Do you want to go out for a bike ride? Are you trying to teach someone else? Many adults have never had the opportunity to learn and many children want to. Don't feel embarrassed, but rather dedicate yourself right away to one of the healthiest and most enjoyable means of transport out there. Cycling requires preparation, technique and probably a few falls, but everyone can learn.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Learn Safely
Step 1. Find a suitable place
To learn, you need an environment where you feel comfortable and away from traffic. Look for a smooth stretch of asphalt with no slopes, such as your driveway or sidewalk. If there isn't enough space, you can practice in a parking lot or in the park.
- Giving your first rides on grass or gravel is a good idea, because on those surfaces you will be hurt less in the event of a fall. However, it will not be as easy to balance as on asphalt.
- If you plan on practicing your balance and pedaling on inclines, find a route with gentle slopes.
- Check the highway code and find out if it is legal to cycle on the pavement.
Step 2. Wear the right clothes
The knee pads and elbow pads protect the joints from scratches, so they are very useful for cyclists. Long-sleeved shirts and trousers are also a great help in case of falls and can be used in combination with protectors.
- Avoid baggy pants and long skirts. These clothes can get caught in the gearbox and wheels.
- Do not wear open shoes. These models leave the feet exposed to the bicycle and the ground.
Step 3. Put on the helmet
These protections are recommended for both experienced and novice cyclists. You can't know when an accident will happen to you. Broken bones usually heal, but head injuries, which are common in bicycle accidents, have permanent consequences. Furthermore, in some countries the highway code requires the use of a helmet.
- The helmet must be the exact size of your head. It should fit quite tight and reach 2.5 cm above the eyebrows; it must also have a strap that holds it tight, without preventing you from moving your mouth.
- Commuter helmets are the most common. They are round, made of foam and plastic, you can find them on the internet or in bicycle shops.
- Street helmets are elongated and often have vents. They are also made of foam and plastic, but are mostly used for racing. Look for them on the internet or in specialized stores.
- Helmets for youth (10-15 years of age), children (5-10 years of age) and toddlers (less than 5 years) are smaller versions of the models described above. Those for small children are the only ones that have more foam.
- The mountain bike and professional helmets have a visor and neck protection suitable for off-road travel.
Step 4. Go out during the day
It is possible to ride a bike at night, but it is not recommended for beginners. It will take you a long time to learn how to balance. This means that, until you are used to it, the bike will skid and in the dark you may not see the obstacles that will appear in front of you. Furthermore, at night, drivers have a much harder time distinguishing you.
If you have to go out at night, wear light-colored clothing, reflective stickers, and install a headlight on your bike
Part 2 of 3: Getting on the Bike
Step 1. Start on a flat surface
The driveways, sidewalks, low-traffic streets and paths in the park are ideal for a beginner. They have no ups or downs, so you don't have to worry about crashing down; also, it will be easier to find balance and stop.
You can also practice on grass or gravel. Falls will be less painful, but you will need to pedal harder to move
Step 2. Adjust the seat
Lower it until you can put both feet on the ground. This allows you to avoid falls. Adults don't need castors, which can be very useful for small children.
It is possible to remove the pedals, but it is not necessary
Step 3. Test the brakes
Find out how they work by walking and carrying the bicycle with your hands. Use them to get used to their position, the strength needed to use them and the effect they have on the vehicle. Once you become familiar with the brakes you will feel more comfortable in the saddle, as you will be able to stop in an emergency.
- If your bike has handlebar brakes, try both to figure out which controls the front wheel and which controls the rear. A professional mechanic can reverse them if you wish.
- Notice how the pressure of the rear brake causes the corresponding wheel to skid. Pushing the front brake all the way in, on the other hand, the bike has a tendency to tip forward.
- If your bike doesn't have handlebar brakes, it should have pedals that can brake the bike by turning backwards. To stop, push on the pedal closest to the back of the bike, as if you want to pedal backwards.
- If your bike has a fixed wheel and hasn't been modified, it doesn't have brakes. Instead of braking you will have to slow down the pedaling frequency or drift by leaning forward and keeping both pedals parallel to the ground with your feet.
Step 4. Put one foot on the ground
Choose the side you prefer, although often the dominant side is the more natural one. For example, if you are right, you can hold the bike on the left side. Lift your leg, take it over the bike and place it on the ground on the other side. Keep the half straight between your legs.
- Feel the weight of the bike between your legs and try to keep it balanced as you lower yourself. With the feet on the ground, the bicycle cannot fall on its side.
- Keep your weight in the center of the vehicle, evenly distributed across your legs. Sit on the seat with your back straight and do not lean forward.
Step 5. Start moving forward
Don't use the pedals, but push yourself with your feet. Raise your legs and place your feet on the pedals. During the movement, keep the bike balanced for as long as possible. When you realize that the vehicle is about to unbalance, put one foot on the ground and resume the thrust.
Step 6. Keep your gaze forward
If you look at an obstacle, the bike moves towards it. Focus your gaze in the direction you want to go. It takes practice to avoid distractions on the road.
- Before taking full control of the bike, follow the bike. During the first few rides the bike will have a tendency to turn or move in a circle. Don't stop and try to keep your balance following the natural trajectory of the bicycle.
- If you are helping a child or a friend, you can keep a hand on their lower back to help them keep their balance.
Step 7. Start pedaling
Start with one foot on the ground. Hold the other plate on one of the pedals, facing up. Push on the pedal, put the foot that was on the ground on the other and go! Keep moving forward as long as you can keep your balance.
Increasing speed makes it easier to maintain balance, but don't accelerate to the point of losing control
Step 8. Dismount from the bike
Don't stop by putting your feet on the ground, but learn to do it with the brakes. Stop pedaling, shift your weight to the lowest pedal, and apply both brakes (if your bike has them). When you are stationary, stand up slightly and come down to the ground.
Placing your foot on the ground too early during braking abruptly stops the movement of the bicycle. Inertia could lead you to crash into the handlebars
Part 3 of 3: Learning to Slope
Step 1. Practice riding the bike along gentle slopes
Take it by hand to the top of a hill, saddle up and descend, taking advantage of the flat area that follows the slope to slow down naturally. Disassemble and repeat, if necessary, until you are used to controlling the vehicle and staying balanced.
- Keep your weight on your feet. Stay seated on the seat, bend your elbows and relax your body.
- Once you get off safely, try repeating the exercise with your feet on the pedals.
Step 2. Brake as you go downhill
Once you feel comfortable with your feet on the pedals, try to step down again, this time by gently applying the brakes. You will learn to slow down without losing control or colliding with the handlebars.
Step 3. Try to swerve
When you are able to coast, pedal, and brake in a straight line, try going downhill again. Move the handlebars until you can change the direction of the bike without losing control. Try to notice how the slope changes the behavior of the vehicle and worry about staying in balance.
Step 4. Pedal for the final downhill stretch
Use the techniques you learned earlier to pedal and steer without stopping at the end of the descent. Once on the flat surface, practice the tighter turns, then brake to stop.
Step 5. Pedal up the hill
Start pedaling from the flat stretch and increase your pace when you feel the road rise. Lean forward or even stand up on the pedals for more force. Walk the slope up and down several times until you feel safe.
Once you feel confident, reach the middle of the climb, stop and start pedaling again
Advice
- When you are more experienced, you can raise the seat so that it only touches the ground with your toes.
- Remember to look ahead. If you look around, the bicycle has a tendency to follow your gaze.
- Practice under the supervision of a parent or adult. Whatever your age, they will help you learn.
- If you can't get a helmet and protective gear, practice on the grass and avoid the roads.
- Always wear protective gear and a helmet.
- Don't try to predict drivers' intentions; always assume the worst and be careful.
- Bicycles with gears are more challenging for beginners. If you have to learn about a similar model, increase the ratio as you go uphill.
- Learning is more fun in company. If you're afraid of falling, learning in the presence of other people enjoying themselves is a useful encouragement.
Warnings
- Once you have learned to ride a bike, you learn the rules of the road, especially the dangers of exceeding speed limits, how to behave in the presence of cars and the signs.
- Bicycle accidents are common and dangerous. Always wear a helmet to avoid head injuries. Put on the protectors to avoid scratches and fractures.
- Learn the local laws. In some countries a helmet is mandatory, in others it is not allowed to ride a bike on the sidewalks.
