Should have read wasn't not was

Jenny Murray did an article in the DM this week she too has started to ride a bike again,but has had stabilisers fitted until she feels more confident, I too was bought or taught how to ride a bike as a child and feel I have missed out

I'm almost seventy and have cycled since I was a child and as I have never learnt to drive and is my healthy form of transport

I used to ride a bike, for 4 years I cycled to work each day, but then one of my hips began to play up and I had to stop. I found walking didn't cause any discomforrt and the problem caused by cycling did clear up after about a year so I haven't cycled since.

I must confess I was quite glad to give up. I have a very poor sense of balance and I always felt unsafe on a bike. I drove behind someone recently who clearly had the same problemand I thought if I looked as uncomfortable and unsure as that cyclist looked I really shouldn't cycle.

I'm looking for a new /secondhand bike with only 5 gears. Can only seem to find them with 18/21 gears - far too confusing !
Can anyone suggest a make - woman's mountain/road bike ? Oh and very lightweight as I have to lug it up eight steps to the pavement please.
Not getting any younger at nearly 64, but I'm fit and want to remain so.

I have a bike and do ride it now and then in the Summer but I find riding in the Winter is just so hard with the wind and cold.. breathing in cold air just makes my throat hurt , I could maybe try with a scarf around my mouth I'll have to give it a try. I do enjoy cycling.

We take our granchildren out for bike ride down the local canal. They are 5, 8, 11, 12. We then go in park, while they play, have a picnic, and ride home. Better than playing on game consoles.

I'm adding this some months after the main discussion but if anyone reads it, I may have a few nuggets of information.....

We took up fair-weather cycling some five years ago after not riding for some fifty plus years.

We bought hybrid bikes. These are in-between a road and mountain bike. The tyres are thicker than a road bike and one feels fairly secure.

I too, have trouble actually getting on the thing, so ensured mine has a low step-over entry. I just lean the bike towards me and I can easily put my leg through to then sit on the saddle. There are many ladies models with this type of low step-over/through.

Most local councils offer free lessons (and my 68-year-old friend who was not allowed a cycle when a child has just learned to ride via this scheme!) and these gave me confidence.

We do ride on local (outer London suburban and v v busy) roads which can be scary but love to whip the bikes into the car and drive to an off-road trail of which there are many if one looks for them.

We have taken several short-break holidays this year where we were covered in mud and debris during the day (whilst out cycling, I should add!) and had a relaxing evening in a hotel. We had more fun than any other type of holiday.

To those of you thinking of possibly cycling again, go for it. Age, health problems (I am asthmatic and have heart problems and arthritis but after clearance from my GP and promising to be sensible he gave the go-ahead -perhaps he hates me....! ) and weather all disappear when having so much fun!

Try it. You won't regret it!

Tried the exercise bike again today, woot, with saddle way up (need a bunk up to get on) I can get the peddles right round a few times before the pain gets too much.But it is increasing the bend in my knee, hopefully over the weeks I can gradually lower the saddle as the flex improves. Not sure Mrs. P will let me out on a real bike.
I can remember many years ago when I injured my knee and was strapped up, still riding my motor bike, heaven knows what my insurance would have said if I fell off, never thought of it then. Now if I still had my motor bike, I bet I could ride that

I would encourage anyone to take up cycling later in life and it's not really as dangerous as people often think.
Two things that might be useful - one is to think of taking some training. There used to be cycling proficiency which was taught at primary school. This has been updated to take into account cycling on much busier roads and it is now aimed at adults too, see Bikeability on the DfT website: https://bikeability.dft.gov.uk/.
We may think 'anyone can ride a bike' but it takes time to recover balance and bike handling skills and confidence on the road. Most councils offer cycle training at sensible rates and you can also find local trainers.
Secondly, if you haven't heard of it the Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) is an organisation that has existed for around 100 years. Local cycling clubs are organised under its umbrella and you will find groups who cycle on Sunday or during the week, possibly a women's group, midweek group, older riders' group. They organise holidays too. The atmosphere is always friendly and helpful. The website is www.ctc.org.uk.
Cycling is wonderful, do give it a try.

I have a Giant battery assist bike and love it. Not cheap I know but I use it to go into town - 10 miles return - and it is probably close to paying for itself and keeps me fit. My son is very derogatory but as I tell him it is better for me to cycle with a little help than not cycle at all and the battery only kicks in when I am pedalling.

I started riding a bike again this summer too. The last time I owned a bike I was a student. I too gripped the handle bars with white knuckles. I found the helmet intrusive, it robbed me of the romantic sensation of wind in my hair. I had to watch youtube to learn how to avoid 'Helmet Hair'. Within a few weeks I was hooked and rode for miles along the cycle lanes admiring the views of the hills. Until I got too ambitious and tried some woodland cycling. I am now nursing a bulging disc injury. I will recover and go back to it before the hills can only be admired from my windows.

I agree Jam, that's why I thought maybe you could find one a lot cheaper.

I was just reading a forum that you and anyone else who can't ride a bike may find interesting. Steve57's post at 3:36pm (18th May) is very interesting where he/she talks about lowering the seat and taking off the pedals and goes into a lot of detail that I think would be helpful. At 8:35pm BHOFM talks about the next stage, once you put the pedals back. Steve57 came back a few posts further down and posted about completing a 12 mile mountain bike challenge in the UK only six weeks later.

Reading Steve57's post reminded me how at the beginning of this year I taught my GD 6 to ride. When I visit I walk them to school and my GDs ride their bikes. Six year old didn't want to give up her trainer wheels, the problem was they were bending and she looked as she was about to fall off her bike. It was hard, lots of wailing (from her, not me), me running behind her to help her stay on the bike and give her a push to get going every time. We started out on grass and on a gentle slop but she had quite a few falls on the path to the pond. When she could finally ride her bike DD told me GD's friend's mother had just said her daughters, one only three or four learnt to ride in a day, she thought it may have been because it was a bike with no pedals and she was able to get her balance much easier. I wish I had known, GD6 took weeks, now she loves riding her bike and rides up hills with no problems.

I said to GD recently while she was riding how nice it was that she could ride so well and after all the wailing. She laughed and said "don't remind me, Grumma."

Faye its a lot of money to pay out for something I have never tried, even if it doesn't have a motor. But yes, I think I probably would want a motor as there are an awful lot of quite steep hills around here. In any case, as I said, it won't fit in/on the motorhome and we are not up for towing it behind, so I think it's probably a bit of a pipe dream

Jam If you could get the previous year's model you might get a bit off the price. Do you really need a motor on the bike?

bluekarma I would look at bikes that are lightweight, a road bike, not a mountain bike. Also a women's bike so you don't have to swing your leg over the bar.

I've just found gransnet again and found this at the exact right time. I too live in London and I'm looking to move to Worthing and get a bike. It''s true it's scary leaving London, all the hustle and bustle but I can't wait to get our house on the market and move to Sussex and get a little flat all to myself. As long as I can get back to London easily to see my friends. Haven't ridden a bike for over 50 years but I want to cycle along the prom at first until I get more confident. What sort of bike do you think would be best for the experienced cyclists? I don't want a racing bike (I think they are the ones with drooped handlebars :-) just the kind to get around town and along the prom. I would be grateful for any suggestions. Thanks

Grannygear I do often leave the car behind and use shank's pony - where did that saying come from I wonder? I walk into town - about half an hour walk - and to the allotment - so I don't feel too guilty when I have to drive somewhere.

Jam,
If you consider a bike as a an alternative way of getting around to using a nasty, smelly, expensive, polluting, dangerous motor car, with the added costs of car tax and insurance, MOT petrol and servicing and the rest the price you mention isn't excessive.

I'm not saying get rid your car. Cars have their uses and are essential in some cases. But think how much you will save if you do even 25% of your journeys by bike. People often expect to get a bike for the same price their dad or granddad paid 50 years ago. Just about everything else has gone up in price, bikes are no different. The ten-quid racing bike is long gone!

Faye I have just googled "tricycle" and found the one of my dreams! It has a sweet basket on the front and an electric motor for getting up those pesky hills. The problem with it is the price - £1,299. It would need to be a very special birthday for that to happen. The ones without motors are about £700, but not half as desirable - and still a fair outlay. Need to have a big think about that ...

Jam I think a three wheeler bike with two rear wheels closer together would be great. They would be far easier to ride for those who don't feel they can balance on two wheels. I am sure there would a market for them.

GrannyGear I have seen the recumbent bikes where they are lying on the bike, I don't understand how they don't fall off. I can see the others would be easier to ride.

I can't swing my leg over the bar either, I prefer a very light frame women's bike. I have found if you can't lift the front of the bike it will be too heavy to ride.

Faye, there are plenty of trikes available for adults but they can take a lot of getting used to if you've been riding a bike. Steering on a trike is very different. You need to un-learn the technique of leaning as you steer.

Now a recumbent trike is a different matter altogether: you sit down to ride and steer with a couple of handles under the seat and steering is more or less intuitive.

Like some others on this thread I didn't learn to ride as child. We lived on a main road and my parents never seemed to consider it necessary. We had a good bus service and I could get around easily. I I got my first bike when I was 30 and living in the country and looking for a way to get around.

Over the years my balance got poor and arthritis made it difficult to get my leg over (over a crossbar, that is!) I tried several different kinds of recumbent trikes and got mine nearly four years ago.I love my recumbent trike and wouldn't be without it. We're currently looking at adding an electric motor to get me up the hills.

Aww hummingbird I would love a Pashley but where I live in the Pennines it would probably kill me trying to get up hills with only what is it 3 gears? maybe 5 at a pinch, not to mention the weight. Mine's a Cannondale road bike (fit for purpose) of battling up hills. I've been cycling regularly since about 2009. I came off in December 2012 when some silly kid (old enough to know running out into the road is a bad thing to do) ran out in front of me with no warning. I suffered a cracked rib and a hole in my elbow. Spent a very miserable couple of weeks in the lead up to Christmas that year.......but it hasn't put me off, just made me very wary of pedestrians who don't look before crossing the road, of which there are many.

Mine's a forty year old Raleigh (was new to me). Best bike on the road.

Ooh! Get you hummingbird! Pashley indeed! Has it got a cover on the back wheel to stop your skirt getting caught in the spokes?

Yes Faye I have seen these tricycles, but they are a bit large to fit in a motorhome . Tempting though.