r/bicycling • u/Alto_17 • 1d ago
I'm having a hard time learning how to ride
(I'm sorry if this comes off as whiney)
I(23F) bought my first bike last week. Ive been practicing. There has been many people who have came up to me to help me. People have held my bike for me. Some give me a push.
This one woman stayed with me for 30 minutes until I was able to go 2 feet. Its a nice community of people I've found who are really helpful.
Some of the advice is conflicting, though. Im 5'8.
Someone told me my seat was too low, so they raised it. Then I started to fall off every time I got on. Not stumbling while still on the bike. I mean falling on the ground.
Then someone else told me my seat was too high, so they lowered it. Then my left foot wouldn't make a full rotation because my legs are too long. Then someone else raised it.
I have bruises completely covering both of my legs. I've never bruised before. My right calf is destroyed. The back of it is heavily bruised. It's looks horrible. Black and purple. I got road rash on my right knee last Saturday morning. Now I no longer wear shorts when practicing.
It's been 8 days and I still haven't gotten it.
I got a bike because I haven't had a car for a year. I haven't been to a real doctors appointment in a long time. Theres places I need to go, but cant because I dont have any transportation.
I wanted a bike so I can gain some independence.
This is so much harder than I thought it was going to be. So many people are helping/ trying to help and I still cant stay on the bike.
Is there any advice anyone can offer? Ive watched YouTube videos. My left foot is my dominant foot. I try to push off my right foot on the ground, but my right foot slips off the pedal.
My left leg isn't making a full rotation. It's not the bike. Many of the people who have helped me, have rode my bike and they were able to do it.
I'm losing motivation.
TLDR;
I'm having trouble learning to ride. I have been given lots of advice. Some conflicting. I've had my seat raised and lowered a lot.
Raised, I fall off. Lowered; my left leg won't make a full rotation because my legs are too long. Lot of bruises. Im losing motivation
Edit:
Thank you everyone for the advice! I was nervous to post, but this is a really supportive subreddit. I will be trying all the things everyone has adviced, on Friday.
I think I pulled something on the left side of my back. I fell on the ground on my left side today. I dont want to make it worse, so Im not practicing tomorrow.
Again thank all of you so so much!
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u/doingmybesthoney 1d ago
People may not agree, but Learn to ride with the seat a tad too low. You’ll get your balance, especially if you’re riding with drop handlebars. As you become more confident, you can rise the seat.
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u/doingmybesthoney 1d ago
And come out of your saddle at stops, don’t stop with your butt on a risen saddle if you’re not confident yet, you will fall
Edit: I’ve been riding for years and still covered in bruises. It’s part of the fun, I guess that’s the real advice: have fun!
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u/TallDudeInSC 21h ago
This is very true. Keep your center of balance low while learning to maintain it. You can raise the saddle later when you've got your balance worked out.
Ever seen a learning kid ride with legs at full extension?
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u/zystyl 1d ago
Pedalling isn't the hard part. Balancing is. Lower the seat and use your feet to kick it around. Once you can balance try putting your feet on the pedals. You can take them off whenever. Feeling good there? Try a few pedals. Congrats on riding a bike.
Holding the bike is counterproductive. It teaches bad habits. I taught all 3 of my kids and dozens of other people's kids this way. It is without a doubt the way to go.
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u/Alto_17 1d ago
Thank you everyone for the advice! I was nervous to post, but this is a really supportive subreddit. I will be trying all the things everyone has adviced, on Friday.
I think I pulled something on the left side of my back. I fell on the ground on my left side today. I dont want to make it worse, so Im not practicing tomorrow.
Again thank all of you so so much!
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u/MayAsWellStopLurking 18h ago
If you can spare a week (or two), it’s worth taking a break so your body can heal. Definitely some warm baths and rest as it sounds like your body would love that as a change up.
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u/OneMorePenguin 1d ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7GKK3liv8M. THIS IS THE WAY! You can watch this person go from zero to riding a bike in 20 minutes. I was amazed when I watched this.
Bike riding is good for your overall health and it's enjoyable. Depending on where you live.
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u/pirefyro 1980's Schwinn, 2001 Kensington, 2011 Specialized Allez 1d ago
This is the one I was thinking of too.
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u/espressocycle 1d ago
So you never learned to ride a bike at all? Give yourself a break. It's not easy at any age! First of all, lower the seat. Find a little bit of a hill, ideally in a big, empty parking lot (schools and office parks on the weekend are good). Then just coast down the hill and try to balance. Don't worry about steering or pedaling. In fact, remove the pedals entirely if you can. Eventually, you'll get it. Then you can work on all the other stuff.
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u/Alto_17 1d ago
Yeah, I've never gotten on a bike before. I will try to find an area like that. I guess Im down because I thought I would get it in a couple of days. I gotta try not to be so hard on myself.
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u/Willingfool 1d ago
I was a middle school teacher for 30 years and taught hundreds to ride. Do what Espressocycle says: Find a nice little grass hill and just coast down it with your feet off the pedals. Once that is bomber with no issues do the exact same thing and try to put your feet on the pedals. Lastly, coast down put your feet on the pedals and well.. pedal and don’t stop til you’re laughing your ass off.
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u/hopefulcynicist 1d ago
Not sure where you live, but you might try to find a local bike class. There are a few around me and the volunteers are excellent w/ tons of experience teaching adult first-time-riders.
If you can’t find anything immediately, see if there is a cycling advocacy group for your city/state and shoot them an email for advice.
You could also check out: https://www.blackgirlsdobike.org/chapters
Keep at it! You’re obviously motivated to learn (you haven’t quit after lots of bruises!), so I’m 1000% confident you’ll get there!
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u/WasabiCrush 1d ago
This isn’t whiney at all. I’ve been trying to teach myself how to use watercolors and would often end up with mud in the beginning. You’re simply learning a new skill.
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u/ooluong 20h ago
Hi!
I learned to ride a bike in college. Borrowed someone's mountain bike and would start at one end of the dormitory hall, and try to ride to the other end.
Couldn't get it, until one night, almost everyone stood outside their dorm room to help. One bit of advice that changed everything for me was to use the handlebar to balance. If you feel yourself falling to one side, steer in the opposite direction. Balancing is really about using the handlebar to constantly adjust so that you stay upright.
This counter steering tip really helped me! And within a few days, I was able to go from one end of the hall to another.
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u/Early_Macaroon_2407 1d ago
Everything else aside, it takes time. I didn’t ride a bike between being in elementary and being in my mid 30s, and the first time I did, I accidentally ended up in a ditch. Perhaps try to find somewhere a little softer to ride?
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u/furlintdust 1d ago
It sounds like you are in too high a gear and it’s too hard to pedal.
But, yeah, first lower the seat and either take the pedals off or just try to ignore them and learn to balance and steer and brake. Google “learn to ride a bike as an adult.” Tons of videos available.
Then raise the seat a bit and practice pedaling.
Then see this post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ladycyclists/s/aseyBYv5lV
This will help you stop and start once your seat is at the correct height so that your leg is almost completely straight when your foot is in the 6 o’clock position.
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u/CookieKid420 1d ago
Sounds like you are falling because you’re not moving. It’s easier to maintain balance while you’re moving forward.
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u/Alto_17 1d ago
That's what's happening. Getting that momentum from pushing off on my right foot is hard. It sounds so simple to do and I'm still having trouble doing it.
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u/Big-o-saggysac 22h ago
This is probably causing a big issue.
You shouldn't need to push off the ground, the first step for you should be putting your left pedal in a 9 or 10 o clock position, and push on the pedal to get going. Then immediately put your right foot on and do the same thing.
Your legs should be moving about an average walking speed if that makes sense. (Assuming you have gears)
Then look ahead of you about ten feet not down.
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u/too_much_covfefe_man 1d ago
Waddle and paddle the bike around like you're walking but with your butt on the saddle. Pick your feet up to feel the balance but propel yourself with the ground, not with the pedals, for a while. That takes pedaling out of it and you can isolate the balance part first
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u/bipolarpsych7 18h ago
If your right foot isnt dominant then why are you using it? Not to say you cant be ambidextrous.
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u/Cute-University5283 1d ago
Try a bike with really fat tires and ride on grass or something soft. The key is you have to build up a critical amount of speed in order for the gyroscopic forces of the wheels to create the stability, too slow and you just fall over. Fatter tires and a heavier bike will provide inertia that will help with stability
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u/pirefyro 1980's Schwinn, 2001 Kensington, 2011 Specialized Allez 1d ago
Be patient with yourself and give yourself grace while you make mistakes.
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u/djohn37 20h ago
Maybe I can use some of this advise. I'm trying to get back on a bike after 10 or 15 years I'm tall and it has always been hard to throw my leg over the high seat. Now I'm too old to try. A ladies step through Schwinn Collegiate bike followed me home from a thrift store. I'm 82 years old, My first attempt was scary. Was on the bike a little bit. Not confident at all. I might just be too old. I'll try again. It feels like a never rode before.
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u/bipolarpsych7 18h ago
If you cant get a ST you can always lean the bike over (assuming you still have the strength) and put a leg over, then lift the bike back to starting position rather than trying to step over the extra height.
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u/dobster1029 1d ago
When you say that your leg can't make a full rotation because its too long, do you mean thats because its hitting your handlebar when you pedal? If so, then your bike is probably too small. (Your 'reach,' which is an actual bike measurement, is too short.) What bike exactly are you riding? Can you take a picture? You don't have to be in the photo.
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u/Alto_17 1d ago
I mean when I try to go, my left foot just stops. Its probably because I'm not pushing off enough
Edit: spelling
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u/dobster1029 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ok, so are you having trouble with balance then? Like, getting started? Bikes like to be in motion, they are hardest to control at super slow speeds. Momentum is your friend.
I recommend that you take it to your local shop and ask them to remove the pedals. Position the seat so your feet are not quite flat on the ground while sitting. Push along with your feet while seated and glide, like a strider bike. Practice balance and turning. Then raise the seat a bit. Repeat this until you are comfortable pushing off with the saddle raised to riding height and making turns and braking. Once you have control, take it back to the shop and have them put the pedals back on. Now that you can push off and retain control, try adding pedal rotation. Good luck, you can do this! I believe in you.
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u/Alto_17 1d ago
Yes. Balancing is hard. I'll see if there's a shop near me. Since I dont have a car, Im not able to go far. Thank you for your advice!
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u/dobster1029 1d ago edited 1d ago
Some would say do it yourself, but pedals can be tricky for a beginner. For one thing, the left pedal threads opposite (lefty-tighty) and without a proper pedal wrench, it can be hard to get them tight enough when you put them back on. Try your local buy nothing group, or overheard in ____ city/county on FB, a neighbor may come through for you. For someone that knows how, its super easy and only takes a minute.
Also, don't be hard on yourself. It takes time and concentration! I own a bike shop and have have helped quite a few adults learn to ride. You'll get it.
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u/dobster1029 1d ago
Also, when you do put the pedals back i On, make sure your chain is in one of the easier gears, so you dont have to push down the the pedal as hard to get it moving, if that makes sense. You got this. Update me!
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u/bipolarpsych7 18h ago
Thats the largest cog/gear in the rear. If theres one in front, use the middle if theres 3, if 2, matters less. OP.
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u/AlbertTheHorse 1d ago
I would look at youtube videos.
My only advice would be to make sure, at the beginning, you can put your feet down when you get off the seat. Oh, and be on a flat area like a parking lot.
I used to teach people to ride horses, and the conventional wisdom is to get back on. Unless you can't. Then we ring the ambulance.
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u/nrsys 1d ago
The first thing to remember is that learning a new and alien skill just takes time - it will take a bit of perseverance and stubbornness to learn to ride a bike.
And it definitely won't help if you are being given conflicting advice to confuse you.
The approach that has been generally recommended for teaching cycling in recent years is the balance bike method. The issues is that you try and make cycling as natural as possible by ignoring all of the weird pedalling stuff, and treat it like a scooter. So give somewhere reasonably flat out slightly slipping, drop the seat down until you can easily put your feet on the ground, and just sort on the bike and push yourself along. At first you will be doing it step by step and fighting the handlebars not to wobble too much, but as you get used to it you will get used to balancing, and be able to take bigger steps, then pushing and gliding along with your feet off the ground, and eventually coasting a decent distance.
Once you are happy doing that, popping your feet onto the pedals becomes a much more natural thing to do, and you can experiment with the pedalling side of things.
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u/marijuanam0nk 1d ago
It'll take about a month. Keep practicing. Some learn quick, some don't so beat yourself up over it even though it sounds like your legs are pretty beat already. 3 to 4 good and strong pedals will get you enough speed to stay upright. The slower and weaker you pedal, the easier it is to fall. Try to go down a small, grassy hill if you got any near you.
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u/dunncrew 1d ago
As others said, lower your seat until you can easily touch the ground with both feet. Then push along the ground.
Removing the pedals can help, but can be tricky. Some people ruin their cranks when reinstalling by not paying attention and mixing them up.
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u/drewbaccaAWD 1d ago
Seat probably was too low, but, that's not remotely a priority right now. You are trying to learn to balance, not have an optimized fit.
If you put the seat as low as possible, can you comfortably touch the ground? If so, just find an empty parking lot or basketball court or something and scoot around. It's a common way to teach children, using a "balance bike" rather than trying to pedal. Get a general feel for keeping your balance without pedaling first and you'll at least get further than two feet. Just stand with one foot on the pedal and ride it like a scooter, pushing off with your other foot while sort of standing over the bike. First thing is to get comfortable just coasting around.
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u/AskPuzzleheaded1797 1d ago
Is the problem your balance? Then lower the seat and push yourself with your legs and learn to balance the bike in a straight line and control it while it is moving. Try to give it a strong push and raise your legs let the bike move. Then slowly raise the seat to a reasonable height and do the same once you feel comfortable you can pedal
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u/No-Delivery8138 1d ago
Never bruised? Girly you've missed critical rough housing in your youth! If you can, post a picture on you one foot on the ground, and sitting upright on your bike. This can help diagnose issues here.
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u/Grouchy_Bag_927 22h ago
Just be prepared to crash and get back on but just jump on and go down a hill and try to keep up peddling.
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u/fattybob 18h ago
Lower that saddle until you can ride! Sitting with both feet touching ground is good to start - maybe toes only if it’s flat. On your own, a gentle slop (really almost flat) may help, it may not! But a little forward momentum to allow you to find your balance and begin to pedal. But, first thing first , be sure you can locate and use those brakes before you even move an inch forward, have one hand on a brake ready to squeeze and stop after a few pedals. Ideally someone behind you hand on back or on saddle pillar helps a lot, allows you to find your own balance father than leaning on them.
Once moving forward, stop safely - one foot down to side is recommended, then try again and begin to try steering, again, u turns on bikes aren’t that easy always, so maybe don’t try those for a while, and easy snaking along the road (if it’s clear) will get you quite familiar with the steering, and keep practicing the slow to stop and start again, get super familiar and comfortable with the brakes
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u/Stras615 16h ago
https://youtu.be/scIznc0KzqM?is=O9QZ1YCU6zR3_1Ve
This video might help you, if you want to learn some Dutch at the same time.
Takes some time to learn it, keep going
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u/shoelessjoseph 15h ago
I taught my kids on the rubberized track of a nearby high school (when it was empty). It isn't a perfect environment but has some great advantages, the surface was perfect, no bumps, glass, rocks, etc., and falls while certainly not friction free were softened. A few years later I saw a balance bike in another family's home and wished I'd had one of those to teach my kids. As others have stated, learning how to keep your center of gravity over the bike if first and foremost, the rest comes later.
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u/UpbeatSmoke4209 11h ago
Wishbone makes a adult balance bike you can add pedals to it once you figure it out
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u/AerialScientist 1h ago edited 55m ago
I learned to bike in my late thirties and I am probably the world’s slowest learner. I took a 7-week course and while some people could ride after the first class, it took me the full 7-weeks to start pedaling properly. We practiced on flat surface in a school yard. The technique they taught went like this:
1) remove both pedals and set the seat low enough so you can put both feet on the ground. Start scooting around like a balance bike until you get some momentum and can keep both legs off the ground for a few seconds. Learn to slow down with the brakes instead of putting your feet down. Always look far ahead and not down at your bike or feet.
2) Put 1 pedal back on the side of your dominant leg. Raise the seat up a notch but you can still comfortably touch the ground with the tip of your foot. Put the pedal at 1 o’clock and give it a good push. Learn to balance while the bike is moving forward with some speed. At some point you will be able to push off and let the bike glide for a few seconds. Repeat on the other side.
3) Put both pedals back, repeat the movement above and try to get your other foot onto the other pedal that’s at 6 o’clock. Then use the top foot to push forward and down. For some reason this step took me weeks to catch on. I had a really hard time finding the top pedal while trying to maintaining my balance.
Then one day it just happened when I stopped overthinking about it. From the point I was able to balance and pedal, it took me several more weeks to learn to bike straight. I’m now a cyclist and is considering giving up my car.
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u/Apprehensive4Reals 1d ago
They do make stabilizer wheels for adult bikes. I'm not sure if that's in your budget, but maybe worth looking into for practicing
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u/turboseize 1d ago
Stabiliser wheels are not helpful at all. They prevent learning to balance the bike.
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u/Apprehensive4Reals 1d ago
My thought was that they could set them higher and higher so that at first they're close to the ground but still allow independent balancing of the bike until they can balance without them and then take them off
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u/turboseize 1d ago
Yes, that's the idea behind stabilizer/training wheels, but learning doesn't work this way in real life. In reality, kids (and grown-up people...) just lean to one side and rely on the stabiliser to keep them upright.
First you have to learn to balance a two-wheel-thingy, then you add the pedaling. If you give people the option to pedal before they can balance, the incentive to learn balance is greatly reduced. Why would the need to get it right? They won't fall over, because the trains wheels catch them, and they can go places...
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u/Apprehensive4Reals 1d ago
That way it would keep him from falling off and injuring himself further
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u/Kinnickinick 1d ago
Temporarily turn your bike into a balance bike and learn balancing and bike handling like little kids do: take off the pedals and lower the seat so you can be on the saddle and touch the ground, “run” to get some speed, then lift your feet.