GF Needs Help - To Ride a Bike

[partsguy]

All,

I have been trying to figure out how I teach my girlfriend to ride a bike. Yes, you read right. She told me that she sustained a head injury after a terrible fall when she was a teenager. She forgot a few things, including how to ride a bicycle. She never cared to learn, since the narrow seats on modern road and mountain bikes are extremely uncomfortable to her. She has changed her mind about cycling. She actually wants to ride the green '55 Customliner Deluxe I bought, it fits her like a custom tailored glove, and the traditional wide women's seat helps too. However, she had no idea how to brake, or maintain her balance. Definitely no shifting. She suggested "adult training wheels". I laughed (probably shouldn't have) and knew they did not make such a thing.

She does want to ride. I would love to teach her. But have no idea how. I am thinking about bringing her along with me to the gym and letting her workout on an exercise bike. This way, her body re-learns the rhythm of pedaling, and gets some idea of balance. Beyond that, I am not sure what to do.

Open to ideas, guys. Let me hear 'em!

 

[gtdohn]

Get a bike that she can sit on with both feet flat on the ground. Remove the crank set and chain ring along with the chain. Have her use it like the velocipedes of the 1870s and just push herself along one foot at a time and every now and then lift both feet off of the ground and coast. This way she will learn balance and can easily put her feel back down if she starts to go off balance. After she has mastered the balance, you can better introduce her to pedaling.

 

[partsguy]

Get a bike that she can sit on with both feet flat on the ground. Remove the crank set and chain ring along with the chain. Have her use it like the velocipedes of the 1870s and just push herself along one foot at a time and every now and then lift both feet off of the ground and coast. This way she will learn balance and can easily put her feel back down if she starts to go off balance. After she has mastered the balance, you can better introduce her to pedaling.

What do you think of the exercise bike idea, in addition to what you suggest? It's stationary, and she can learn how to sync her legs to pedal.

I like your idea. I should probably find her a more modern bike to start out with, equipped with caliper brakes, and no gears. Strip out the crank and pedals and do what you suggest. When she learns to ride it like that, put it together and see what happens. The classic Customliner she wishes to ride could be her motivation in a way.

 

[kwoodyh]

Exercise bike is a great idea to start once she has that down and builds a rhythm on mounting and pedaling and then dismounting you can move onto a real bike and on a smooth level surface help steady the bike and run beside and behind. It might take awhile but she will get it done especially if she wants to ride!


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[gtdohn]

Only problem with an exercise bike is that she in't using any of her "balance muscles" while on it. It is steadied by it's base, so there is no feeling of tipping from side to side. The exercise bike will give her good pedaling practice, but you need her to find her balance first. Then pedaling will come easy. The flat foot method will also give her confidence.

 

[partsguy]

Only problem with an exercise bike is that she in't using any of her "balance muscles" while on it. It is steadied by it's base, so there is no feeling of tipping from side to side. The exercise bike will give her goo pedaling practice, but you need her to find her balance first. Then pedaling will come easy. The flat foot method will also give her confidence.

Good point. We will work on balance first, then pedal practice.

 

[kwoodyh]

Excellent point


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[partsguy]

The prize at the end of her lesson. 1955 Customliner with 2-speed coaster. The tank was not original, so I removed it. I think it looks better without it anyway, but we'll see.

 

[gtdohn]

Very nice bicycle. Looks quite comfortable and a good size for any nice young lady

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Great ideas so far, perhaps gear the bike kinda low to start? Depending on what the rear cog is, go for a 2:1 ratio.


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