend for helpthe pedals. Pedaling is to provide forward motion and momentum for the balancing. You need to walk your bike to achieve enough speed that will make you maintain the balance when you are putting your feet on the pedals. When your feet are on the pedals, then you should try to pedal so as to continue riding. As to breaking, you need to brake using the hand breaking not using your feet. During this course, just put your feet on the ground as soon as you feel like to lose balance. And then start all over again.

Work on position
If the above skills have built up your confidence, then it’s time to work on position because it’s not good for your health if you keep cycle with a low saddle for the rest of your life. So then you need to adjust the height of the saddle to match your height. Allowing you to sit on the saddle and put your feet on the ground with your legs fully stretched is the right height. Then start again. You will notice that pedaling as well as keeping balance in this position is totally different. Asking your friend to help you keep balance until you gain enough speed to keep balance on your own is a good choice to learn it quickly.

Leave your safety zone
If you can ride steadily and is able to stop the bike and get down safely, then you can leave your safety zone and try new paths. In fact, you can find a grassy field with a gentle leave your safety zonedownhill of 30 yards or so which will help you gain enough speed to maintain the balance. Trying this on a grassy hill slope will be better because it will provide a soft landing and you will not suffer serious injuries if you fall off your bike. As the experienced gained, you can put one foot on a pedal and the other foot to push you ahead. Keep in mind that you have known about how to pedal and how to keep balance and you must be confident. Then you can gradually put the other foot on the pedal and pedal. As I have mentioned before, if you feel like falling off your bike, then you should put your feet on the ground to avoid injuries in this phase.

Go eventually
After you can ride with both your feet on the pedals, just look forward and pedal in a straight line. Anyway, confidence is the key. Even if you fall off your bike, just hop on that bike again. After a few days of practicing, you will get on your bike on a daily basis for leisure or for commuting or for riding around on campus. One thing you need to pay attention, if you ride a bike in traffic, you should always obey the rules.

Conclusion

As you can see, learning to ride a bike is not much complicated as you see. What you need are the courage, determination and proper encouragements. Following the guides described above, you will be able to hit the road and enjoy the benefits given by riding a bike in no time.