Adults who can't ride bikes

[LikeDylanInTheMovies]

To find it unusual when adults have never learned to ride a bike? (Health/disability isdues aside)?

I was out for a walk with a friend and his baby daughter. The path also doubles as a cycle path and several people wizzed past with toddlers on bike seats. 'Another few years and they'll be you and [baby name] I commented.

He then sheepishly admitted that he couldn't ride a bike. He'd never learned as a kid as he'd never been interested. His older brother's hand me down bike had been kept for him, but he'd never shown any interest and his parents never forced the issue.

He's quite sporty and active and has been since he was a kid, so I was slightly surprised, more so that his parents didn't encourage him more. Bombing around with your mates seems such a big part of growing up and I didn't know anyone who couldn't ride a bike even if they didn't own one themselves or ride that often.

Now he has a daughter he regrets not learning as he won't be able to teach his daughter. So odds are it will fall to me to teach her how to ride or teach him first.

Out of interest, would an adult need to 'learn' to ride a bike in the way a child needs to work on their balance, confidence and coordination? Or would a reasonably competent and fit adult be able to just hop on the bike and pedal away despite not learning as a nipper?

[tomtomthepipersson]

Oh yes balance bike. My son learnt to ride very quickly on it. Went straight on to his big bike with out any trouble x

[Gabilan]

I can't swim. That pisses me off. I really wish someone had made sure I could do that but they didn't. Much more useful and enjoyable than riding a bike

More useful to you, maybe. I commute by bike. It's saved me 1000s of pounds, it keeps me fit, it's one of the best ways to see the countryside, it enables a pie-based lifestyle that would otherwise render me fantastically overweight. Added to which, because I cycle, I love my body. I know very few women who can say that.

I don't think I'd have been able to explore every area I've ever lived in by swimming around them.

[Hygellig]

I don't know whether cycling and swimming are essential life skills, but I certainly think they're very useful ones for children to learn if possible. I hated PE at school but have always enjoyed riding my bike and swimming, and at various points in my life I've used a bike to get around.

[42andcounting]

Givemushypeasachance thank you so much for that link, I've been looking for an adult cycle instructor on and off for a year without any luck, and have found one on that website in the next town! Thank you

[DMCWelshCakes]

MIL can't ride a bike as her mother wouldn't let her learn. Never been entirely sure what the logic behind it was.

MIL is a bit embarrassed about it because she can't keep her balance on an exercise bike in the gym either, despite being a gym bunny and having ample opportunity to practice. (The gym is in her house so no witnesses.)

[Destinysdaughter]

I can't ride a bike. Tried to learn but had an accident when I was 11 and lost my confidence. Wish I'd persevered now but didn't have parents who really noticed so just gave up.

[GoldenPlatitudes]

I can barely ride a bike. My DS (11) can't either, has never been interested. My DD taught herself

There's more important things in life to worry about

[Wait4nothing]

Another who can't ride a bike - technically I learnt as a kid (my parents made me) but I hated it and as soon as I 'could ride' refused to. Found out I had ear problems in my teens which probably had something to do with my lack of balance/coordination.
Dh will teach dd to ride (but won't force the issue!)

[DavidWainwrightsFeet]

Neither DH nor I can ride bikes (mild physical abnormality and no sense of balance respectively) and we live in an area where I really wouldn't feel safe letting the DC ride bikes on the road so they've never had them.

[RandomDent]

I want to know where the tatto is.

[ivykaty44]

One of my students came from a country where riding a bike wasn't something that people did and less so woman. It was of great interest to her that both me and dd cycled and she asked to try, or in her own way demanded with a big smile!. Dd and a couple of friends spent a lot of time out on the street helping my student learn lots and lots if laughter and eventually she could cycle about 100 yards in a straight line. Great fun

[DrDreReturns]

While riding a bike is not an essential life skill, it was really important for me in my teenage years. My friends lived several miles away from me - being able to ride a bike meant I could see them more often.

[LikeDylanInTheMovies]

I want to know where the tatto is

It was a mural above the sweetshop if you get my meaning. On someone you can't imagine with any kind of tattoo. It would be like finding out John Major had flames tattooed around his ceotch.

[RandomDent]

Oh my :o

[lalalalyra]

I got a bike with stabilisers for my fourth birthday. My father sold it about five weeks later for drugs and I never had another bike. My grandparents couldn't afford one so I can't ride a bike.

I don't think it's a life skill I'm missing out on particularly. Maybe that's because we live/lived in hilly places. I don't remember my siblings having bikes either, certainly they didn't as teenagers when we lived with Grandparents (I'm the youngest by a way) so I can't imagine they can ride either.

[bloodyteenagers]

I didn't learn because the cunts that created me were more interested in getting high/pissed/fucked or in prison.
And the cunts that dragged me up were either too busy abusing or neglecting me.
Is that a good enough reason?

[noeffingidea]

I never learnt as a child. I didn't have a bike as my parents couldn't afford to buy me one.
I can ride one now but I find it a bit of an ordeal, tbh. I don't feel safe on the road, I have to keep getting off to push on tricky bits and it seems more trouble than its worth so I don't bother.
My kids always had bikes from being toddlers so they can ride them. My eldest used his bike a lot until he got his own car at 18 and has driven everywhere since then. My younger son probably hasn't ridden a bike since he was 10. He just doesn't enjoy it.

[AuntJane]

I learned to ride a bike on my 40s, having never tried before. It didn't take me long.

I don't know why I never learned as a child - my brother certainly did - but I was happy to walk a couple of miles to school/Brownies/ballet lessons.

[MCMLXVII]

In London I can't now imagine being without my bike. Often have two kids on it for the school run then 5 miles across town to work! So reliable, cheap and great exercise - and getting safer all the time, especially with the new separate cycle paths.

If you're uncertain/nervous, most local councils will run free cycle education to help you get on the road.

[yorkshapudding]

I don't know how to ride a bike. My DF suffered from mental health issues when I was a small child and was apparently very over-protective of me as a result although I don't really remember it. My DM tells me that he was worried it wasn't safe and that I would have an accident. By the time I reached my teenage years he had overcome his Anxiety completely and felt very guilty and regretful about the fact that I couldn't ride a bike and kept offering to teach me. Of course by the time I was 13 the thought of someone I knew seeing me out with my DF wobbling around on a bike was too embarrassing for words. I wasn't bothered to be honest, I never felt I was missing out or anything.

What does bother me is people quizzing me about why I can't ride a bike (which means I either have to lie or reveal something very personal about my DF) and acting like it's the most mind- boggling thing they ever heard.

[JustDanceAddict]

I never learnt. My parents thought it was too dangerous!!
I've tried a couple of times to learn, but it's much harder as an adult. I can't join in on family bike rides, etc which is a shame. I made sure both my kids could ride, but I'm not keen on them riding on the roads round here. Fine for centre parks or cycling tracks.

[JustDanceAddict]

Ps: not an essential life skill like swimming as you won't accidentally fall onto a bike and have to ride it.