Learning to ride a bike for the first time in my forties

[IHaveAFeelingWeAreNotInKansasAnymore]

Im nearly 50 late 40s and I have never ridden a bike before. I've never owned one. My mother always said it was immoral for girls to ride bikes so I just didnt learn then it got embarrassing to learn when I hit my teens.

So I want to learn before I'm 50. How do I do this without embarrassing myself or using stabilisers or breaking a bone 🤣

I’m sorry, your mum said what? 🤣🤣🤣

I’m sixty. I am considering buying an adult electric tricycle . I can’t drive due to epilepsy and have a few mobility problems but don’t feel ready for a mobility scooter just yet.

in your position I would practice anywhere safe in your area. Do you have any tennis courts nearby to wobble around on?

The best way is to get someone to teach you. Depending on where you are based there may be adult beginner training available, e.g. in Scotland you can get lessons from Cycling Scotland. The easiest way is to take the pedals off and practise scooting along finding your balance first, then add pedals later.

Oh girls on bikes being immoral is scratching the surface of the stuff she came out with, I would be here all day, she also wouldnt let me eat sausages as they were too phallic 🤣

I also cant drive due to a neurological thing going on. The tennis courts here all all private and gated, I am in Scotland so Ill give cycle Scotland a look, theres a great park nearby with the ideal path for trying, but its a bit mortifying.

I know someone who teaches adults to ride bikes. Maybe there is someone in your area and you could go somewhere quiet to learn?

Learning in a safe space where you can look ahead rather than looking down all the time helps with balance. I used to send my kids across a section of park (when it was very quiet) on theirs where they didn't have to worry about hazards to start with. Once they could stay up, then they learnt about hazards.

Here's the information about adult beginners' training in Scotland: https://cycling.scot/cycle-training/new-to-cycling/absolute-beginners-training
Hope you can find something in your area!

Good for you for giving it a go (and surviving your mum 😶). A good point is that as soon as you’ve cracked it, that’s it, you can do it, it’s not like learning to drive or as if you need to refine your skills. Not sure I’m making sense!! I’d start off somewhere with a slight downhill and straight.

Have a look to see if there is a Fox Cycling near you. They'd be worth a chat for sure. If you happen to be near Swindon, Roz is absolutely excellent and though aimed at kids I have no doubt she'd be able to support you! There will be similar in other areas too I'm sure.

Try your local council. I tried in my fifties- once in a park but honestly I was terrified of being out of control so for me it’s two legs or four wheels.
Best of luck I wish I’d had the confidence and resilience to continue.

I learned as an adult! It’s different from learning as a child. You are (presumably) taller and less gung-ho than a child so you need to reassure yourself that you’re safe. You need a big, heavy, slow bike in a Dutch “sit up and beg” style so you basically feel like you’re riding an armchair. Best try to borrow or rent one in the first instance. You need to lower the seat so that your feet comfortably touch the ground when your legs are straight. Find a big empty public basketball/tennis court or an empty car park. Remind yourself that your feet can touch the ground so you won’t fall off and hurt yourself, and if you do start to tip to one side, you can always just put your foot down onto the floor and you won’t fall. Then it’s just about having the confidence to push off and get your second foot onto the pedal and you’ll be away. Give yourself a whole Saturday to work at it. You’ll probably crack it in one day but there’s no shame at all in taking longer. Good luck!