learn to ride a bicycle

Although I don’t think I’ve gotten on a bike in probably two years, I did ok tonight. It was probably the fourth time I’ve ever practiced, and I was surprised at how quickly I was able to pick up where I left off. I still have a long way to go as far as feeling comfortable, but I’m able to start much more easily, and go for a considerable amount of time without getting nervous and skidding to a stop. I’m also getting a little better at steering.

The issue is that I feel more comfortable when my feet have better contact with the ground, but that means the seat needs to be down so low that my knees have to come up super high, which makes for a wobbly ride, and the tight jeans I was wearing didn’t help my leg mobility at all. At some point I need to make the switch to a bike that fits me better (I’ve been riding Greg’s BMX). But I have a feeling that I might take a couple of spills if I can’t touch the ground that well.

Still, making great progress toward a goal that I was beginning to think I’d never be able to reach!

Is that enough time to learn how to ride a bike expertly? I’m going to Amsterdam in September, and I have this vision of riding through the countryside on a bike, but as the trip gets closer and closer, I’m getting worried that, even if I were to get back to practicing tomorrow, it still won’t be enough time to feel comfortable.

But this is the new can-do me! I need to at least give it an honest try. Even if it doesn’t work out for the trip, I’ll still be that much closer to actually riding.

I am almost thirty years old and I have never learned to ride a bike. Don’t ask me how I missed out on that. I’ve gone a couple of times but not enough to actually feel comfortable.