[kneedrachen]

Situation:

You have a wife with severe back problems which renders her relatively inflexible, which precludes most forms of exercise including yoga, even though it is a low impact form of exercise. You both have an infant and a demanding work schedule and need a form of stress release and exercise but she needs to remain upright. Your husband (a dashing, sensitive, and oh-so dreamy stud-muffin) suggests she gets a bike. A trip to the LBS seems to find salvation in a Specialized/Globe Carmel 3 Low-Entry. Payment is made, bike assembly begins, and the bike and a child trailer will both be picked up Tuesday night along with the above mentioned hubby's Synapse in for some tune-up work (free with purchase earlier this year).

Subtext Along With Situation:

My wife hasn't ridden a bike in over 20 years and is EXTREMELY hesitant/nervous to do so. In addition to the physical exertion/stresses placed on her body due to 1) her back issues 2) being out of shape (as am I) and 3) being off of a bike and not using the muscles, she's generally fearful of falling off. I'm not really sure how to proceed to get her to go forward and start riding once we pick her bike and the trailer up Tuesday night. Part of me wonders once I attach the trailer to my MTB if she will just want to catch up to my daughter and I or if she'll need some coaxing along or????? I've never taught anyone to ride before or anything so I've never done this before. I've never introduced anyone to cycling so I'm not sure the best approach, or what works most often. Do I tell her "Well, yes, falling is part of the game, you just pick yourself up off of the ground and get going again" or???? I don't want to scare her off so I'm not too sure what to do.

I guess the bottom line is. . .

"What's the best way to encourage/introduce/reintroduce a cyclist into riding again?"

Thanks In Advance.

[JTGYK]

This is especially effective for people who haven't ridden before.
I wish I'd have known about this sequence with my wife:

1) Take the pedals off and lower the seat so she can start with a "balance bike" mode and learn to trust that she can push off and coast. She can put her feet down any time she starts to feel uncomfortable.

2) When she is feeling more confident, replace the pedals...but keep the seat low so she can get those feet back to the ground for her sense of safety.

3) Once she feels less wobbly pedaling start gradually raising the seat to correct height.

Practice by going around a quiet block or in an empty parking lot until she feels better about Braking and turning.

If she's ridden a bike before...she may go through all 3 steps the first day.

[JTGYK]

video including what I was describing:


Click here

[retromike3]

When I ran a retail bike shop I always thought it was a shame that mom got stuck with the less expensive bike and hauling the trailer wile dad had the more expensive bike alone. If I were you I would put the trailer on your bike and make sure her bike is as good or better than yours. The fact is that unless there is a major difference in your physical make up your are probably stronger than your wife, so giving you the trailer would even things up a bit. There are some bikes out there that are almost recumbents. that might make your wife a bit more at ease than the standard K mart special. Have you considered a recumbent? there not cheep but they are easy on the back. For me the best type of bike is the one that disappeared when I road it. It should go with you and let you enjoy the ride and not be thinking of the bike.

Its a good idea to start out with small goals and just worry about going around the neighborhood. just go down to the store or around the block and see how things "feel". I would think of a place you can all go to "test out" your new wheels so that everybody is comfortable with getting on and off and turning as a group. Think of a park or a big empty parking lot, after that you folks might try a longer ride like a few miles, But I got some wise advice from a grate coach it was " eat before your hungry drink before your thrusty and rest before your tired."

Something I might remind you of is this is not a race, riding with someone means that they are right with you and your not a distant speck on the horizon. You might even think about getting a tandem, that way you will never drop her and chances are you get there faster than if you rode by yourself.

mike

[photosbymark]

With back issues a recumbent might really be the answer. This way she has a fully supported back.

What your wife is experiencing is fear of the unknown. IF she rode a long time ago, she most likely can ride again without any big problems. She won't ride as far, as fast, but she still can ride. She just needs to be convinced. So I make three suggestions.

First make sure she wears a helmet. This really isn't about the safety, though I believe it does add a great deal; I know there are are those that disagree. What it does is to give her more confidence that if she does come off the bike, nothing really serious will happen. It gives an "I'm protected" sense of security.

Second take her someplace off road for a while she get reintroduced to the bike. Find a place level, and let her practice starting and stopping. When she has that down, make sure there is an emergency stop or two thrown in and she will see just how quickly she can stop and get out of trouble. Then add some bike control exercises with the goal of emergency avoidance.

What no one will really tell you is their biggest fear is getting run over by a car. Once you have a knowledge of how quickly you can stop, how quickly you can dodge something in the road, you find the confidence level on the road goes up and she won't be as concerned. You want to teach confidence, NOT OVER confidence. Riding on the road involves risks, but we are not helpless out there. Once she understands the type of control she does have, not feeling like a sitting duck on the road makes one enjoy the experience.

[kneedrachen]

Thanks for the input. We went with the Globe because she is most comfortable being upright and not having any pressure/lounging on her back a la a recumbent bike (although I dig them!).

I'll be the one pulling the trailer, I have an older Trek 4300 that will be acting as the tug for it.

It's not a race, it will be a leisurely pace until she's able to find a cadence and speed that she is comfortable with. Distance and speed will be for my solo rides on super early weekend mornings.

She's concerned about me pulling the trailer in traffic, so we've decided we'll haul the bikes and trailer down to the boardwalk where there is a bike-path that we can ride on without the fear of cars, potholes, etc.

We've already purchased a helmet for her and a helmet for my daughter who will be in the trailer, can't ever be too same IMHO.

We went with the Carmel 3 700 Low-Entry because of her back/hips she can't get over a top tube, the Low-Entry negates this problem entirely. Nothing to do with her being a second-class citizen or anything like that riding a less expensive bike, I even doubt she'd even be able to negotiate a mixte frame. I'm just glad she'll be on two wheels.

I'll try removing the pedals, we'll see how that goes.

Thanks for all of the insight, I'll keep you all posted.

[photosbymark]

Well to ease her fears about the trailer, and that sounds like a mom, how bout some flashing tail lights you could turn on day and night?? Most of the trailers have the tall flags on them, but anything you could do to make it more visible and draw attention to it couldn't be all bad. Have fun with the family. My wife wouldn't ride if I paid her with a clean house for 25 years. She knows better anyway, and I probably won't make it 25 more years anyway

[kneedrachen]

Sounds like a good idea, thank you. I'll look into flashing lights at the LBS tonight.

Again, thank you all for the insight.

Ride Safe.

[soccert]

has she tried trike

[kneedrachen]

So we picked up the bike yesteday evening, and we got home without incident. I took the bike off of the rack and she sat on it for a minute and wasn't sure where to go from there. I explained that by having a pedal at the 2 o'clock position would make it easier to push off with (she didn't want help) and she took off like a bandit. A little wobbly at first but then took to it like a duck/fish to water. She was smiling as was I. She's hooked now!

Thank you all for the advice and for checking in, I can honestly say we have a new convert to the fold!