what to do for the best.

Yes, welbeck, my husband says this, but I can’t seem to do it the way you both suggest. I feel as though my foot will slip off. I suppose it’s a bad habit which I can’t break. I will endeavour to try that way now someone else has said it. Thank you.

Toad. i see lots of children doing this, and they don't seem to be correctly advised, so as you say, the habit sets in.
without some attempt at ankling, you have less control of the bicycle, as you have experienced.
also you are not using so effectively various muscles, so the effort yields less reward.
perhaps experiment with different footware, and begin by slight increments, towards the correct position.
you could perhaps practice the movement while sitting up on a bed/ sofa with your legs straight out, supported. now try to stretch the back of your calf by pulling your toes up towards your body.
good luck.

Aww thank you, I’ll let you know how I get on.......hopefully not from a hospital bed ?

I’ve just had a birthday and most of my prezzies were bike related. This may seem as though I am a great bike rider, I am not!
I got the bike out of the shed where it has been residing since my DD fell off and messed up the seat. DH bought me a new hydraulic bit and off I went.
Only round the village and only in the direction that means I don’t have to do any difficult manoeuvres!
Since then I have been using it to visit friends in the village. Socially distancing of course.
Now I’ve got a fabulous new bell, British made in Sheffield. And some new lights. Lights??‍♀️ When does he think I’m ever going to go out when I need lights? Never.

When I get off my legs wobble.
I will do this. I’ve persuaded my neighbour to get hers out and we’ll go out together. My cunning plan is to go in front so she gets knocked off first.??

I am a pathetic cyclist - fine until I hear a vehicle coming behind me and then I start to wobble and end up in the hedge if I don’t stop! My finest hour was in the countryside in Thailand , whizzing along an empty road at top speed when a herd of buffalo started crossing the road in front of me. You could have heard me scream in Bangkok! Luckily it put off the last buffalo, which stumbled in the ditch at the side of the road or I might not have been here to tell the tale.

Toadinthehole, PamelaJI and tidyskatemum, thank you for sharing your cycling stories, I don't feel so bad about my falling off last week now that other ladies admit to doing the same! PamelaJI, your new bell sounds fantastic and I had a giggle about your DH buying you lights - my DH bought me panniers for any shopping I might want to do eventually! Finding a safe place to lock up my bike was hard enough (but it's the thought that counts!)

Yes it’s good to share?. I’m sure that to the uninitiated we look like professionals..
Now panniers? do I need them?

corryanna it sounds to me as though your bike is too big for you. I am also 5` if that and need an xs or 14" frame, otherwise the reach to the handlebars is too difficult, also your bike sounds much too heavy for you and is controlling you, rather than the reverse. We have a cycling thread on the health forum, several of us are back to cycling and are discussing various problems.

Dear Craftyone, I was measured in the bike shop and tried several to see what the right size was but thanks for your advice. I do have an old push bike (right size for body+leg length as I was measured) but it’s about 22 years old and as a big birthday present, thought a power assisted bike would be perfect. I’ve had some accident-free cycle rides (10 miles was our last one to a beautiful old church where we had a picnic in the grounds, using the picnic tables there). A week after my fall I know it’s a lack of confidence in my own cycling ability. I’ve gradually lost confidence since the menopause and it’s not only cycling. COVID-19 has increased my anxiety 100 fold and please can I draw a line now and close this thread? Thanks to all Posters (is it ok to call Gransnetters Posters?) who have offered advice? Negative comments only make my anxiety worse and I’m sure nobody chooses to upset me further.