So happy at the lookout on Mont Royal with my Bixi rental bike. Scratch free! 
The bike brakes had been making some pretty awful screeching noises the last time I took a ride through the park. And after seeing how smooth braking could be when I rented a BIXI in Montreal, I decided I should take the bike to see the Bike Doctor (by the way, I’m not making up the name — the place is actually called The Bike Doctor). The guy at the shop said I could probably use a complete tune-up and since the tune-up would include the brake adjustments I figured I might as well.
My parents bought the bike in the early 90s for my sister and it was left relatively untouched from the mid-90s until 2003 when I first learned to ride with the help of my dear friend Denis. I still remember his first words of encouragement “You want to ride a bike?! But you can’t even walk! [laughs]”. He’s so supportive!
After a couple of hours of falling and a mini-meltdown on my part, the idea finally came to him that the bike seat was too high for me (my sister is a lot taller than me). We lowered the seat so I could touch the ground on my tippy toes, and a couple hours later I was riding like a five-year old. Huzzah!
Each time I got on that bike though, I was always very nervous. I’m not particularly skilled at balancing and I’d fallen oh so many times (you’ve seen what a bush can do to me when I’m on a bike). I always figured it was just me - I sucked at cycling.
When I picked up the bike from the shop today, that usual bit of pre-biking dread came over me. “Oh geez, I hope nobody’s looking. Should I walk it to the park first so I don’t risk hitting a car when I fall? I hope I don’t get another scar today. Please, not another scar.” And then something magical happened…
I got on the bike and I COULD RIDE IT!!!!!! :O There was control. There was smooth braking. There was gliding and maneuvering and I could even STAND on it without any problems!!!
I used to struggle to stay on that thing and would get tired after a half hour in the park even though it’s relatively even. But today, I went through the park no less than three times, cycled through the neighbourhood, didn’t hit any person or bush and didn’t even come close to hitting a car, was able to stop at the stop signs and my nerves were still so calm after an hour that I even ventured onto Kingsway!
I learned something very important today: It wasn’t me. IT WAS THE BIKE!!!!!!
This was taken the day Denis taught me how to ride a bike.
Tips for Beginners on Bikes
- Before you get on an old bike, get it checked to make sure the wheels are straight, the brakes work the way they should, and nothing is loose or out of place.
- Before you get on, adjust the seat according to your height. If this is your first time on a bike, I’d recommend adjusting it so that you can touch the ground with your toes while sitting to avoid unnecessary bruising. You can always raise the seat after you’ve gotten the hang of it.
- Learn about your bike’s speed settings and how to change your gears before you get on so you don’t end up pedalling harder than you have to when you’re first learning.
- If you feel like you’re falling in one direction, turn your handles to face the direction you’re falling to avoid actually falling.
- Increasing your speed will make it easier to stay balanced on the bike, though it might be more painful if you do end up falling off it.
- Lean back if you feel like you’re going down.