As Easy as Riding a Bike? Adult Learners Give It a Try

The nonprofit organization Bike New York offers free classes for adults eager to learn how to ride bicycles. Many of these beginners approach the lessons with a mix of nerves and embarrassment. A significant number of participants are women.

Lauren Rosenfield, a contributor, recounts her experiences watching adults conquer their fears and attempt to ride in McCarren Park. The thrill of witnessing someone pedal successfully for the first time is memorable.

Stephanie Yeh recounts a childhood incident when she had been frightened while riding her bike with training wheels in her North Carolina neighborhood. At the age of six, she lost control going downhill, hit the brakes too hard, and soared over the handlebars. Landing face-first on the pavement, inches away from traffic, left her terrified. This fear lingered, keeping her off bikes for over three decades.

On a Sunday in Brooklyn’s McCarren Park, Yeh, now in her late 30s, joined a group of approximately 15 adults near the dog park and tennis courts. Coincidentally, it was Mother’s Day, prompting another participant, Rimu Byadya, the mother of two, to declare: “I’m going to give myself a gift: falling off a bike.” The group prepared for a complimentary ‘Learn to Ride’ session.

Participants fastened helmets and faced the lineup of bicycles with uncertain gaze. Byadya humorously shared her past trials, noting that her spouse and a workplace acquaintance had ‘successfully failed’ in teaching her to ride, a comment that elicited mutual laughter among the group members.

Initially, bike riding students begin practice without pedals. This foundational step aids in building confidence and balance before advancing to more complex riding skills.