kjl@bbn-clxx.arpa (07/13/85)
From: Ken J Lebowitz <kjl@BBN-CLXX.ARPA>
I have a friend who has never learned to ride a bike and I would like to
teach her to enjoy the truly great sport of cycling. What I want to know is
if anyone had some pointers on teaching an adult to ride (for that matter,
is it any different than teaching a child)? I'm planning on using my
mountain bike since I figure it would survive a crash better than a racing
bike. Does this sound like a dumb idea?
Ken Lebowitz
BBN Laboratories
ARPA: kjl@bbn-clxx.ARPA
UUCP: ...!{decvax,linus}!bbncca!kjl
CSNET: kjl%bbn-clxx@csnet-relayrathman@hou2g.UUCP (P.RATHMAN) (07/15/85)
John Allen's book on bicycle commuting put out by Rodale Press gives some suggestions for teaching adults to ride. He recommends a bike with a smaller frame than the person would usually ride and at least one hand brake. Remove the pedals and lower the seat so the bike can be propelled like a hobby horse - i.e. pushed along by your feet. Find a paved lot with a slight slope - just enough to coast down slowly. A shopping center lot on Sunday morning would be suitable. Have the learner practice walking the bike down the slope and coasting for increasingly longer distances without touching the ground. Don't even try to maintain a straight course initially. When he can coast all the way down, he can practice steering. After coasting and steering are under control, install the pedals and let him practice pedalling around the parking lot. Using this method should keep falls to a minimum, but it's still recommended that protective clothing be worn - helmet, gloves, and long pants. Peter Rathmann ATT-Bell Labs ..!ihnp4!houxm!hou2g!rathman
diego@cca.UUCP (Diego Gonzalez) (07/16/85)
These are not words of experience. I have never instructed another person to ride a bicycle. However, I have given some thought to how it might be done. I would protect the student. Helmet and elbow and knee pads would be ideal. Then I would use a one- or three-speed bicycle on the smallish side. The idea of a mountain bike seems also to be a reasonable one. For a practice area, I think a grassy park or playing field where there were not too many people, shrubs, or other potential obstructions. And flat; a level area is crucial. See, I believe that in our youths we had essentially no fear. We learned to ride on sidewalks, lawns, driveways, whatever surface was at hand. We fell and took our scrapes and bruises. In the process, we gained confidence and almost instinctive riding skills and balance. So for an older child or an adult who has never had opportunity to learn to ride a bike, it is important to assure them as much as possible that they will not be seriously injured. Their sense of fear is likely to be greater than that of a young child. If they begin on a softer, larger, flatter riding area, they will be able to concentrate more on the techniques of balance, steering, and braking. Good luck.