Health & Fitness
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cyclists

Hubs took me on my first road ride in, um, eight years I think?  this weekend.

And it's clear I need some massive work on my bike handling skills.  I can ride the bike on the trainer all day, but put me on the road, and I'm a mess of nerves and instability.

I'm limited in the amount of time I can ride outside due to the two littles and hubs training schedule as well, but I can put in one good ride a week assuming good weather on a Wednesday.

I know the best way to get more comfortable on the bike outside is to spend more time on the bike outside, but are there some drills that I can do to help with that as well?

I can probably convince the girls to play in the courtyard of our apartments while I rode the sidewalk around them to practice some drills.

I was so nervous and off center the whole whopping ten miles we were out there that I was too scared to even grab my water bottle.  I'm such a nervous nellie.

Re: cyclists

  • I'd start looking around for bike clinics. Contact local cycling clubs, shops, anyone that you can think of. A clinic may be the best, quickest way to work on your handling skills. You will learn how to handle the bike, how to ride in traffic, etc. (It also depends on what the goal of the clinic is.)

    Other than that, it's time on the bike. Do any of your local bike shops have a women's only ride? That may be a good way to learn in a non-intimidating environment. I love doing my LBS's chicks ride. 

  • Play like a kid--seriously. See a jump, try to go over it. Maneuver your bike between narrow objects or practice figure eights around chalked points on the street. Stand up and ride, practice without hands, etc. You'll quickly get the feel of how your bike moves.

    I do recommend riding with a group to learn how to navigate traffic, though. 

  • imageEssaL:

    Play like a kid--seriously. See a jump, try to go over it. Maneuver your bike between narrow objects or practice figure eights around chalked points on the street. Stand up and ride, practice without hands, etc. You'll quickly get the feel of how your bike moves.

    I do recommend riding with a group to learn how to navigate traffic, though. 

    This is exactly what I did. For some reason I decided that I wanted to train for a Sprint Triathlon after not riding a bike for 10+ years. My SO bought me a new (to me) bike and I just got out there and rode and basically just played around until I got more comfortable. I really think it's true, you never forget how to ride a bike, sometimes you just need to jog your memory :)

    Ridley Run 3.1 - 4/9/11 - 34:24 - 1st race evah!
    Kelly Monaghan's 5K - 5/15/11 - 3rd Place in AG
    Walk the Talk 5K - 5/18/11 - 31:12 PR
    Ridley Run 3.1 - 4/14/12 - 1st race of the year, 32:45
  • I've been there! When I transitioned from a mountain bike to a road bike, I was sooo nervous!  Sadle had great advice about doing a bike handling class.  The other thing I would suggest is to tackle one skill at a time.  For me, I started with working on holding my line and not getting nervous when people passed me.  Then I worked on getting my water bottle.  At first I had to get enough speed and balance so that I could stop peddling and reach down.  Now it's a lot easier.  Then I got clipless peddles, and that was a whole new learning curve of clipping in and out.  DH and I ride a lot on a rail-to-trail, so it's a wide pathway.  I am ok with riding on roads now, but I would rather be on a trail.  Atlanta drivers don't have the best reputation for following our laws about sharing the road. Big Smile Good luck, and stick with it!  You'll get it!
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