Will I ever get to be a good confident cyclist?

[bootlebumtrinketti]

I bought a bike during lockdown 1 and plan to commute via bike when I return to the office next month. But I find it so hard going and truthfully I'm a bit frightened.

I cycle from home in central london to other bits of central london but stick to quiet ways. I find it knackering.

Should I stick with it, when will it get easier?

Does anyone have any similar experiences.

What kind of bike did you buy and is the frame size right for you? I bought a hybrid bike first time and was truly exhausted riding it. Then I switched to a road bike, but although I found it much easier, I felt quite unsafe riding it. I was overreaching despite the frame size being right for my height. Adjusting the saddle forward has helped loads.

You can do it! How far is it from home to the office? It will take time to build up your fitness.

What worries you specifically about cycling? Is it traffic, your bike skills, fitness? There are groups in London that do a buddy system for newbie cyclists.

It does get easier - confidence creeps up on you. I went from tubing it every day in London to cycling 4,000 miles in one year on busy roads when I moved back up north with no car. The trick is to act confident and not to ride into the gutter - people then have to manoeuvre around you rather than thinking they can just squeeze past. I've had several close passes, and a bit of sexual harassment which I just ignore, but I've never been in an accident in over 15,000 miles.

Wearing ProViz stuff rather than flouro at night is great as it's more visible - go for the Trespass stuff dupe rather than the ProVis brand as it's cheaper and does the same job. If you need to move out or change lane, shoulder check and really try to make eye contact with the car behind - it really helps; most people really don't want to hit a rider, and it's good that you know that they've seen you. People are generally nicer to women on bikes as well for some reason.

Read this book - it's really helpful at explaining what you can and can't do. www.amazon.co.uk/Cyclecraft-complete-enjoyable-cycling-children/dp/0117037400?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 . Also learn how to change an inner tube, and do minor maintenance - loads of councils give free or cheap classes, and it will always come in handy. And get on Strava if you aren't already on it - it's great to see your miles clock up :-)

I think the bike is an issue. I bought a Pashley because I wanted a really sturdy bike but tbh it's so heavy. I don't know if I can sell on and but another because I bought it through cycle scheme. Although maybe that doesn't matter.

That may well be your problem. How many gears has it got?

I've found that having a bike that fits me well is the most crucial thing when it comes to how comfortable I feel on it. I'm 5'3" and spent way too many years on bikes that were either too big or too heavy for me. Finally bought one with a size 44 frame 2 years ago and it did wonders for my riding confidence!

I think a lighter bike would make it less exhausting.

I think all local authorities in London run classes for people who live or work in their boroughs. I did them (in both the borough I lived and worked in) when I started cycling and found them really useful. They're 121 and the final lesson was a practice ride on the route to work.

cyclestreets.net shows the different routes. I always picked the fastest rather than the quietist. And yes, your confidence and fitness does improve. But a heavy bike is exhausting - a pashley looks great, but you'd better on a lightweight, many geared, bike.

OP I have a Pashley.

I love it but it is meant for gentle pootling with a baguette and some wine in the basket.
I would never try and commute in Central London on it.
It is heavy and unwieldily and not very reactive-not fit for purpose.
Think you might need a different bike.

Pashley's are heavy - you might be better on something like this if you can swap? www.ukbikesdepot.com/m18b0s988p35462/Hybrid_Bikes_and_Tandems/Ladies_Hybrid_Bikes/SPECIALIZED_Sirrus_V-Brake_Womens_2019

See if you can find a hybrid, gravel or city bike, with wider tyres (not necessarily knobbly ones), with a decent spread of gears. Or look at cyclocross bikes - they have drop handlebars and a roadbike-type frame, but usually disc brakes and wider tyres - I've used one for years and even use it for long distance bike-packing adventures these days.

Don't buy brand new, either. Get the best bike you can second hand.

If you are looking to build up your confidence, London Cycling Campaign run a cycle buddies scheme. They put you in touch with an experienced cyclist in your area www.lcc.org.uk/groups/cycle-buddies/

Lots of wisdom here - thank you all so much. @SweatyBetty20 great advice! I will get on Strava - I need some motivation. The Pashley has 7 gears but I only use 2. I can't imagine wanting to pedal harder or going slower because there's less resistance if you know what I mean. I thought I'd just get fitter and fitter but it feels like each trip is an ordeal because it's hard going and I'm scared of being knocked off.

The gears are there to help you up the tough bits and to give you speed on the easy bits.

It definitely isn’t you, it’s the bike! Flog the heavy thing on Facebook marketplace and get shot of it. Because bikes are so hard to get hold of at the moment, the secondhand market is crazy, certainly a sellers market, you’ll get a good price. For that reason be very careful if you go down the secondhand route yourself (as in buying secondhand). Take someone with you that ‘knows’ about bikes and can give it a once over. You could easily end up buying a heap of junk that’ll need a lot of money spending on it (new cassette, chain, cables, brake pads, tyres, maybe even new wheels if the rims are worn). All this is easily picked up on by someone that knows what to look out for.

You could consider purchasing new through the cycle to work scheme (check your employer offers it). You basically get a voucher code from your employer and then pay for the bike through salary sacrifice over a period of time.

Get the lightest bike you can afford. As others have said a hybrid is a good start as the flat bars are easier to get used to than the drop bars on a road, gravel or cyclocross bike.

Ensure it is the correct size - a good local bike shop will help you. It’s best to avoid buying off the internet as test riding is so important to ensure you get the correct size. You may need to swap components like popping a shorter stem on (the bit that the handlebars attach to) or shorter cranks (what the pedals attach to). Again a decent local bike shop (not bloody Halfords!!) will help/ advise.

Given you want to cycle commute ensure it has the ability to take full mudguards and a rear rack. Mudguards are essential for commuting unless you fancy a soggy bum and yucky road spray in your face 🤮 Panniers are so much easier to carry a change of clothes, lock, food, laptop etc in than a backpack. Cycle to Work has a separate scheme allowing you to buy components such as mudguards, panniers etc.

Oh gosh OP, just reiterating what everyone else said - that bike looks so hard to actually commute with! How far is your route? Like you, I got a bike during lockdown except my first one was a mountain bike. I got it so I could go out with my children to the park but quickly fell in love with cycling on my own. I wanted to try cycling to work because I was addicted to cycling and it’s a great way to get cycling in whilst not spending hours (I don’t have) out on rides. The bike was SO heavy though, no way could I have ridden it for 12 miles.

So I got a road bike, and my god - the difference! My route is very hilly (stupid south London) into Farringdon and I now do an enjoyable two hours a day (there and back) either riding cautiously / defensively through central London and enjoying being in the City or racing and pretending I’m in the Tour de France as I make my way through the quieter parks and back streets of south London.

I do that twice a week now, and days I’m not commuting in, I’ll go out for a 10 mile or so ride just through cycle routes just for fun. I went from zero cycle fitness to something very enjoyable but enough exertion to feel like I am really building on my fitness.

You can do it, OP. London has some wonderfully thought out cycle routes and I always start work with a lovely flood of endorphins to get the day started. I ride very defensively, don’t weave in and out of parked cars (so stay further out into the road but stick to a straight line), would much rather just wait and wait at every single light or roundabout than take a silly risk just for what - getting the slight jump on traffic? - and generally take my time than trying to go as fast as I can. But even with all that, I have 12-14 mph so I am not just pootling along either.

Good luck OP, I’m sure with a bike change, you’ll see a massive change in your ride. What’s your general route?