As an adult who didn’t know how to ride a bicycle, previous experiences and fear kept me from wanting to learn. I had convinced myself that riding a bike was something that would be nice to know, not a “must know.” I had done without thus far, so did I really need to learn? If not for my husband’s encouragement (and nudging), I’m not sure I ever would have. Three months ago, I was Learning to Ride a Bicycle as an Adult. Surprisingly, riding a bicycle is the best thing I never wanted to do.
New situations, new groups, and new routes made me nervous and stressed early on. My lack of confidence on a bicycle and my beginner skills contributed to that. The more I got on my bike, the more comfortable and confident I became. Group rides were opportunities to learn more, and thankfully, everyone I’ve met has been supportive. I still have things to work on to be a better rider, but I’m happy with my progress. I wrote about Why Riding a Bike Has Been Enlightening, acknowledging some of the growth and progress I made in just a couple of months.
The Fearless Mind
The Fearless Mind: 5 Steps to High Performance by Dr. Craig L. Manning also improved my riding and my mindset. Manning, a sports psychologist, talks about what it takes to beat mediocrity and achieve high performance (by developing mental skills, controlling our thoughts and anxiety, building confidence, and making decisions), no matter what area of life. My mindset has improved, and I tell myself I can do something (like climb hills) rather than beat myself up.
The Benefits of Riding a Bike
There are also numerous benefits of riding a bike that have outweighed any negatives:
- Getting outside
- Exercising and building strength
- Being present in the moment
- Building confidence and having fun
- Personal growth
- Overcoming fear and mental roadblocks
- Feeling a sense of accomplishment
- Meeting new people and the camaraderie of group rides
- Participating in events that I wouldn’t have imagined.
Speaking of events that I wouldn’t have imagined doing, my husband and I participated in our first mass ride event last weekend — Tour de Donut. It’s a fun and unique challenge that has donut stops along the route. For each donut you eat, 5 minutes is deducted from your ride time. We successfully completed 34.4 miles, my farthest ride to date!
Then yesterday, I took a day off from work to join a group ride (and lunch afterwards) with a local cycling club. That’s a long way from where I first started. Now my husband and I are looking for other events to participate in and are even considering bike touring.
Between my journey and these memorable experiences, riding a bicycle has been the best thing I never wanted to do.
