Wasn't sure where else this questions belongs. I guess it's a mechanics question. I purchased a Specialized Sectuer on Friday and took the bike for a spin around the block. I'm a complete beginner and I realised that I don't really know how to keep the bike in a straight line. That's kind of important when your on a road riding past parked cars, and don't want to a) crash into parked cars, b) veer into passing cars, or c) wobble enough to freak out passing cars. Is control of the bike going to get easier? I think I'm generally freaked out about driving on the road with cars in general - Doug.

Yes.

Just takes a little time and experience.

There's a little something that applies to bicycles and motorcycles called "counter steering". Google for it and learn to use it.

I'll start you off by saying that riding a bicycle is NOT about steering. It is about balancing the bike by using the steering to recover from a perpetual series of mini falls. To turn we actually steer away from the direction we want to go for just an instant and for only a small amount. This tips the bike towards the direction we wish to go by falling into the turn. We then partially recover from this fall to balance the turn and then turn in further to lift the bike back up.

I know this sounds odd and unbelievable. But balancing and steering a bike is a lot like balancing a broom handle end up in your palm. When it falls you need to push your palm back under the balance point to recover the balance. When you want to "walk" with the broom handle you can't just start walking or the handle will fall back into your face. Instead you move your hand back a little for just an instant to make the handle fall forward and then you walk with it and at the end you move your hand forward of the balance to make the broom handle stop falling forward. Riding a bike is much like this.

So you need to stop thinking of steering your bike like you steer a car. Try riding on a quiet street in a straight line. When you feel yourself staring to fall to one side or the other steer INTO the fall to steer the bike back under your falling balance point.

Some will say that riding at high speeds this works just fine but at low speeds you need to steer "normally". But this is NOT the case. All that happens as you slow down is that the amount of counter steer to initiate a turn becomes less to start the fall and the inward angle of the bars becomes more to achieve your balance in the turn. This makes it SEEM like you're steering normally if you didn't catch the slight counter steer action to start the fall into the turn. But it's there or you would not be turning in the right direction. Similarly even at your low turn speeds to lift back up to vertical or shift over to a turn in the opposite direction you need to turn harder INTO the turn you're in to lift the bike up and over to the other direction and then recover by turning the bars into the new turn to catch the fall and get your balance back at the new lean angle.

You'll soon see how this works when you're out practicing again. Just remember that with a wheel in your hands you steer in one manner and with bars you steer in the other.

Doug, I just saw this post after responding to your question about shifting in another post. I'm new to cycling also and know where you're coming from. I too found the bike pretty wobbly at first but now, after 1500 miles speed along at 12 to 20 mph. The faster you go the steadier and more stable the ride. Stick with it. You're gonna love it. Bern