How to Teach an Adult to Ride a Bike

Once someone has learned to ride a bicycle, the mind and body memorize the necessary motions that make it possible to hop on a bike and ride like a pro after many years. For adults who never learned to ride a bicycle, however, the thought of balancing on a narrow, fast moving object may induce anxiety. Read on to learn how to teach an adult to ride a bike.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Before Lessons Begin

1. Visit a local bicycle shop. It may be embarrassing for your student to tell a stranger that he cannot ride a bike, but shop employees are very knowledgeable and can describe the equipment necessary for your friend to learn to ride safely.
2. Ask about adult bike riding classes. If the bike shop doesn't offer formal lessons, an employee may offer teach your friend or may know of community programs. Ideally, the teacher does not have emotional attachment to the student.
3. Purchase or rent a beginning bike. Bicycles with wide tires, larger seats, substantial pedals and few speeds are easiest to learn on.
4. Maintain patience throughout the teaching process. Teaching an adult to ride a bike is not easy, but if you become angry or frustrated with your student, she will get discouraged and may give up. You must be supportive at all times and use encouragement to foster a positive, confident attitude in your pupil.

The Lessons

5. Get on the bike first and ride slowly for your student. Describe your motions as you go and explain how you use the brakes and pedals. This may ease your student's fear a bit and will give him a visual model to follow.
6. Find a grassy area with small hills to begin the lessons. Start by placing your friend on the bike with his rear on the seat, hands on the bars and feet on the ground. Hold the back of the saddle and have the student scoot around without using the pedals. This will get the student accustomed to the feel of the bike without fear of falling.
7. Teach the student how to start and stop the bike. Explain how the brakes work and have the student practice squeezing the brakes several times. Show the student how to start with one foot on the ground and the other on the pedal. Push off with the grounded foot and use the dominant foot to apply weight to a raised pedal to start moving.
8. Explain to the student that she is less likely to lose balance and fall if she goes quickly. Balance is correlated with momentum, so the more speed your student has, the more steady she will be on the bicycle.
9. Encourage your student to ride down a gradual decline. The downhill grade will cause increased speed and steady the bike. This approach, if repeated several times has great results, but will probably involve falls. Your student should wear protective gear to avoid injury.
10. Conclude the lesson after a couple of hours and agree to continue the teaching process until the student feels comfortable on his own.
11. Sign your student up for a formal bicycle safety course. Bicycle safety courses teach about safe riding practices in various conditions such as heavy traffic and bad weather.

Tips & Warnings

• Adults are more prone to serious injury from falling than kids. Due to safety concerns, it is ideal for adults to learn to ride a bike from a professional.
• While an adult may be reluctant to wear a helmet, head injuries are a serious risk of bicycling. Please encourage your student to use a helmet and set the example by wearing one too.