How to Ride a Bicycle

Riding a bike is avery common form of exercise for most people here in the US. While in other asian countried they ride a bike as transportation in going to work. In the Philippines not all of us knows how to ride a bike because when we were little our parent won't buy us bicycle. Buying bike for us there is like buying a car because it's expensive. Although, other people can afford to buy their kids bike and thats a good thing. In my case I learned to ride a bike because my Mom got us a second hand bike when we were little but we are not allowed to ride with it. My neighbor had a bike so I try to learn how to ride a bike using their bicycle and then when I got all the balance I sneak out the bike everytime my Mom is not around. That's how I learn to ride a bike and grow up loving it even if I didn't have my own bike. Anyhow, riding a bike is pretty easy for people who knows how to ride but for those who doesn't they find it hard to learn. I read and article online that give step by step direction on how to get started in riding bicycle.

wikiHow
Get ready
1. Get a bike. Buy a new one, since you don't know if you'll stick with it. One size too small is good for learning, but plan to ride on the correct size later. For middle aged adults, get a balance bike without pedals, such as a Kiddimoto.
2. Wear protective gear. Shoes are a must - no sandals. Long pants, long sleeves, helmet, and gloves are a good idea.
3. Go somewhere flat and car-free. Take the bike to a large, vacant paved area (for example, a school parking lot on a weekend). The area should be flat and free of obstacles such as bumps, parked cars, pedestrian traffic, people playing games etc. Grass is softer, but much harder to ride in. Be sure to check whether bicycling is allowed should you select a public park as your practice area.

Steps

Primary Method

Prepare the bike. Consider lowering the seat; it helps a lot.

1. Get to know bike balance. Push yourself along with your feet and get the feel of how the bike leans and steers. Do this for 30-45 minutes or so, until you have a good feel and some confidence about steering the bike. Try pushing yourself along fast and "gliding" with your feet up in the air, just steering with your hands. Notice the tendency of your body to lean slightly into the curve to keep balance when just using your hands to steer. When you are up to it, instead of using your hands try to make turns with your body and let the bike follow you, you'll notice that the front wheel will also make the turn automatically. This is the key bike-riding skill, that of balancing and steering. Take as much time with this step as you need to feel confident.
2. Get ready to ride. Re-attach the pedals to the bike. Raise the seat a bit, but still keep it low enough, so that you can touch the ground with the tip of your toes while seated.
3. Hold the bike with the handlebars and just walk it around the area.
4. When you have got the balancing feeling, go to the top of the slope and try to get on the front of the bike. (Not on the seat but in front of it!) You should be able to stand. (Note: Always stand at the top of the bike when going on!)
5. When you are on the front of the bike, walk down holding the handlebars. (It may look silly but don't worry.)
6. After you have done that a couple of times, go to the top of the slope and raise your left foot off the ground. Then kick with your right foot. (Similar to walking but with the left foot above the ground.)
7. Do this 2-3 times and then go to the top of the slope again and put your left foot suspended in the air. This time, try to "glide" by kicking less and going 3-5 feet between kicks.
8. Now try with the left foot kicking and the right foot off the ground.
9. Ok, now you've done the hard part. Once you've got the hang of this, try to go up to 10 feet without kicking. (Don't worry it isn't that hard once you've got the hang of it).
10. This time when you're going down try to sit on the bike seat, after about 3 feet of gliding. Your feet should still be able to touch the ground, if they aren't then adjust the seat lower.
11. Do this about 3 times and then when you are going down put your left foot on the pedal. But do not move it, still using right foot to glide down.
12. Now do that again but with the opposite feet.
13. Once you are comfortable doing it, try to put both feet down after gliding. (You should be able to go 20+ feet with gliding now.) Practice this until you feel comfortable going to the next step.


14. Once you've gained enough speed, try to pedal ONCE with the feet once you are sitting on the seat and both feet are on the pedals.


15. Try to pedal more times slowly, working your way up to 2,3,4, etc...


16. When you feel you've mastered the pedaling, try a 'cold start' on flat ground. First put your pedals in a horizontal position, put your left foot on the pedal and keep the right foot on the ground or the other way around if it is more comfortable. Then Use your right (or left if you chose the other way) foot to give yourself some initial speed while pushing down the pedal with your left (or right), draw your (right or left) foot up to the pedal and start pedaling right away.


17. Find a spot with an EASY turn or a large area, when you are going down and have gained a good speed try to slightly turn(without pedaling) to the right, then left.


18. Now we go to an important part: braking. Depending on what kind of brakes your bike will differ the training. When using hand brakes, the front brake is the primary brake. On paved surfaces, you should try to apply the front brake about three times as hard as the rear. If the rear wheel starts to skid, you should reduce pressure on both brakes evenly. On loose surfaces it will be better to apply the rear brake with more force than usual to prevent the front wheel locking up. If your bike has foot-brakes (more common in the USA than in Europe ) try to get the pedals in a horizontal position before braking, that way you'll be able to exert more braking power. Practice slowing down (correctly) when trying to stop going downhill. Put your left foot as low as the pedal goes and step on the ground with the right foot once you have slowed enough. The same goes for riding uphill but you won't have to use the brake as much, just wait for it to slow down.


19. Now you have learned how to ride downhill, just practice turning and you will be fine. (Note: For most slopes you will just need to glide.)


20. Now we will get to a harder part, going uphill. Start by going to a very SLIGHTLY uphill area. Start as you normally do except this time start by putting your left foot on the pedal to help gain speed easily, (Do this when you are going to go downhill too once you are used to it.) make sure the pedal is high up so you have a long distance to push. Push the pedal with the left(or the right) leg and the ground with the right (or the left) and you should be moving. Practice this 4-6 times!


21. Once you can do that and go 10 feet, then try to glide, then once you've gained balance try to sit on the seat and pedal.


22. Turning when going uphill is different and more difficult from turning downhill. It is the same concept but you have to gain very much speed to do so. Also make sure that you aren't pedaling while turning, unless you are in need of more speed.


23. Well that's all there is to learning to ride a bike! Practice daily and you will become good at it!


24. Ride. Once you can balance, pedal, start, and stop, (in this order) you're a bicycle rider. Congratulations!

Secondary Method



1. Sitting on the bike, make sure you know where the brakes are and how to operate them.


2. You have to learn to balance the bike. Find a person who can hold your bike behind you and try to steady it as you pedal.


3. After practicing for a couple minutes, the person can release his or her hands while you try to keep your balance.


4. When you are ready, ride alone. But first lower the seat until you can sit on it and put both feet flat on the ground.


5. When you are confident you can put your feet on the pedals and coast for a few feet, try not putting your feet down to train your sense of balance. Do this for 30-45 minutes or so, until you have a good feel and some confidence about steering the bike.


6. As you gain experience, raise the seat up so that only your toes can touch the ground while you are seated. This is the more appropriate height for your seat.
7. Finally, you have to practice.


8. Once you can balance, pedal, start, and stop, you're a bicycle rider. Congratulations!