It was a total difference: its impossible to describe the pleasure of riding a bike with front and rear suspension (full-suspension), adjustable shock absorbers, hydraulic breakers, 27 speeds and, believe, 24 pounds! In a medium weight.
Get back to ride, for those who want to start over, is to rediscover that a good thing in life became much better.
Discover what's a good bike, which one would be interesting to buy, even if you won't buy it immediately.
And before you go around, pedaling in traffic, know why it is so important the mechanic safety of any used bike.

To pedal is good, easy and comforting. We can all do it! And who learns doesn’t forget. Anyone may ride with peacefulness in the streets, fields, roads or any other place. It’s rare, really rare, to find someone incapable to keep balance on a bike.

A bike generates sympathy and almost everyone likes it, although it is usual to find those who say not being able to ride... Some claim to fear traffic, others had rided only in childhood and never again sat on a bike. There are others that not even learned to ride, for several reasons. They all bring a sense of desire to ride, but don't know how to perform it.

Rarely does a person get a good orientation and can not ride a bike as any cyclist who goes to and fro, free and happy. We all have our limitations. Wanting, we can at least work them around. Much of our limitations are fears that are easy to overcome. A bit of goodwill and good guidance are enough.

Get back to ride is easy, because who learned doesn’t forget. In addition: new bikes and their many speeds are easy and comfortable to ride. There is no comparison with previous models.

To ride a bike in traffic, as scarier as it may seem, can be much easier and safer than it appears at first. Just change some concepts about driving and thinking in the city.

For those claiming "I know nothing", and this "know nothing" actually means I do not know how to ride, the solution is usually an individual follow-up. The majority who did not learn to ride was clearly for reasons that have nothing to do with lack of balance and motor coordination. Usually for some groundless reason, transforming the bike in a “monster”. Nothing more.

It’s never too late to learn to ride a bike. Are you ashamed? 

Ok! Give it a try. It’s easy.

For those who never ride a bike:

Set your mind on these: Usually, those who could not balance out and start pedaling, tried to learn on a wrong, big, unbalanced bike, which did not ride in straight line.  Or was guided by a bad instructor.

Rule zero:

The bike’s quality is connected to the ease of keeping balance. With quality it's easy to pedal.

The hints bellow are both for adults as for teaching children to ride (without the backup wheels).

the bicycle:

1. Use a bike a little small for the student. He must feel safe, feel that he’s not stuck and that if something goes wrong he will be able to put the feet on the ground and get out. Woman’s bicycle frames are usually good since doesn't have the top tube. However, avoid use a very small or a child bike.

2. Adjust the seat height so that the student sitting would be able to fully support the feet on the ground. Knees should be be slightly bent. Think that the future cyclist will walk away ridding sitting on the bike; so if it stands on top toes he will feel insecure.

3. Adjust the knob to get just the rear brake working. Avoid sudden brakes. Braking should be smooth and progressive.

4. Put both pedals on horizontal.

5. Tires should be a little more emptier than its normal pressure, in order to prevent the bike jump or gives bumpy sensations.

Where to start?

Choose a street, a park or any other quiet place, well-paved, flat, unobstructed and with a gentle slope.

First contact with the bike:

1. Seat the student on the bike and show him that it doesn’t bit!

2. Leave him with the bike so he get use to it and relax.

3. Show him that if he take off booth feet off the ground, the bike will not roll over.

4. Stand by the student and make him stay with both feet hanging in the air for a few seconds. Repeat the exercise a few times.

5. The more relaxed the cyclist is, the more time on the bike it will balance.

First movements: now is up to the student

Let the bike guide you naturally; that’s the secret. Don’t fight against the natural balance of the bike.

1. Place the bike on the downside.

2. Sitting in the saddle, keep your body completely relaxed, arms and back loose, hands holding the handlebar and one finger on the brake knob. Do not try to turn the handlebars, just hold it.

3. Sitting in the saddle, push the bike forward with your feet, as if you were walking.

4. Let the bike get a little speed, more or less the speed of a person jogging. No speed, no balance.

5. Seems too fast? Seems you lost control? Be cool. With feet on the ground, use the brake and stop.

6. Make a break. Body relaxed and a finger on the brake. Take a deep breath and calm down: see, you didn't fell off the bike!

7. Start again. Remember: you need some speed to get balance. Drag your feet as they were little bike's wheels to maintain balance.

8. It wasn't this time yet? You may be tense. So, take a deep breath and relax. The more relaxed you are, the more balance the bike will have.

9. Try again. Don't get mad you the bike. Relax and keep going.

10. Don't give up, you already had balance for a small distance, so you'll have for  the distance you want!

11. Keep practicing with your feet close to the ground until you can make a smooth and controlled zig-zag. Congratulations, cyclist!

Do not try to exhaustion. It is counterproductive. Stop and try another time or tomorrow. Keep thinking about it does not help.

The pedals

1. Are you feeling more confidence? For now on it's easy!

2. Start moving the bike as you already know: feet close to the ground.

3. Gain speed, lift your feet and put them on the pedals.

4. Don't be alarmed: balance is the same with the feet on the pedal.

5. Remember to keep the fingers on the brake's knob.

6. Experiment using the brake without take the feet of the pedal.

Being relaxed is the basis for balance while pedaling. Under stress, you get scare or you get on the floor.

Pedaling:

1. Ask someone to put the bike in a gear that's not too light nor too heavy.

2. Start moving the bike as you know, gain speed and balance. Support the feet on the pedal and ride smoothly, without despair.

3. Don't look for the pedals with your eyes. The feet found the pedals more easier when you are not looking at them.

departure

1. Sitting on the bike, keep one foot on the pedal and the other on the floor for balance.

2. Push the bike forward only with the foot that is on the pedal. Gain speed, put the other foot on the pedal and pedal.

3. Want to leave riding? Try on a downside. Put one pedal up, place the foot on it, pressure down, while push the bike forward with the foot that's on the ground.

4. Great cyclist!

Congratulations. You are pedaling. Now is just practicing! Or a little more than that, but it's not hard.

Always stay focused on what you do, but keeping the body loose, relaxed. It's the golden rule, the only recipe for a refined and efficient ride of any vehicle. Follow it minimizes the possibility of making mistakes, having accidents or take a fall.

improvement

Play and improve your motor coordination:

1. Ride the slowest you can without setting foot on the ground

2. Make tight turns as slow as possible

3. Lock the bike and just put your feet on the ground, when it is completely stopped

4. Stop the bike, count to three and start again - without setting foot on the floor. Increase dwell time

5. Place 5 cans on the floor, spaced three meters between them. Pass through on "S". Reduce the distance as you improve

6. Standing on the pedals, make turns and brake

7. Standing on the pedals, with knees bent, pass through holes or bumps

8. Pass in tight spaces

9. Go down one step

10. Our sidewalks are often uneven, terrible for pedestrians, but great for cyclists to practice balance

What's the next step? To ride better, no doubt. But slowly and step by step. There is still much to learn.

Welcome, cyclist.