Can you swim and ride a bike?

[Ferne88]

I kind of assumed that most adults (save for those prevented from doing so by health reasons) could swim and ride a bike, but my friend reckons not.

So can you swim (so by that I mean at least a 50 meter length) and ride a bike?

Yes both very well. I do triathlons.

I can swim but not ride a bike. I have dyspraxia, and the effort never seemed worth it.

I can ride a horse though.

I know at least three other non-bike riders. And the vast majority of people I know don't own bikes, so it's a bit of a moot point whether they can or not.

I'm going to teach my son though.

Yes, I'm a reasonably confident swimmer and I think it really is a necessary life skill. I would be terrified around water if I couldn't swim.

I can ride a bike but haven't since I was a university student and used one to get everywhere, about 15 years ago so I wouldn't be confident getting on one now but am sure I'd remember quickly!

I'm in my 50s and can't think of one occasion in my entire life where I needed to be able to ride a bike.

I’m in my 60s and a bike makes the three mile round trip to the local pub a lot less time consuming than walking.

I hope this doesn’t come across as a goady question but why is swimming seen as such an important life skill?

If you can’t swim, you’re not going to be near a pool or any more than knee deep in the sea. You’d avoid going in bodies of water so where’s the danger?

If someone’s in trouble in a lake or river and they’re a swimmer and got themselves in to trouble, surely you would get expert help not try yourself? Even strong swimmers can get in trouble in rivers, lakes etc.

No to both. My parents didn’t prioritise teaching me.

My children are extremely confident in both as a result of my experience.

Yes
I'm 55 and learnt both before I started school

Yep, I can't swim, but I don't put myself in situations where I would have to either. I go to the beach, but I don't even paddle. That is due to being unable to stand the feeling of sand on my feet mostly though.

There was a thread on here ages ago basically berating adults who could not swim, and someone said that non-swimmers should not have baths 🤔

I swear I read about most drownings are people who can actually swim, but over estimate their abilities.

I can swim fine, I’m not going in the olympics but I can swim.

Im capable of riding a bike but am so terrified of it that I panic and fall off (discovered this when moving to one of the major bike capitals of the world…everyone says “grab a bike and cycle to meet us”. I will not. The metro is excellent 😂)