Learning to ride a bike can be a challenging experience for a lot of people. While having an instructor is quite beneficial, most people, in my opinion, can get by without one. In this article, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of how to learn bike riding without an instructor.
Learning to cycle can be daunting without an instructor, but it is possible. What essentially one needs to do, is follow some basic tips- such as finding the right place, as well as the proper technique, i.e., learning to balance, coast, and pedal, and then gradually move on to more challenging terrains after practicing and gaining skill and experience.
Here are some details to help you get started:
How To Learn Bike Riding Without An Instructor
#1: Find A Safe Place
Before you get started, it is important for you to get used to the bike. Try to find a quiet, safe place so you won’t have traffic to worry about on the roads.
A driveway near your house or a neighborhood pavement is a good place to start. Practice in a parking lot or a park if you do not have enough space at home.
Starting on smooth gravel or grass is recommended, even though these surfaces make pedaling hard. This is because it would hurt less if you fell on these surfaces.
Look for areas with a gentle slope if you plan to practice balancing on hills.
Make sure to check your local laws before riding on pavement or other paths.
#2: Wear Protective Gear.
Most bike riders do not wear protective gear while riding. But it becomes very crucial when you ride, since a helmet and protective gear can make all the difference. It becomes even more important to wear these when you are a beginner and learning bike riding without an instructor since you will suffer falls, and this can help prevent major injuries.
Always wear your helmet, ensure that it fits your head properly, i.e., an inch above your eyebrows, and has straps to secure it without disrupting speech. It is important to ensure a properly fitting helmet so that instead of focusing on the helmet, you can focus on your ride.
You can consider skipping wearing a knee and an elbow pad if you think it’s too much.
#3: Adjust The Seat Of Your Bike.
You should have your cycling gear on. However, do not start to ride as of now.
Make sure the bike seat is low enough so both feet touch the ground.
This will make it easier to learn to balance. Keep in mind that this is NOT the optimal seat height, this is just to help you get started. Once you’re comfortable riding bikes, the seat will be higher, so that the balls of your feet should barely touch the ground. The exact positioning varies basis the type of bike, but more or less- this is the rule of thumb.
I wrote a whole other post on seat positioning for road bikes that you might be interested in.
#4: Familiarize Yourself With How The Brakes Work.
Before starting, it becomes very important to understand how the brakes of your bike work, especially when you are riding without an instructor. It will make you feel more relaxed since you will know how to stop your bike in emergency situations.
Firstly, you need to understand which brake lever coordinates with which tyre on the bike. For this, stay off the bike, keep it close to you, and walk it. Press the brake buttons to see where they are located, how they work, and how your bike reacts to them. Some brakes may be too tight/loose so it’s good to get a sense of how reactive the brakes are.
As a rule of thumb, you should apply the rear brake first and gently squeeze the lever for the front brake along with that. If you were to slam the front brake while riding, there is a risk of you falling off the bike because the front wheel might suddenly seize up.
So, while braking, it is important to maintain the balance and control of your bike. If you slam the brakes too hard, you might lose the stability of your bike. So, see the way ahead and be careful. Stop slowly and gradually by using both brakes, putting more pressure on the front brakes.
Practice until you are able to learn how to stop the bike without abrupt or jerky braking and are able to slowly and smoothly use the brakes.
#5: Practice Getting On And Off Your Bike.
To get on the bike, tilt it towards you and put the brakes on so it doesn’t roll or shake. When you get off the bike, use the brakes again.
Practice this till you get the hang of it and are able to smoothly dismount on and off your bike.
This step is especially important if you haven’t operated a road bike before, and are doing so now- as they tend to have higher seat posts than any other bike. It can feel disorienting getting on and off the bike. I’d suggest at least practising this for 30 mins in an empty parking lot before going on your first ride.
#6: Attempt Balancing And Coasting Without Pedalling.
Before you try to pedal, you should work on your balance. For doing this, sit on the bike so that both of your feet are on the ground. While sitting on the saddle, move yourself forward with your feet by lifting them off the ground for short periods to learn how to be balanced.
You can also learn to keep your balance while gliding by doing things like pedaling downhill in a park.
While you’re sitting and coasting, try to keep both pedals at the same height by moving your feet slowly.
As you get better and ride longer distances, you may want to try steering while you are coasting.
Learn to turn left and right in a planned and a calculated way. This will help you keep your balance and make your ride safer and smoother.
Try to keep your body straight and your eyes looking in the direction you’re going. Just put your feet flat on the ground if you have to, but try not to look at it. Try not to block your line of sight so you don’t lose your balance.
Gradually, once you feel comfortable doing this, increase the height of the seat post as per this article (for road bikes) and then practise gliding downhill.
#7: Be Prepared To Start Pedaling.
By this point, you should have some idea about balancing and braking.
To start pedaling, keep one foot on the ground and one on the pedal- approximately at the 2 o’clock position. By doing this, you’ll be able to easily gain momentum.
As you move forward, place your other foot opposite the one you just placed on the pedal.
To get familiar with pedaling, pedal in circles and try to negotiate obstacles like cones.
Pedaling fast will help you maintain your balance. You are good to go once you are able to maintain balance!
#8: Learning To Start And Stop Your Bike
It’s important to learn how to start and stop your bike smoothly and safely.
To get going, push off with your feet to gain momentum, and then put your feet on the pedals to keep going.
To stop, gently squeeze the brakes while putting equal weight on both feet, and come to a gradual, low stop.
Keep practicing how to start and stop until you can do it with confidence and without falling over.
#9: Turning And Steering
Learning how to turn and steer will allow you to ride on different terrains and scenarios.
Start by practicing taking wide turns in a safe area. Try to shift your body slightly in the direction you want to turn and use your bike handlebars to guide you.
As you gain confidence, try taking sharp turns and U turns.
Make sure to keep your body upright and your eyes on the path when you practice turning. Use gentle movements of the handlebars.
Pro tip: While rounding a corner, ensure that your pedals are mostly level with each other. Too many cyclists allow the pedal foot on the side they are turning to drift downwards towards the kerb- this is a potential cause of accidents as your foot may crash into the kerbside or the road even, causing you to fall.
#10: Practice Consistently And Regularly.
In most cases, people who learn cycling as kids get years of practice. Cycling becomes second nature to them.
If you don’t manage to pick up the technique early, you’ll need a little more practice to improve it.
Make sure you practice in an open area before venturing out on the roads. When you become confident at these places, try to go on roads with light traffic to learn how to navigate signals, turns, and intersections.
Challenge yourself with new environments and scenarios like slightly inclined surfaces and navigating obstacles.
#11 Additional Tips
- Start slowly and gradually to prevent fatigue and exhaustion.
- Get a properly fitting bike that matches your intended use and fits your weight, height, and size, as well as the terrain you are planning to ride on, to ensure that there are no problems later.
- Never ride with headphones on (You need to be aware of your surroundings!)
- Remember to always wear your helmet before you start riding.
- Make sure to check the brakes and tyres to see if they are functioning properly or not before going on a ride.
- Avoid wearing long skirts or baggy, heavy pants to avoid them getting caught while you ride. Alternatively- use pant clips like these ones.
- Try to ride during the day as much as possible. Although riding at night is possible, it is not recommended for beginners. If you have to ride at night, ride in a well-lit area, wear reflective clothing, and use retro reflective stickers and bike headlights to be properly visible to all kinds of traffic.
- Ensure proper and regular bike maintenance to keep your bike in good shape and have a safe and smoother riding experience.
FAQs
Can one forget to ride a bike?
In most scenarios, we never forget how to ride a bike. This is because the neural pathways linked to and associated with this skill form because of a procedural memory process that gets deeply embedded and ingrained in our brains. It allows us to learn and perform physical tasks without putting much conscious effort or thought into them.
How much distance should I cover as a beginner cyclist?
You should always start slowly to prevent exhaustion. Starting from a distance ranging from 5 to 10 kilometers is a good idea, although it can depend on other factors too, such as the terrain you plan to ride on, your skill level, and the stamina and strength you have. Here’s an article we wrote on how far should one ride their bike for the first time?
Can adults learn to ride a bike?
Generally speaking, adults can, within 2-3 days, learn cycling, with 45–120 minutes per practice session.