Foo - I need some foo advice.

Ok, so next week I was going to go with this girl to the movies, and I just convinced her to come mtbiking with me, which instantly got me really excited.

Problem is, she tells me she doesn't know how to ride a bike. She goes "Is that a problem?". Ummmmm. :rolleyes: So I told her I'd teach her. I need some kind of tips on teaching someone to ride a bike. Is it possible to get it done in an hour so we can do a mtb ride? :D

Sorta possible, start with gentle grassy slope coasting so when she crashes she won't get hurt. take the pedals off and let her use the bike initially like a walker and set the saddle low enough she can reach the ground, when she can balance the bike coasting, start working on the pedaling. Go from there.....

Just like you'd do with a kid. Lower the seat and take off the pedals. Let her work on steering and balance on the flatts. Then look for a slight grade to introduce braking. When she has that all together put the pedals back on and work on the pedaling.

Don'gt rush it. It might take two or three 'lesson dates' befor you're comfortable that she's comfortable.

Remember Jon... No opportunity wasted. Boooya!

Just like you'd do with a kid. Lower the seat and take off the pedals. Let her work on steering and balance on the flatts. Then look for a slight grade to introduce braking. When she has that all together put the pedals back on and work on the pedaling.

Don'gt rush it. It might take two or three 'lesson dates' befor you're comfortable that she's comfortable.

Remember Jon... No opportunity wasted. Boooya!

She's going back to school next week, so I only really have one opportunity. She had a shal we say "bad experience" on a bike when younger and never tried again.

Well, you got a long weekend boy, make it work for you.

I dont know pheard, a movie and popcorn is starting to sound pretty good:p

Yea, I would change plans to something that you can both readily enjoy if your time is that limited. While teaching someone how to ride is a great thing, if you plan on making a good impression and having a good time it may not be the best venue. Especially if its a one time thing.

She's going back to school next week, so I only really have one opportunity. She had a shal we say "bad experience" on a bike when younger and never tried again.

If she bruises something, just make sure you volunteer to kiss it better.

I dont know pheard, a movie and popcorn is starting to sound pretty good:p

That's what it started out as, but I was seriously so un-stoked for that. So I asked her if she was a suh suh suh girly girl, and she said she liked getting dirty and wresling. So I asked her if she was into doing a mtb ride. She was down.

Then I told her I think I love her.

and that's that.

Alternative... you can teach her how to ride a bike and depending on how that goes or doesn't, you can have a nice picnic hike planned out as a backup. Walking places is almost as rad as rolling to them.

Alternative... you can teach her how to ride a bike and depending on how that goes or doesn't, you can have a nice picnic hike planned out as a backup. Walking places is almost as rad as rolling to them.

...and you call yourself a cyclist?. Get out of my thread now!!!!!!

:p :D

I call myself a lot of things, "cyclist" is not one of them. I just ride bikes.

Yeah, it sounds like a bad deal all around.

If you can't teach her to ride:
1. She'll get frustrated and feel silly in front of you
2. You'll seem like an ineffective teacher or worse, a jerk

If you can teach her to ride:
1. She won't be able to keep up at mtb'ing and she'll get frustrated and feel silly in front of you
2. You'll go on the ride and always be waiting at the top of the trail for her and you'll seem like some kind of a sandbagger or worse, a jerk

I'd stick to the go for a picnic idea, biking is one of those things that I don't let relationships interfere with.

Just get a box of trojans and screw. :rolleyes:

Just get a box of trojans and screw. :rolleyes:

I like the way you think. go for it jon. You can do eet!

Just get a box of trojans and screw. :rolleyes:

Thanks Stacey. You're wisdom is always a help in times of trouble.

:roflmao::roflmao:

Get some.

Just get a box of trojans and screw. :rolleyes:

:eek:


But.......he's PINK!!

That's what it started out as, but I was seriously so un-stoked for that. So I asked her if she was a suh suh suh girly girl, and she said she liked getting dirty and wresling. So I asked her if she was into doing a mtb ride. She was down.

Then I told her I think I love her.

and that's that.

From what she said, you should just talk dirty then do some Jello wrestling. Hey, she's the one that came up with the idea.... :rolleyes:

Tell her to follow you and don't crash.

This is 1000 times easier if you are on a tandem.

:eek:


But.......he's PINK!!

They come in pink :p:p:p

They come in pink :p:p:p

No, if he's pink then he needs the black ones. You've got to color coordinate :rolleyes:

Maybe she wants you to teach her so she can "fall" and you can catch her. ;)

Jon

I think it's a great idea to teach her how to ride a bike. That way there will be one less woman in the world like my mom and my wife. I wouldn't get hopes up that you'll get to go mountain biking with her until another time. Could be a good opportunity to get a date when she comes back. I'd start thinking of other things to do after the bike riding lesson. Maybe you could persuade her to teach you some wrestling moves, or scrapbooking, or something she likes, but you don't know how to do.

Maybe you could persuade her to teach you some wrestling moves, or scrapbooking, or something she likes, but you don't know how to do.

He's LDS. There will be plenty of time for scrapbooking later.

Is it possible to get it done in an hour so we can do a mtb ride? :D


Just put some training wheels on her bike and hit the trail.

He's LDS. There will be plenty of time for scrapbooking later.

I know that. So am I. Hence the reference. ;)

Jon:
Add me to the listf of olks who thinking teaching her to ride is a great idea. Tom S. has outlined the way to go about it - it's how I taught my son, and it works. The only tweaks I'd suggest are:

(1) Do the training on pretty level asphalt or concrete, like a school playground. Done the Tom S. way, whe is not likely to crash, and the lower rolling resistance compared to grass will make the learning process easier and faster.

(2) At first, have her propel herself like she was walking or running, i.e. one leg coming forward while the other is pushing toward the back. Unless she has absolutely no balance or coordingation at all, she will be proficient at that very quickly. The next step is to have her bring both feet forward at the same time and push backwards with them at the same time. This increases the amount of time that she has both feet in the air and she is actually getting the feel of balancing the bike without it being so long that she freaks out. Then, apply the rest of the Tom S. method.

(3) Fer chrissakes, make sure the bike you are putting her on works, as in air in tires, brakes and derailleurs properly adjusted, lubed chain, all bolts properly tightened, all that stuff. And for the love of God, make sure the bike has rim tape on both wheels.

(4) If - and this is a BIG "if" - she progresses far enough (balance, braking, gear shifting, the works) to take the show on the road on that first day, do not under any circumstances take her on single track, or gnarly climbs/descents, or anything other than fairly level, hard packed fire roads. No sand, no mud, no big rocks, no technical challenges, none of the stuff you have a secret desire to hurt yourself on and a not-so-secret desire to show off for her on. (Hey, you're a 20 year old guy - of course you want to show off for her, and don't even try to deny it. I may be old, but I have a loooong memory and clearly recall what a blithering idiot I was about all things concerning women at that age. Not that I'm so smart now, but I was really hopeless then.) The point is to give her a fun, successful experience, not to show what a stud you are. (Plenty of time for that down the proverbial road, if things work out here.) It's kind of like Rules #1, #2, #3 and #4 for guys about sex: MAKE THE GIRL HAPPY. If she's happy, you're likely to be happy, too, and she'll come back for more; if she's unhappy, you WILL be unhappy.

(5) Commit the last four sentences of item (4) (the stuff after my trip down the hell I call Memory Lane) to memory, and repeat them quietly to yourself every 15 seconds while you are with her (or any other female you ever date). Seriously. And don't let her see your lips move.

(6) Have a great time. Focus on her, not on getting in what you would normally consider a "good ride." She's putting a fair amoun of trust in you, so repay that by making the day about making riding fun for her, even if it means holding waaaaaaay back yourself. Trust me, this is the way to go.

Okay, son, be home by 11:30. Your Mom and I will be waiting up, so don't be late. :rolleyes:

And for the love of God, make sure the bike has rim tape on both wheels.

:roflmao: What? Palm fronds won't do? :lol:

:roflmao: What? Palm fronds won't do? :lol:

If he's trying to convince her that he's the biggest cluck west of the Mississippi, then yes, palm fronds will do nicely.



Otherwise, not so much. :rolleyes:

He doesn't have to try, all we have to do is send her "THE PICS"......:eek:

You're right about one thing, Siu - Jon doesn't need help from you, me or anyone else to embarrass himself in public. So let's not help him, and allow him the satisfaction fo doing it for himself. :D





Okay, Jon. Go prove me wrong.


Seriously. I want you to prove me wrong here. I'm pulling hard for you to prove me wrong. I'm begging you to prove me wrong.






Not happening, is it? :(

*looks at watch I don't have, waiting, tapping toe, rolling eyes.*

Alternative... you can teach her how to ride a bike and depending on how that goes or doesn't, you can have a nice picnic hike planned out as a backup. Walking places is almost as rad as rolling to them.

+1. If you climb a nice hill on your tramp (hike) then you can get a little bit dirty & sweaty like you would on a bike ride.:)

Thanks Stacey. You're wisdom is always a help in times of trouble.

:roflmao::roflmao:

Dood, what are friends for? :love:

That's what it started out as, but I was seriously so un-stoked for that. So I asked her if she was a suh suh suh girly girl, and she said she liked getting dirty and wresling. So I asked her if she was into doing a mtb ride. She was down.

Then I told her I think I love her.

and that's that.

I think you have the answer right there, my friend. Get a kiddie pool and fill it with a few gallons of extra virgin olive oil - you know, the kind they make from ugly olives. Or throw in a lot of dirt and get out the old hose. I meant the GARDEN hose, you sickos! :eek: Either way, you have a fun-filled afternoon right there!

I think you have the answer right there, my friend. Get a kiddie pool and fill it with a few gallons of extra virgin olive oil - you know, the kind they make from ugly olives. Or throw in a lot of dirt and get out the old hose. I meant the GARDEN hose, you sickos! :eek: Either way, you have a fun-filled afternoon right there!

The old hose... Why you bringing Jon dad in to this? Ooooooo.... a father/son gig. Cool! :D

Sorta possible, start with gentle grassy slope coasting so when she crashes she won't get hurt. take the pedals off and let her use the bike initially like a walker and set the saddle low enough she can reach the ground, when she can balance the bike coasting, start working on the pedaling. Go from there.....

tell her its just like riding a...


well nevermind.

The old hose... Why you bringing Jon dad in to this? Ooooooo.... a father/son gig. Cool! :D

Wow... And I thought I was pretty good at spotting double meanings...

I'm the queen of double entendre (sp?). :D