I want to learn to ride a bike this year

[Monterey Jack]

Is it hard (especially if you're over forty)? Expensive? Does a bike require a lot of tedious maintenance?

I've just always wanted to learn, and the benefits in terms of health and mobility seem obvious.

[Bullitt]

You might as well ride somethin'

[InuYashaCrusade]

My grandpa tried and said the test was hard. I mean, he's in his 70s though.. so maybe you'll have better luck being younger?

[Monterey Jack]

You need a license to ride a bike...?

[InuYashaCrusade]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

You need a license to ride a bike...?

Edit: I misread, thought you meant bike as in motorcycle! That's my bad LOL

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by InuYashaCrusade

Edit: I misread, thought you meant bike as in motorcycle! That's my bad LOL

"I ride a bike...sickle. A bikecycle…"

[Leslie Dame]

Guys in their forties usually buy a crisis-motorcycle, but I guess a bike will do

Anyway, learning to ride a bike is easier than learning to swim, or so I've been told.

[Mike16]

So long as you don't have any balancing issues, you shouldn't have any issue learning to ride in your 40s. It doesn't have to be expensive at all. For your first bike, go to your local Walmart and pick up a cruiser-style bike for <$100 and take it to a local park and practice on the grass. Remember, the key is balance. Once you can balance yourself on a 2 wheeler pedaling is cakewalk.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Mike16

For your first bike, go to your local Walmart and pick up a cruiser-style bike for <$100 and take it to a local park and practice on the grass.

I know grass has safety benefits with new riders, but it's far easier to learn on a compact surface. Grass can be a slog, especially in winter.

Bikes don't need a huge amount of maintenance, you just need to oil the oily bits if you're not using the bike regularly or have to wash it down.

[slm]

Good for you!! I think this a great goal for 2020 - bicycling is such a fun and healthy activity. I think you've mentioned previously that you walk/bus to work sometimes... you could bicycle instead! Plus, it's a fun date activity, if you have bike trails near you. You may want to consider getting knee pads or wrist guards while you're learning (in case you fall the first couple times). Don't get discouraged...I thought it was hard to learn at first, but I'm so glad I did! Good luck!!

[Dustin44]

Nah, It shouldn't be hard.

Pick up a bike at Wal-Mart for cheap and practice.

You can check out Youtube videos for tips on learning to ride a bike.

Here's one:

Learn How to Ride a Bicycle in 5 Minutes - YouTube

[Falaskan]

I grew up with a hatred for bikes. I haven’t been on one since high school. Guess I could if I needed to.

[sk33tr]

when i was young (and even when i got into my late 20s) i always had a bike. i learned to ride at a young age. and when i was growing up, it was my mode of transportation...along with about 15 other kids from the neighborhood. we probably looked like a miniature biker gang all riding around on our bmx-style bikes.

during the summer, we'd set out late in the morning and wouldn't return home until supper time (i.e., dark-thirty). we'd ride everywhere. at any given time, i was probably 5+ miles away from my house for most of the day. no worries or cares...just me and the guys riding around trying stupid shit on our bikes. many scrapes were received, sometimes stitches, even a couple broken bones here and there. helmet? nope. pads of any kind? not a one. hell, half the time we didn't even wear shirts. just a pair of shorts and shoes and we were good.

i haven't ridden a bike in probably 20 years, though. i've thought many times about buying and riding the trails at the local state park (they have bike-specific trails) just to get some extra exercise. but a decent bike isn't cheap, anymore.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Mike16

For your first bike, go to your local Walmart and pick up a cruiser-style bike for <$100 and take it to a local park and practice on the grass.

Yup. And when you get the hang out of it and you think you’d like to continue doing it, invest in a better bike. There’s just no comparing a nice bike from a company like Trek and a Walmart bike.

[boringperson]

If you really want to learn, start with a penny farthing bike. You will look cool doing it too.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by Mike16

So long as you don't have any balancing issues

And for people that do, there are always trikes. I know my mom has been talking about getting a tricycle for herself, she's in her 70s. Adult-sized trikes aren't much more expensive than bikes are.

[Kaiju]

I learned how to ride when I was a kid, but I honestly haven't been on one in ages. Makes you wonder if you're still capable.

[Bigdog]

Originally Posted by Kaiju

I learned how to ride when I was a kid, but I honestly haven't been on one in ages. Makes you wonder if you're still capable.

But what about the saying "It's like riding a bike".

Honestly the few older people I know who started riding a bike at an older age again mostly for exercise, got into accidents with motorist on the roads. Maybe it was just coincidence as it was only 3 people but it was like the only 3 people I knew that still road a peddle bike. Shit seems dangerous to me these days as drivers in cars just have to many distractions today imo.

[meremortal]

Plenty of 'older' people still regularly use a peddle bike for health, leisure, sport, commute, etc. If you spend any amount of time at all in an urban area(s), you will encounter many cyclists. It's often preferred commuting as well over driving for the practicality and ease of parking. I still cycle every day despite owning a car. Not sure why it's perceived as a child's activity - I'm a millennial and am actually somewhat on the younger end of my ride group. There are guys in their fifties and even sixties around here who log 150+ miles or more a week on the bike. As far as learning, take it slowly on a flat surface and monitor your progress. Work on your sense of balance at first for just going in a straight line and when you feel more comfortable you can start to try moving laterally and working on turns. And please invest in a good helmet and wear it every time you step on the bike.