Recreational & Family - Need some help teaching a girl how to ride (first date)

I know that I could search for a result, and I plan to do that, but I wanted to start a discussion anyways.

Tomorrow is my first date with her. All my bikes are way to big for her so I fixed up my MTB from when I was a child. Unfortunately it has some problems such as the front hub has a LOT of play in it and the wheel wobbles, the rear tire is bald and has a bulging part from where the brake pad rubbed on it. Luckily they are holding air.

Now I would like to know how to teach her (an adult) how to ride a bike. She has never ridden a bike before except her friends trying to teach her in the past. I am worried that if she gets hurt and if she remembers out first date as a bad one then It might do downhill :<

I have 8 hours to be with her, so I hope I can have her riding by then. What do you think, should I have her wear inline skating elbow/knee pads? (I know she will feel like a dork but I dont want her to get hurt) Also I have to fit her on the bike (move the seat around) so that she will be comfortable, I have the bike now in a gear that I think she should be able to handle.

Anyone have suggestions to help me teach her? This has to go well :P

Try http://www.sheldonbrown.com/teachride.html I was just checking out how to teach my daughter, but basics are basics.

Anyone have suggestions to help me teach her? This has to go well :PFirst of all make sure this is something she genuinely wants to do. Because if she doesn't, it's going to be an awfully short 8 hours.

--J

See this method of: 1. remove pedals and learn to coast downhill, steer and brake. 2. learn to put both feet on the pedals. 3. learn to push off and start on flat ground. This makes sense.

http://www.ibike.org/education/teaching-kids.htm See the video here.

Also, see this BF thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=94540)

.... Unfortunately it has some problems such as the front hub has a LOT of play in it and the wheel wobbles, the rear tire is bald and has a bulging part from where the brake pad rubbed on it. Luckily they are holding air.


I'd fix the bike up before you let her ride it. A blown tire or washing out the front wheel won't do your date any good.

Have a backup plan in case the riding is not going well.

Post back about the date. If I had to bet, I'd say the riding turns out not so good, but I would be perfectly happy to lose that bet :).

Good luck.

I know that I could search for a result, and I plan to do that, but I wanted to start a discussion anyways.

Tomorrow is my first date with her. All my bikes are way to big for her so I fixed up my MTB from when I was a child. Unfortunately it has some problems such as the front hub has a LOT of play in it and the wheel wobbles, the rear tire is bald and has a bulging part from where the brake pad rubbed on it. Luckily they are holding air.

Now I would like to know how to teach her (an adult) how to ride a bike. She has never ridden a bike before except her friends trying to teach her in the past. I am worried that if she gets hurt and if she remembers out first date as a bad one then It might do downhill :<

I have 8 hours to be with her, so I hope I can have her riding by then. What do you think, should I have her wear inline skating elbow/knee pads? (I know she will feel like a dork but I dont want her to get hurt) Also I have to fit her on the bike (move the seat around) so that she will be comfortable, I have the bike now in a gear that I think she should be able to handle.

Anyone have suggestions to help me teach her? This has to go well :P

I second the person who said to fix up the bike. Riding a bike in god repair is easy, one that is not can be very very difficult.

As to the pads, you siad others have tried to teach her, find out how those attempts have gone. That gives a huge clue to if pads might be a good idea. If you can get details all the better. If you try something someone else has already tried (and which failed) you won't come off well. The more clues you have to WHY teaching her has not worked the better position you are in to find something that works.

have her sit on the saddle with her feet touching the ground. without helping her she can roll the bike forward and glide with her feet touching the ground a little. she can practice braking.

then that's it for the lesson.

let her think about he experience and she will dream about it and will want to do more the next time

now think about what you will do with her for the next 7 hours! :)

Failure. It was no good. I tried every trick Sheldon had. We ended up throwing away our plan after 10 minutes and two cuts. She got knicked on the chainring and the pedal.

We are going to try again, but probabbly not any time soon, I guess she will just have to stick to watching me. :<

Thanks again. (Oh yeah, the rest of the date was FANTASTIC, just with a car instead of a bike :<)

See this method of: 1. remove pedals and learn to coast downhill, steer and brake. 2. learn to put both feet on the pedals. 3. learn to push off and start on flat ground. This makes sense.

http://www.ibike.org/education/teaching-kids.htm See the video here.

Also, see this BF thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=94540)
Darn, that sounds like it will work, I will just have to find her a smaller bike first. :)

She is 5' 1". I am not sure about mountain bike sizes but I ride a 63 cm Road bike and this bike was WAY to small for me, so I figured it would fit her but she cannot comfortably stand over the top tube. (I don't know if they sell smaller mtb's other than ones with 650 c wheels. :P

I also don't want to put down cash on a bike if she isn't going to ever use it. So I might keep an eye peeled on craigslist and at goodwill for a bmx bike or a folding bike that would be small enough for her to ride.

Thanks.

A cheap bike from Craigslist, can be resold at the same price later. Get it small enough that she can reach the floor from the seat and take off the pedals. Let her try it on a gently grass slope in a park. Take along a blanket and snack food, as she wont want to spend all the time biking. Good luck.

I am sorry the riding did not work out, but I am glad the rest of the date did. Hopefully the future attempt will bring some success.

You ride a mighty tall road bike :).

I'd get her an upright comfort bike to try out. Mountain Bikes and Road Bikes have aggressive geometry and can be uncomfortable to some people.

I'd get her a cheap one from Craigslist (make sure it's in good order, or fix it up if it isnt). Or, better yet, RENT her a bike. See if there are any bike shops that rent out bikes in your area. You can get her a top of the line comfort bike for about 30 dollars for the day.

Here's my local rental spot: http://bikemart.com/articles/rental-services-pg152.htm

You can get her a top of the line comfort bike for about 30 dollars for the day.
I never thought about doing that. Thanks man.

I just hope they have one with 650c wheels, as She is tiny :3

Yesterday I bought http://tinyurl.com/arraysunshine this bike. For $25 in PERFECT condition!!! I cant wait to have her ride it! I will try to use the methods described above again, but since the bike wont be too big things should go better. ^^;;