starting to ride a pushbike again at 64!

I lived riding my bike when I was younger. I cycled everywhere. I had my bike at the nurses home when I was training. I would love another one, but think that an electric bike would be more useful these days. I live near
Hadrians Wall and it is rather hilly.
here's an article that might help with the gear issue. Good luck, and happy cycling.

Find quiet places to practise and make sure you are suitably attired. You never forget how to ride a bike! Enjoy.

Haven't any tips but how lovely to of inherited a bike. I'd love to have one but live in Luton so would be too busy for me to cycle anywhere....I would be nervous cycling amongst a lot of traffic.....

So here's the thing ... We say ' You never forget how to ride a bike...' I NEVER rode a bike successfully when younger. I had a bad crash when I was about 7 and another when I was about 11. The second time around was on a borrowed bike. My parents communicated their anxiety to me - did not want me to have a bike and thought they are ' dangerous.'

I encouraged all my children to bike ride - we bought them bikes and they did cycling proficiency at school and would cycle about town, but it wasn't until my youngest had a bike hen she was 11 that I had another go, pootling around the quiet back-streets where I lived, but I never got my confidence up.

I often think I learned how NOT to ride a bike when I was young and that has stayed with me and I just cannot get past it.

moonbeams I wish you well with your endeavours. If I do ever get there in the biking world, I think I will be a batty old woman with a straw hat, riding a tricycle, complete with cat in the basket!

I'd love a tricycle imperfect, have wanted one since I fell off a bike into some stinging nettles to the amusement of teenage sons . I didn't have a bike as a child, lived on a busy road and it was deemed, probably accurately, too dangerous. I'm 70 next year, maybe the time has come .

I used to cycle when I lived in Christchurch New Zealand but now I'm back in London and not likely to live anywhere quiet enough, it's the car or bus for me. Maybe I'll cycle in a gym.

They say you never forget how to ride a bike so just take it slowly.....if possible find somewhere quiet to start with until you regain your confidence. Watched a chap on or local TV who is in his early eighties who tries to do 100 miles a week. He only started doing this about ten years ago after his wife died to give him a sense of purpose again. Just take it steady initially and see how it goes.

Only 64? Stop fussing and get your leg over!

Enjoy having a bike again.

You may find, however, that it is more difficult to look over your shoulders to see what is behind you. I notice I do and am seriously considering a rear-view mirror for safety's sake.

But at least discovering how stiff my neck had become did get me started doing exercises that have helped a bit.
It' an ill wind...

I was riding a bike at 60 but now health has deteriorated I have a mobility scooter. My one love would have been a tricycle. They were so expensive on ebay and other used sites. The new ones were only a tad more expensive than the used one. Didn't have the money then. Now got the money but can't use one because of health issues. Sods law I believe it is called.

I still ride my bike (I'm 79) but now wear a helmet and, in general, avoid busy roads. I stick to designated cycle paths etc. instead and am fortunate in having the Jubilee River path reasonably nearby. Sustrans are a useful organisation for finding local cycle paths. Happy cycling, moonbeames!

I learnt to ride a bike at 31 when we moved to Holland. I used to have my daughter on the back and my son in front and cycled everywhere. It is a great way of getting about and you can easily stop and chatter to people on the way.

I tried it again a few months ago (I'm 68) and find that my balance isn't what it used to be, and today's traffic scared me lots. But on a quiet flat stretch it's still loads of fun. Good luck

I still ride my old Raleigh Shopper bike, complete with basket on front. Have had the bike since my children were young. The youngest sat on the seat at the back, while my daughter rode her Budgie bike.

The bike is useful for cycling down village lanes, and round and about. The only problem is that my joints are a little bit stiffer these days, and it's not as easy to get on.

Good luck cycling!

Never to old!
The more you do the better you will become, so keep going and don’t give up 64 is really quite young ?

I never learned to ride a bike as a child . When I retired, it was top of my list to learn, not least as my grandsons all love cycling. I have to say I was also inspired by our London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. My local council provide FREE instruction and weekly sessions to encourage fitness and wellbeing. It has not been easy for me as I am not the fittest of people and also a bit of a wimp. However, I am so pleased with myself for learning and overcoming my fears. Go for it !

I'd never dare ride a bike on today's roads. When I was at school I would cycle about 5miles each way to school and back and really enjoyed it.
We are lucky that we have a cycle path near us that is about 3.5 miles long and other half intends using that once his knees are a bit better after his recent TKR.
You might be able to find a cycling club. We have a cycling hub a couple of miles from us and they run classes which are aimed specifically towards women and are very popular.

I took it up again about 5 years ago (Am now 75). We are on edge of London so don't ride on the road at all. Bought a bike rack and drive to local off road trails. Canals and rivers are ideal as they are flat! Just been for a beautiful ride in the sunshine in the Lea valley. I much prefer it to walking for exercise as you go further and see more.

Loved my bike years ago. Good for you being brave enough to have another go. I find current traffic levels too intimidating even to consider it. All I can remember about gears is that low is for going up hills and high for downhill. I also recollect that you stop pedalling whilst changing gear.
However, if it has French gears (and the text suggests otherwise) then changing can be done at any time. Please all feel free to correct me on any of these points. My memory can sure be fickle! Hope this helps and I wish you slow but sure success with this. Bravo you!

Hi Morganna I know they say "you never forget how to ride a bike" but I HAVE! I just cannot balance. I used to ride all the time, I am reasonably healthy, walk, run ( not a great deal, but still can), can balance equally well on each leg, but just CANNOT balance on a bike any more. I've tried starting off leaning against a wall, just sitting on the bike and pushing with my feet against the floor, but once I access the pedals - I come off! Cannot understand it. Can you get adult stabilisers? Or perhaps I should go for an adult tricycle?

I begged and begged my parents for a bike all through my childhood but to no avail as we lived on a busy road which my parents thought far too dangerous.
I did ,however, have roller skates !
Oh, the joy of those skates,they were hardly ever of my feet. I can still feel the clackity clack of the wooden wheels going over the gaps in the pavement...sheer magic.
I'd be on them still were it not for the pesky arthritis!!

I rode my bike everywhere in my teens as I lived in a small village. Gave up when I learned to drive, I needed a car to get to work, too far to cycle.

I am not tempted to get back on a bike now as my balance is bad & I have neck problems. Shame really as we have some lovely cycle tracks round where I live (Devon)

I started cycling at 60 and love it! Try to find somewhere quiet to start with such as an empty car park and use cycle paths or quiet roads to start. See if your council runs Return to Cycling courses. Wear a helmet and I think you will find you will want some cycling clothes if only padded shorts: Halfords is good or Aldi but they only have stuff twice a year. Look on the website Let's Ride, this is run by British Cycling and has guided rides including ones for women only called Breeze rides. You can select the area and distance etc. The leaders are there to support you. Good luck and happy cycling!

Have a look online for Breeze Network. It's a women's only cycle group and they do rides of various difficulty levels that are led by a trained rider. I would never venture out into traffic on my own (luckily I can cycle home to work on a cycle path away from traffic), but I have done some lovely rides with Breeze, as having company makes me feel much more confident.

I just LOVE being out on my bike!