How to ride a bicycle.

[tonyk]

How on earth do you teach a grown adult to ride a bicycle ?.....(Bicycle then maybe eventfully a motorbike).
I my experience was, try to ride, fall off, graze knees, elbows, hands, face, put on plaster’s and back on the bike till the next fall, repeat till you don’t fall over……..
But if you work in a office/bank it will worry the other staff/customers….
Unless of course she’s a born natural and don’t fall over.
Any comments please on how to…..

[Dipper]

Perhaps it's best not to teach someone in a office/bank

My brother and I helped an adult friend to learn to ride a few years back. First take the pedals off, then lower the saddle so they can put their feet on the ground. Get them used to balancing and steering.so kinda running along like a hobby horse. Do this until they are happy with turning the bike and happy lifting their feet up off the ground.

Next put the pedals back on, but initially run along giving them a push with their feet on their pedals. When they are comfortable with moving like this get them to start peddling. When they first start moving under their own steam you will still need to push them to get started. The final thing then for them to learn is to start off.

This took us about 4-5 hours, but she was riding fine afterwards. I would say do it on a quiet road rather then a field or something like that.

The final step (and this is the most important) is to then go to the pub and get them to buy you a pint or two, you will probably be very thirsty afterwards.

Oh, and it is helpful if you pick somewhere to learn where they have to turn. preferably left and right (same corner both ways works fine). having the defined point to turn help them to focus on "Yes, this is where I turn".

Or just send them to an unknowing bike instructor for their CBT.

Film it. It'll be hilarious.

[Mark_h]

I've helped a few.

Make sure the saddle isn't too low. Must be able to reach the ground but not have their knees in their chin

Try them first to see if they are a natural:-
1. Big push off and stop just a meter or two
2. Same + 1 turn on the pedals.

If 1&2 are too hard then go for the "running bike" option. Ideally pedals, cranks and chain off so they don't take all the skin off their ankles.

Then once they can do that, back to 1&2 above.

Once they can do a few meters ahead and stop in a controlled manner, get them turning to their dominant side (right for right handed people) then their less dominant side.

As with riding a motorbike, get them to look where they want to go and the bike will go there. Also consider slackening off the front brake a bit to make it harder for them to catapult themselves off the front.

If student fit bird then get them in tight lycra from the off as it makes learning much better.