what to do for the best.

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.

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.

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

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!)

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.

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.??

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

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.

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 tend to catch the front of my trainer on the back of the wheel if you follow me.

sounds like you have your foot positioned too far forward on the pedal, that you are pushing down on your instep, like a piston, rather than having the ball of your foot ie the widest part of your foot on the pedal, which also helps ankling.

I had the same problem as you. I replaced my electric bike with an electric trike and absolutely love it.

I am a keen cyclist and love my bike. I've come off a couple of times, but not badly injured fortunately! Recently I hired an electric bike, as we were staying in a mountainous region (it's very flat where we like, you can literally cycle for 30 miles without encountering a hill!). The electric bike, whilst fabulous for getting up hills, does have its drawbacks. It is very heavy, and if you mess up on the gears going uphill, it's almost impossible to get up enough momentum to get started again. I resorted to going back downhill for a while to gather speed.
I can absolutely see how the OP would struggle if she's not very strong and unused to cycling.
My advice would be to sell it quickly while bikes are in great demand and buy yourself a nice piece of jewellery!

Brave of you to even try cycling on our busy and very narrow roads! I am too scared to try!

OP, just tell him you have lost your confidence after your four falls. You need to be confident and relaxed to ride a bike.

I think you have been courageous thinking about going on the roads on any contraption. No way would I consider a bike,scooter whatever for the road these days. You have had 4 mishaps sustainin relatively light injuries up till now. Don't wait until you have a serious one and tell your DH how you feel.

Had this sort of thing with skiing ..announced that I was giving it up after falls resulting in black and blue bruising. End of. Find something that YOU enjoy and let DH enjoy his cycling alone.

If that was me who kept falling off my DH would have confiscated the bike by now!

Have you had any cycling training? Most Local Authorities offer free sessions for cyclists and with the drive on cycling this is likely to be available? A cycling instructor would be able to help identify what is causing the falling off etc and help you gain confidence.

And I speak as someone who 10 years ago was terrified of cycling and now cycles all over the place, on busy streets and in the country. My husband was a cycling instructor after he retired from his long term career and he got many very nervous cyclists happily on the saddle.

Thanks for all the concern re my balance - I am fine doing balancing exercises at my Keep Fit weekly task (better than some of the younger+older ladies+men who are there) it's just the weight of the damn bike and the size of it (it's extra-small due to my short legs) which knocks me off-balance! I was perfectly aware of this "problem" when it was pointed out before purchase, and it's ok along a straight bit of road, on a one-way street. I know a few people who have electric bikes and every one of them, bar none, has fallen off at least once.
I had to smile very gratefully mrsgreenfingers56 and give you a "thank goodness someone really understands my problem" hug! Everybody thinks that an electric bike means you can just sit there gaily peddling along without a care in the world, except for avoiding cars and potholes! Even with the assisted power you have to use good old pedal-power as you say.
Well done you for that Austrian trip - the scenery would have been beautiful and worth the effort I'm sure.

A positive out of all this saga is that Voltarol helps calm down bruises and takes the worst sting out of them, I'm glad we had a tube of that in the medicine cupboard! I hope not to have to need it for bike crashes again!

My balance is not as good these days, so, although I still cycle, I use the off-road path network here and prefer to go alone, at my own (slow) pace.

I'm jealous of the local chap who has an adult tricycle - that's what I'd prefer, with no chance of taking a tumble!

My husband has just said electric bikes are much heavier because of the battery and motor. I’m sure you’d find a normal bike much easier ?.

Greciangirl - you do have to pedal an electric bike but much less than a normal bike. The power kicks in but you still have to pedal it to start it. Boy do I know, I cycled up the steepest mountain pass in history in Austria some years ago and really appreciated the electric kicking in but the battery gave up about a mile from the summit and back to good old leg power!

Sorry if this has been asked already. My husband and I cycle, not electric ones. Why do you keep falling off? I find I’m absolutely fine until I have to go through small gaps, or make sharp turns, and then feel my balance sitting down is not the best. I tend to catch the front of my trainer on the back of the wheel if you follow me. Never fallen off though. I don’t know about electric bikes. I understand you can go from manual to electric to suit your ability. If you’re not enjoying it, please stop. You could be risking your life. I am 60 as well if it helps.

I also wondered why you keep falling off? That is not normal for a cyclist new or not. It is an excellent form of exercise and so enjoyable but obviously not to you any more. Do you think there could be some medical problem with your balance? I have cycled for years and yes come off 3 times in 55 years but lived to tell the tale!

Corryanna

Thanks for all thoughts. I keep falling off as I'm an anxious biker with skinny legs and the once the bike starts to wobble, I can't stop it falling over and my weak ankles can't hold me up. No hearing, seeing or thinking problem I'm just too weak. DH understands 100% how I feel and "Woman up!" was the best 2 words anyone could have said to me - thanks so much Lucca. Also, had there been a car coming yesterday, well, it doesn't bear thinking about.
I'm not going to rush to sell it, but wait till the 6" x 5" purple bruise on my thigh, my skinned elbow and stiff neck are better. Walking is a much safer option! Thanks for all the helpful thoughts and advice.

Thank you! I was actually worried that I might have been a little brusque there !