learning to ride a bike.

[alfred]

in my youth just before i became a teenager , there was a group of boys , me being one of them who all had a bike almost all had been rebuilt and repaired from other bicycles and some even sprayed to look really good ,
one boy who joined had been given a bike but didn't know how to ride it,

so we all took turns of seating him on the saddle , one of us either side and down the road, several time he fell off and with a few bumps and grazes carried on determined to ride that bike no matter what the cost,

and so  we went running along side of  him running  flat out and shouting and he furiously started pedalling, KEEP GOING  PEDAL FASTER  don't stop and to which he did, yes he was getting the hang of it and soon began to get his confidence,

next came the problem of him being able to turn round corners which he found very awkward but knew he had to learn, so off we went again running down the road one either side of him , then pedalling like made went down the road very confidently,

and round the corner he went out of sight, next minute there was the sound of metal grinding, followed were yells, of very loud, and angry voices ,
when we turned  the corner in  the road were two men laying flat on their backs  side by side with a parting in the middle,

yes our would be cyclist had turned the corner, a rode straight through the two men who originally were riding side by side, he was long gone luckily enough for him , but i dread to think what would have happened to him if they had caught him,

Q;  did you ever ride a bike if so have you a story to tell us,

[Michael Rolls]

I was seven years old when I had my first bike. We had a large garden, mostly lawn. It was summer time so I learned to ride in the garden before being allowed to venture onto the road. It was a large garden, but in the middle of the lawn was a flower bed with rose bushes. You can probably guess the rest! I was quite lacerated but mum seemed more concerned at possible damage to her precious roses.
Mike

[klondike]

I don't recall when I learned. I did used to cycle about 3 miles  to school but started off using the bus. I think the cycle rack space was limited and you couldn't bike until maybe year 2 or 3.

Kids theses days always seem to be doing wheelies but it isn't something I recall at all. Maybe as the mostly gutless motor bikes in those days didn't the idea hadn't occured. Take a fistful of throttle on a modern bike and you'll be over the back wishing you hadn't unless you knew what you were doing.

[Diasi]

Yes, it's strange how you have to learn to ride a bike, while falling off comes naturally, with no practice whatsoever.

[Raven]

Was glad when I finally got my biking balance, lots of skinned knees and elbows before I did. 

[Scrumpy]

We had one bike in our (gang).. That bike used to carry up to 4 at a time.. Sometimes I think the DRIVER couldn't even see where he was going.. So many hands on the steering wheel... When we fell off.. we got back on again.. Most of us had grazed knees and elbows..
I can still ride a bike.. The roads didn't have too many cars on them back then..

[klondike]

Yes, it's strange how you have to learn to ride a bike, while falling off comes naturally, with no practice whatsoever.

The really odd thing is that you never forget. I recently got a bike (a cheat one - it's elecrtric) and it's been donkies years since I rode one and it was no problem - I was able to fall off with no trouble at all. 

[crabbyob]

i too got an electric bike [in Goa] you never forget how to ride a bike...lol... but i couldnt get my leg over...when i did then it was great, but honestly its not worth the bother...lol...the bikes really are great
i might dable in a scooter next....
my landlady cant ride a bike i have spent hours trying but she goes rigid...

[klondike]

You might want to rephrase that a bit crabbyob 
I was going to say it's a good job Phil isn't around but of course he is...

Anyway I too am not as adept at getting on the bike as I was in years gone by but I  can still manage so long as I tip the bike over some. I think they sold me one that was maybe too big. I've not been out on it in a while but will again come spring.

[zoony]

I learned the traditional way.. dad alongside holding the bike up as I got balance and then he wasn't and bingo!, I was fine on my own but knew nothing of brakes or stopping. Soon learned!

[TREBOR]

I cant remember either of my parents helping me to learn. I just sort of learned to balance myself in the street which had a downhill slope. There was very little traffic in the streets in those days so safe for kids to learn. It was a couple of weeks before I had the confidence to take my hand off the bars to signal.

My parents couldnt afford a new bike so I had a scruffy old one painted black. My friend had a smart new one and I was really envious. One evening we swapped and rode off to a nearby farm. I wasnt used to the gears and nearly knocked the farmer over by not being able to stop in time. I was too scared to try that bike again or to visit the farm.

[Jacqueline]

We lived in a flat so storing a bike and getting it up two flights of stairs wasn't an option.  Never learned to ride a bike, other than three driving lessons never driven a car either, am I the only one?

[Flying Bomb]

never driven a car either, am I the only one?

I can drive..........I drive people mad.

[Michael Rolls]

I can drive them to Distraction - it's just off the A9
Mike   

[klondike]

other than three driving lessons never driven a car either, am I the only one?

Judging by the ones around here that's all you need
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