Do not be too shy to admit that you do not know how to ride a bike, even if you are now an adult! You are not alone. Personally, I know a lot who have not had the chance to learn to ride two wheels.
If you want to learn to ride a bike as an adult, keep on reading and learn from the insights we’ll be sharing. It may seem intimidating at first, but once you start, it is easier than what you have initially imagined. The most important thing that you need to do is to practice consistently until you do it right.
Table of Contents
How to Ride a Bike
Find the Right Location
The first thing that you should do, which is also one of the most important, is to find a suitable location where you can practice. It should be in a place with low traffic so that you can practice safely. The surface should be flat and smooth, which will make the ride experience comfortable.
If possible, start on a surface with grass or soft gravel. This will minimize the likelihood that you will end up being hurt in case of an accidental fall. The latter is inevitable for anyone who is just learning how to ride a bike.
Find the Right Time
Timing is also an important consideration if you want to learn basic biking skills. As much as possible, do this early morning or late in the afternoon. Do not practice at noon when the sun is at its peak as you will most probably end up being uncomfortable. For your safety, you should not practice at night as well. Even with the light on, it is still better to practice in broad daylight.
Gear Up
As someone who is learning the basics of riding a bike, it is important to be equipped with the right gear that will protect you from potential injuries. No, we are not talking about training wheels! Do not look stupid! What we are talking about is protection for the knees, elbows, and head.
Aside from the right gear, you should also dress appropriately. The most important is to wear something that you are comfortable with. Avoid wearing anything that is baggy.
Tips for Wearing a Helmet
As noted, a helmet is one of the most important safety gears to have. Nonetheless, it will only deliver anticipated benefits when it is used the right way. That said, below are some tips to keep in mind:
- See to it that the helmet fits well. It should not be too loose or too tight.
- Make sure that the straps are fastened in such a way that you are comfortable.
- Always inspect the helmet before it is worn. If there are cracks or other visible damages, do not use it.
Position Yourself in the Bike
Now that you are all set, it is now time to get to the bike. The first thing that you should learn to do is to know how to balance. It is best to have a friend assist you in doing this to keep the bike in an upright position and to prevent you from being off-balanced.
To do this, you have to position yourself on the seat with your hands on the handlebars and brake. Your one foot should be planted on the ground. It does not matter whether this is the left or right foot. As you do this, keep your weight centered on the bike to be balanced. You should also sit straight and avoid leaning as this will cause you to lose your balance.
Start Gliding
Now that you are properly positioned and you found your balance, the next thing that you need to do is to glide. At this point, aside from maintaining proper posture, see to it as well that your head is held high with eyes looking straight. Presence of mind is important. Try to be as calm as possible.
At first, you should not go straight into pedaling. That is too early at this point. Rather, what you should do is to push yourself forward using your foot. Practice a technique that is also called scooting. This is done by simply pushing off and getting both your feet up for as long as you can hold it. At any point, you can put one foot down if you feel that you are already losing balance.
Start Pedaling
After the glide, the next thing that you have to learn is to pedal. This is quite difficult since most beginners will find it hard to keep their balance and glide at the same time. This is the point where most people end up falling off the bike.
You need to position your foot correctly on the bike pedal. It should be flat on the pedal while pointed upwards. Start with your one foot on the ground and one foot on the pedal. Push the pedal and slowly bring the other foot up on the other pedal. The quicker you pedal, the easier it will be for you to keep your balance.
When you are already pedaling, you should also learn how to use the brakes. This will keep you safe and sound when you are biking.
To start, learn pedaling in a circular motion going back to the same place where you started. Begin on a flat surface. After days of practicing and once you are already confident of the skills that you have, you can proceed to more challenging terrains. If you just keep on practicing on smooth ground, you won’t be able to take your skills to the next level.
Learn How to Steer
After pedaling, one more thing that you have to learn is steering, which is important because this will bring the bike in its intended direction. It is easy if you are biking only on a straight path. It becomes more challenging, however, when there are turns that you need to make, especially in the case of steep curves.
There are some tips that you should keep in mind when steering. For instance, if it is a sharp turn, one thing that you should do is to go low. By keeping your center of gravity low, it will be easier for you to steer in the right direction. You need to loosen up your body as well. If you are too tight, this will make it difficult for the bike to turn.
Practice Makes Perfect
Lastly, you should keep on practicing. It is almost impossible to learn the fundamentals on the first time that you practice. As much as possible, make it a habit to go biking so that you can master the basic skills. You will most likely fall, but make sure that you do not give up.
So, as shown above, learning how to ride a bike is not that difficult at all. Do not blame your parents if they haven’t thought you how to do it when you are younger. It is never too late to learn something new!