Want to tri but don't know how to ride a bike

I'm not in NYC, but just wanted to say hi!  We have a similar thread...being told we can't do something fuels a fierce fire.  I love that.  My husband has done nothing but *question* every goal I set.  I'm an idealist and he's a realist.  The problem is, that's just not how I do life.  I'm like you, I just go for it.  So, know that when I started biking in January, I had not been on a bike since I was about 8, banana seat and streamers.  In fact, it took over 90 mins. for the LBS guysto to convince me to take a bike outside and try it.  I was convinced I was going to buy a bike after only trying it on the trainer.  I walked the bike 2 blocks away in an alley before I got on and tried...pants getting stuck in the chain, total disaster.  And here I am, 6 monts later, 4 tris later, about to do 5 & 6.  YOU CAN SO DO THIS!

 Welcome to BT!

 Jenn

Good for you for deciding to do a tri.  As for riding a bike, you will pick that up easy enough as long as you keep saying you can.  And you sound like a woman with a lot of intestinal fortitude.  It really is not that difficult once you get over the idea that you are relying on two wheels for traction rather than your own two feet.  Forget about gears for now and just learn to ride the bike.  Just start slowly by going back to basics:

Balance

• straddle your bike over the top bar and engage the brakes
• put right foot on the ground and the left foot on the left pedal
• keep the handlebar level
• lift yourself onto the saddle by pushing off the pedal (with the brakes engaged, the 2 wheels on your foot act like a tripod and is very stable)
• once seated, release left foot from pedal
• push yourself to the left side and drop left foot on the ground
• put your right foot on the right pedal
• alternate like this until you get a feel confident 

Steering and braking

• push yourself along slowly with your feet
• once you are secure in just pushing along, try your brakes
• squeeze the brakes every once in awhile until you come to a stop and plant your right foot on the ground
• keep pushing yourself along and braking until you are confident

When you are secure on balance, steering and forward motion on the bike,

• ride down a slight incline, such as a driveway, with feet on the pedals
• feather the brakes to cut down on the speed if necessary
• if you find that you are going too fast or if there is an obstruction do not panick
• simply, squeeze the brakes, come to a full stop and plant your right foot (or left foot if you are a leftie) on the ground

 It may all sound rather silly, or even childish, but hey, it is better to start slowly than to not start at all ... right!

 Good luck ...

Wow!  Thanks so much for the detailed instruction.  I wil definitely do those drills.  It's really funny, but I'm a bit of a thrill junkie, yeat I do have a fear of being on a big hill and going too fast.  I'm so afraid of going over the handlebars.  I really don't feel like breaking any bones (or my head for that matter, but I will only ride with a helmet). 

 Thanks again.

-Michele

Stay off the big hills until you are fully confident in your ability to control the bike.  As for flying over the handlebars, that does not happen all that often unless you hit the front brake while seated straight up.  I often go down the big local hills at well over 80kmph and have had to brake for deer and bears without any mishaps.  Learn to break safely.  Feather the brakes on downhills.  If you do have to come to a complete stop, push your tush as far back as possible on the saddle,  press your body as low as you can, place your hands in the curved lower part of the handlebars and press forward for stability.  If you want to know more about braking and riding in groups, your local bike club should have a course in these.  Keep us posted on your progress in the Cup of Joe threads.

Michel

Welcome to BT.

I rode bikes quite a bit when I was growing up and even as an adult I rode my mountain bike regularly.

The first time I got on a road bike I felt really shaky. It went away after a few minutes. You'll get the hang of it.

Scot

Just an update for all of those who have given me great advice.  I am doing it!  I am riding my sister's old, junky, heavy, Ross 3 speed (with gears that don't work well), but bottom line is I'm doing it.  I have been doing 7 miles regularly, and feel like I could go on forever (but I'm keeping to the planned regime).  I live on the West side of new york city and we have an awesome bike path that runs the length of manhattan with no hills.  It has been a perfect place to learn.

Now I want to get MY first bike so I can learn some other skills, like more complex gears on hills and getting in and out of clips.  I would like to get a used road bike, so I'm keeping tabs on craigs list and ebay.  If anyone has any other suggestions, that would be great.  I'm dying to get out on the bike path at central park.  I think biking is my favorite part of the tri! 

I am 5'4 and was measured at a local bike shop for a 52cm bike.  Are there a lot of variations between brands?  There I sat on a Felt which felt (ha ha) comfortable.  There was about 1 1/2 inches of clearance with my feet on the ground.  I hope to find a bike soon! 

Im so excited.  I think the bike is my favorite part of the tri now.  I'm thinking about flying to San digo to do my first one on October.  I am having a little minor surgery in a week and I hope it doesnt set me back to far.

I'm a little late with advice (I was offline for two weeks), but here's another riding tidbit.

Look down the road where you want to go! 

It really smoothes out the wobbles compared to staring at your front wheel.  The correlary is that you'll go where you look, so if you're watching a sign/hole/curb/etc. you're much more likely to hit it. 

You have ( just from reading your O.P.):

1. Graduated Med School  ( along with Surg Res.)

2. Had Triplets

3. maintained a greta realtioship with your X.

Riding a bike should not be that difficult for you

( Duh I'm form Alabama and even i figured that out. LOL)

Pablo is the MAN!!!!

Thanks for all the inspiration guys!  So...I'm now post-op day #3 and I rode 8 miles on my sister's POS, bumpy bike.  No problem.  I got a used Specialized Allez Comp on this site (thanks Mimi)and it is at the LBS now getting put together and tuned.  I'm getting fit on it on Saturday or Sunday, and that's when the real fun will begin.  I have to learn how to get into and out of the speedplays I got.  I'm a little scared.  I  will fall down... in the middle of NYC traffic...probably on some old lady.  I hope someone has a camera to get that priceless moment.

I signed up formy first triathlon! I'm gonna head west to the women's sprint in Dan Diego on October 19th.  I booked my flights yesterday and will have to get a case for the lovely red cherrybomb bike now.  Any brands that stand out for anyone? I would love to find one on craigs list locally.  I would also like to find used cycleops fluid 2 trainer on there, but no luck yet.  I will have patience.

Thanks again for all the advice and support.  It is coming in handy!

Just a suggestion, but you may want to drop $20 and get pedals and toe straps to start w/ to get the feeling of being strapped in.  Clips can be difficult and intimidating at first.  The toe straps are a good transition step, easier to get in and out of.  Once you get comfortable being attached to your pedals (like a week or two) then try the SP's. 

Practice clipping in and out and starting and stopping in a parking lot or space where you have a lot of room.

Good luck, you sound like a highly motivated person that will be doing this for many years.

Boy, you sure move fast!

Less than 3 weeks ago is when you started this thread, and you have already:

1-Taught yourself how to ride a bike,

2-Rode 8 miles

3-Gotten speedplay pedals,

and

4-Signed up for a sprint race.

It takes some of us a year or two to do all that...

I agree with "RatherbeSnowboarding" that you should probably wait on the clips for your first race, but what do I know.

Best of luck, I'm sure you'll have a blast, this sport is addicting, but I do have one question...

How is it that you NEVER learned to ride a bike as a child?  I am not trying to be rude, I just find this all a little amazing that you never knew and in less than 3 weeks you have accomplished all of this???

Bottom line is Im a city kid, more importantly,  with city parents.  I did do most of my growing up in NJ.  My neighbors had bikes.  My city parents were always afraid I would get hit by a car, so they never let me ride.  I remember getting up a few times on the other kids bikes, but never with any consistancy.  My sister taught herself at some point, and eventually started using it as her main means of transport in NYC.  I will probably do that eventually, but riding a bike in NYC traffic is a different animal all together.

I am getting my bike from the LBS today.  I think I may also get a trainer so I can practice better at home.  I will take the advice and get the other pedals too.  I am a pretty fast learner, so I maybe I can master the SP pedals in time.  The other ones might be good to have anyway in case I want to ride around the park in sneaks with friends.

I have to say, this website has been so helpful.  An old friend even found me here, and he lives in CO now . And I thought that only facebook did that!

Nice to hear about the other newbie in NYC.  I want to travel for my first tri.  I was looking for a vacation and will stay in Cali for a week.  I have lots of friends out there.  I only travel a few times a year to conferences so I wanted some travel.

With respect to the pool...I'm so spoiled. I have one of the best pools in NYC in my building.  I live in a prewar in Chelsea.  The building was built with an awesome tile 25m pool.  Always a perfect 79 degrees.  My gym is there too.  And I live right by the West Side Hwy, so I have the whole bike/running path right there.  With my schedule, I don't think I could do this if everything were not so close.

So...it's Saturday night.  My kids are watching the Olympics and I'm about to go back to the hallway.  Why you ask?  Because thats where I am learning to ride this bike I pickd up today.  I'm getting good at getting on and off now.  I am using sneakers with the speedplay pedals, but it works fine for the hallway. (The guy at the store convinced me not to put regualr pedals with cages on them). I'm gonna introduce the shoes soon.  I have made a lot of progress in just 30 min in the hallway!  Unfortunately I couldnt get anyone to watch my kids today so I missed a day of training.  Eeeek. But I did see Shakespear with them.

Ok....  quite jealous of your set up.  I thought I was lucky having a NYSC in the building I work in! 

The pool is the best part...  that has been my biggest struggle to find one in the city to get in a swim during the week.  I actually live on long island but keep a corporate apartment on West Street (next to ground zero)...  the building only has a weak gym and no pool...  quite unfortunate! 

Taking a full week in California to do an event sounds like a great way to do it.  Freeing your mind and relaxing in a nice environment before a race is bound to make it all that much better! 

I have decided to get a new bike this week as well.  The reviews of everything are quite confusing but I am sure I will figure it out!    It has been real hard to learn and get into 3 new disciplines at one time...  usually i would imagine that a person would take up either running, biking or swimming...  it is kinda tough being a newbie in all 3 at once (a lot to absorb at one time). 

Shakespeare in the  park with the kids is a nice substitute for training!  Not sure how old your kids are but mine are so excited for me when I go train!  Mine are 6 and 9...  my son (6) was doing jumping jacks when I got home so he could exercise like daddy!