Learning To Ride a Bike

Learning to ride a bike may seem like a huge and daunting task, but once you get the hang of it, you will be ready to go anytime, anywhere. Believe it or not, it doesn’t take very long, so there is no reason to put it off another minute.

First, Get A Bike.
Your bike should be the right size for you. You should be able to reach the pedals while sitting on the bike without stretching your legs or hips or pointing your toes. You should also be able to pedal the bike comfortably without having to pull your knees up uncomfortably high. The tires should be properly inflated, and you should be sure your brakes work.

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Next, Get An Adult.
You will only need your adult for one afternoon. After that, you will be able to ride your bike on your own whenever you like. The adult will help you steady your bike and run with you, holding the seat, until you figure out how to balance your bike on your own. Once you find this balance, you will be able to maintain that balance any time on your own. Your body will commit this to muscle memory very quickly, making it easy to duplicate at any time.

The Right Terrain
Someday, you may find you love mountain biking over rocky hills and steep terrain, but today, for learning to ride, you should find an area that is flat and smooth with a long straight area that will give you time to get up and moving. Small, easily sloping hills are okay, but you should avoid San Francisco style hills that will lead to a crash situation for an inexperienced rider.

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Just Do It
Once you are prepared, you will climb aboard your bike and have your adult help you balance. As you begin to pedal, your adult will continue to balance your bike and run along side you until you pick up some speed. The faster you go, the easier it is to balance your bicycle. Do not get discouraged if you struggle to stay up for a couple of tries. Before long, you will find that your adult is no longer hanging on and you are riding on your own.

A Couple Of Hints
If you watch your front wheel or the area right in front of your bike, you will wobble more and probably fall. Keep your eyes focused ahead of you and you will stay straight and maintain control.

Safety gear should always be worn. A bike helmet can save your life. They come in lots of different styles and colors, so you can make a fashion statement while protecting your head.