Private Bike Lessons

TAKE A PRIVATE BIKE LESSON with VIRTUOUS BICYCLE

Teaching adults to ride a bike is one part art and one part science. Each student brings their own abilities and goals, Virtuous Bicycle brings experience, sensitivity, and creativity. A VB Private Bike Lesson is a carefully crafted partnership between you and your instructor.


Ready to get started?
See RATES and INFO 2024


ADULT LEARN TO RIDE 

It would have been easy when you were 4-years old. Now that you’re all grown up, learning to ride is a completely different challenge – you’ve got years of experience, maturity, and rational thinking to overcome! 

I had tried so many times with friends. Nothing like a professional with love for teaching and a good methodology. I am super thankful for having such a joyful experience.”
– Fernanda, June 2015

What to expect: ADULT LEARN TO RIDE


VB CONFIDENT BIKING

You know how to ride, but it’s been some time since you were on a bike. Now you’re hoping to get back into biking and share adventures with friends. You’ll enjoy your rides more with reliable bike-handling skills!

On my rides now I realize how much I learned in those lessons that has certainly saved me from making costly mistakes.” – Emma, April 2014


VB ROAD BIKE CLINIC

The first time you get on a road bike you’ll find it’s a different experience than riding your old hybrid. A road bike’s design emphasizes speed and efficiency over stability and comfort – the tires are narrow, the seat is high, the steering is quick, and you’re clipped into your pedals! Solid riding technique is more important now than it was on the more forgiving campus cruiser you’ve ridden before.

He guided me through some exercises (like stopping without falling!), and helped me gain more confidence… I was finally happy and at peace with my new road bike.” – Daniela, August 2015


Highly personalized, together we will decide on a program to get you going on your own virtuous cycle of improved skills and enjoyment.

I look forward to being your instructor!
Lance Jacobs

Lance Jacobs, Founder, Virtuous Bicycle

A naturally gifted teacher, Lance possesses that favorable combination of authority and congeniality that engenders trust, and I felt secure as one of his charges for the day.” 
– Shelley Griffin


Ready to get started?
See
RATES and INFO 2024


WHY VIRTUOUS BICYCLE?
NO GROUPS •  NO VOLUNTEERS
NO NETWORK OF INSTRUCTORS

Book with VB for lessons with founder Lance Jacobs
“Over ten years and hundreds of successful students, I’ve developed a unique approach for adults.”

Collage of Learn to Ride Students

Virtuous Bicycle 2017 Rates and Info
LEARN • RIDE • IMPROVE • ENJOY
Virtuous Bicycle is a member of
the League of American Bicyclists

49 comments

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    • Denise Winchester on July 21, 2023 at 1:05 pm

    I am absolutely THRILLED with Virtuous Bicycle and thank my lucky stars that I found Lance! I truly thought my 15 year old would never learn to ride a bike after many years and many attempts at various types of lessons. I’m so happy I decided to try one last time before giving up because this time, she learned!

    We both love and appreciate Lance’s thorough approach to teaching, which is highly organized, systematic, well-thought out, and professional, while still being personable, humorous and fun. She felt comfortable with him immediately and happily followed his instructions and guidance and became a bike rider.

    Highly satisfied and highly recommend Virtuous Bicycle! Look no further, you have found the bicycle teacher you’re seeking.

    • Zohra Damani on July 21, 2023 at 11:52 am

    Learning how to ride a bike, especially when you are 36, is not easy…Technically and emotionally. However, Lance, made the entire process stress free, fun, and an incredibly awesome learning experience.

    Lance has a unique method of teaching that really takes focus on ensuring our muscles in our body and brain are trained. Lance utilizes the techniques in such a beautiful manner that you are bound to learn how to ride a bike, without fail. I was always afraid of falling while learning and in my 5 lessons (approx 12-14 hrs), I had zero falls.

    I still remember the last day finishing our bike lesson and how I couldn’t believe that I was finally riding at 36!

    Besides being an awesome instructor and my favorite instructor, Lance is a gem of a person. Such an amazing human, friend, and soul. Down to earth, humble, kind, and is friends with everyone at Central Park & Randall Islands. But having met him, I am not surprised at how quickly he warms hearts of many.

    Thank you Lance for giving me the gift of riding a bike. I am forever grateful.

    • Eddie on October 19, 2022 at 8:54 pm

    Lance taught me how to ride a bicycle. With a friendly, supportive approach and a step-by-step, science-based methodology, he can teach you too. Lance is judgement-free and draws on years of experience biking in nyc to teach you how to ride the right way. I didn’t know how to ride for 30+ years but thanks to this unique service I am looking forward to many enjoyable two-wheeled journeys. Highly recommend.

    • Kenny Lee on October 19, 2022 at 6:43 pm

    Lance customized a lesson plan for me and made me comfortable to be able to do things on a bike I never thought I would be able to. His breakdown of the necessary steps to perform on the bike and his warm personality made for a wonderful experience. Just follow his instructions. You’ll see how much time and energy he puts into his instruction and prep work and you can’t help but be impressed.

    • Yonathan on September 23, 2022 at 8:56 am

    I’ve never learned how to bike as a child, which turned out to be quite a liability before heading to Burning Man. I had a tight schedule to learn how to bike from scratch, and Lance came to the rescue.
    With endless patience, and a well structured step-by-step program, Lance taught me the skills needed to ride a bike. I was gliding on the bike by the end of lesson one, peddling on lesson two, and riding freely on an actual (lightly trafficked) bike trail by the end of lesson three. The lessons were enjoyable and very well structured, and gave me the skills to practice further on my own and gain confidence.
    I would highly recommend learning how to bike with Lance, if you’ve never learned how to bike earlier in life, and my only regret is not learning sooner!

    • Stella Binkevich on August 8, 2022 at 11:56 am

    As an adult, I’d always dreamt about knowing how to ride a bike. This summer I finally put myself up to the task. I contacted every adult bike riding teacher / program I could find online (there were about 15). Literally no one answered but Lance at Virtuous Bicycle. He answered with an extensive in-take form that went through bike riding-related aspects. Then I finally booked a lesson!

    Lance’s methodology, approach to teaching and energy is so diligent, supportive, and fun that I was pedaling and riding on a bike after my 2nd lesson! I couldn’t believe it and I was thrilled! By my third lesson, we rode around Randall’s Island. In fact, between my third and fourth lesson, I was able to get on my brother’s old (and rusty) bike in the Poconos and ride myself! Once again, I couldn’t believe it.

    I feel like taking the lessons with Lance at Virtuous Bicycle truly gave me a sense of independence and self-reliance around bike riding that I never had before! If you’re an adult and you’re thinking about learning to ride, I would 10/10 recommend lessons with Lance at Virtuous Bicycle!!!

    • Isha on July 28, 2022 at 9:24 am

    Learning how to ride has been a dream of mine for many decades now. And after many failed attempts I was finally able to realize my dream through Lance and Virtuous Bicycle.

    At first when I started I was a bit surprised with the course structure. But it all started to make sense as we moved along and when I started to balance the bike without any support. That moment felt like I had wings and I could fly!

    Lance, who is such a brilliant brilliant master at work, who has planned the entire curriculum in such a way that riding a bike becomes second nature to you. He is so patient, respectful giving you all the time to learn it at your own pace and making sure it is ingrained in you. I couldn’t have asked for a better coach and shall be forever indebted.

    If you are like me, who is yet to ride a bike on their own, now is the time. Go find Lance and you will get to live your dream. Just like I did.

    • Natalie M on June 3, 2022 at 7:10 pm

    Had a wonderful experience working with Lance! I have never learnt how to bike as a child (one fiasco trauma ride killed it for me), and he made it happen during Lesson 1! Lance is very thoughtful, methodological, and has great sense of humor. His approach is specifically tailored to teaching adults, and it truly works! I never thought I would be able to bike, but Lance is phenomenal and he helped me overcome my fears, build confidence, and finally enjoy that liberating feeling of being on the bike. I’m SO happy I met Lance and highly recommend him if you want to learn how to bike.

    • Chana W. on June 6, 2021 at 4:46 pm

    I never learned to ride a bike as a child, and as an adult, it was something I always wanted to learn. So many people tried to teach me- friends, my husband, one guy at a bike rental place- but no one was able to. My husband is an avid cyclist, and really wanted me to go riding with him, so he convinced me to give lessons a try. I admit that I was a bit cynical that they would work, as I have been trying for years, and I have a poor sense of balance, which I always thought was the most important part of riding a bike. However, the first thing that Lance taught me is that bike riding actually has very little to do with balance, and all about going with the bike instead of fighting to keep it upright.

    Through slow, methodical lessons, he walked me through the skills that encompass riding a bike. The lessons flowed into each other so naturally, that at no point did I ever feel like I was being thrown into the deep end. They built on each other naturally, and before I even realized what was happening, I was gliding independently on the bike at the end of the first lesson. At the end of the second, I was riding with pedals, and by the third I was mastering independent starts, shifting gears and making turns.

    Lance is an incredibly patient, encouraging teacher, and tailors each lesson to the student, watching you as you ride and giving specific pointers and exercises to target the areas you need to work on. He made me feel so comfortable on the bike, and I look forward to using the skills in bike rides with my husband. Thank you so much Lance- you made a lifelong dream come true!!

    • NR on June 4, 2021 at 5:33 pm

    Hi Lance, apologies for the delay – we just got a puppy so we’re super busy with that! But my fiancé and I went on a 7 mile bike ride in Napa! It was a little hilly and I managed pretty well – I remembered my training and didn’t freak out. It was great practicing which gears felt good. Most importantly, it was really fun!! John and I had a blast and it was beautiful to bike by the vineyards.

    That moment you talk about during our lessons happened: a fly flew into my eye. I stayed calm, remembered my training, and slowly stopped the bike. I thought you’d appreciate that. Next time I’ll remember to bring my sunglasses.

    I can’t believe I did a 7 mile ride – I never thought I’d be able to do that. Thank you for everything!! I’m so glad I could share this special time with John, thanks to your lessons :)

    • Kevin on June 1, 2021 at 7:01 pm

    I have wanted to ride a bike for years, but never got up the courage to take lessons. I am so happy that I chose to take them with Lance. Lance helped me gain the necessary confidence and skills to get moving on a bike and to start to build the instincts needed to get around safely. After one lesson, I was riding around in circles. After two, I was riding confidently through a park. And after three, I am now ready to start my career as a full-blown cyclist! I highly recommend taking lessons with Lance if you’ve struggled with cycling in the past.

    • Sara Opp.. on February 1, 2020 at 10:39 pm

    My 14-year-old daughter had been “trying” to learn to ride since she was a little kid. She loved her trike, but something about 2 wheels (even when there were 4 because of training wheels) terrified her. Like white-knuckle, death-mask-expression terrified her. We tried every so often over the years, but it never went well. I was sad because I value the independence of being able to access all available transit options, plus I think it’s a safety issue if you have to depend on others for transportation. Especially if you are a 14-y-o girl.

    Somehow in late 2019, my daughter decided it was time to learn to ride a bike. I looked into group and private classes, and ended up choosing a lesson with Lance. It was an amazing success! My daughter was rolling on 2 wheels by the end of her first lesson. It would be impossible to say too many good things about Lance’s pedagogy. He has broken learning to ride down into a series of discrete, achievable skills. My daughter is really, really proud of herself, and I am so proud of her for overcoming her fears. If you, or a young person of your acquaintance, feels that you will never ever possibly be able to ride a bike but you really wish you could, Lance can help you. He won’t scare you or yell. You will be so pleased!

    • A-C on November 10, 2019 at 10:13 pm

    When I was a kid, [14 now] I was always really scared of falling, so I never learned to ride a bike. When I first signed up for a lesson, I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to get over my fear and I’d just be wasting money. Imagine how surprised I was when I was able to ride on the first lesson! Seriously, Lance is a phenomenal teacher. I don’t think I ever would have learned without him. I can’t believe that I was scared before, it seems so easy now!

    • Eman A on August 17, 2019 at 7:38 pm

    This year is truly memorable thanks to Lance and Virtuous Bicycle. I travelled 6000 miles and crossed the Atlantic to take the class, coming from Kuwait to NYC. I was not sure how it would go, but I was very lucky.

    I’ve been wanting to learn how ride a bike for at least 7 years but failed. I lived in cities where no one would professionally teach adults, and friends tried but couldn’t figure out why things were not intuitive to me. Not only can I say now I do know how to ride a bike but I show it off with pride.

    Lance is a great instructor, has a wonderful strategy to introduce the basics to a student while making it enjoyable, and pushes the student to challenge themselves. He also selected great locations around the city for us to practice, and they got prettier the more comfortable I became on a bike. In 12 hours spread over 4 days I learnt how to skillfully ride and most importantly how to enjoy riding.

    Thank you for your patience and friendship Lance! I’m so proud of myself for making it this far and I’m grateful for our time together. I enjoyed every minute!

    • SR on July 1, 2019 at 7:52 pm

    Lance did an amazing job of breaking down the micro-skills of learning how to ride a bike. I was genuinely fearful before working with Lance, and his methods totally broke through my fear. As a true beginner, I learned how to respond to the natural swaying of the bike, how to turn, and how to stop. I earned my pedals in my second lesson, and felt great riding around a large park. I’m looking forward to my third lesson to continue building on what I’ve learned.

    • Adena on November 11, 2018 at 11:32 am

    Our family calls Lance the “bike angel.” While his focus is teaching adults, we were so lucky that he saw us trying to teach our son how to ride a bike. He saw our son was “almost there” and asked if he could could give a few pointers. Six minutes later, our son was riding. Lance knew exactly how to teach him. It is clear he is a master teacher. We are forever grateful to have bumped into him and experience his kindness and expertise! Did I mention it was six minutes!
    Adena

    • Shelley on October 21, 2018 at 6:50 pm

    I just completed my first duathlon, a 2 mile run, 12 mile bike and 2 mile run in Central Park and placed 10th in my division! I learnt to bike a year ago with the goal of competing in the NYC Triathlon in July 2019. Lance has helped to make my fitness aspirations a reality! He is an amazing instructor- extremely patient, skilled, empathetic, and tailors his lessons to an individual’s goals. Lance has been a tremendous source of guidance post our lessons- whether it is choosing the right bike, tips on acquiring further bike skills, and even helping me assess potential New York Cycling Club group ride routes, Lance has been consistently supportive, responsive and encouraging! I am very grateful that he has opened up a whole new world for me!

    • Jessy on October 14, 2018 at 6:28 pm

    OMG!!! Where so I even start?!?! First of all LANCE! His energy was amazing, was so motivational, and was the most patient instructor. I’m 34 years old and I rode a bike once when I was 7 years old. I was traumatized after I rode into a bush and never tried again. At 12:11pm on October 14th I officially rode a bicycle!! I don’t think I could have ever done it without Lance! It’s amazing how the first 2 hours of the lesson were just the essentials of bicycle riding. I didn’t get pedals till the last hour and I was grateful for that. I learned but going for another lesson since I know I’ll be a much better cyclist for it!! Thank you, Lance!

    • Adrian on September 3, 2018 at 12:16 am

    I was a decent cyclist but had never ridden in the city before, only in the suburbs where I grew up. Lance took me on a citibike lesson a few years ago and showed me how to ride confidently and safely in the city. He pointed out all the things to watch out for and how to make yourself visible and predictable.

    I recently completed over 1000 citibike rides, and it’s my favorite way to get around town. Thanks Lance!

    • Leila on July 14, 2018 at 5:09 pm

    I didn’t learn to ride a bike as a child. After years of trying in group classes and friends teaching me to ride a bike, now, at “40-something”, Lance was my last chance. His technique of teaching is quite unique, I was able to feel the bike and lose my fear of falling. He is very kind and patient, I still cannot believe that I can ride a bike without any fear. And it’s an amazing feeling. I will continue my lessons so I can continue improving my skills and ride in a busy city. Thank you a million Lance, so happy that i found you.

    • Ismail on April 2, 2018 at 8:42 pm

    Can’t think of a way to express how great an instructor lance is. I’m a 27 yr old man, with severe ADHD, and a slow learner in some cases. I previously had at least 5 hours of learning and practice from 5 different instructors/helpers, not to mention watching and reading about riding, and i barely made much progress.

    I took a class with lance, and after just 2 hours, I had made a breakthrough, overcame my fears, learned so much stuff that’s surprisingly critical and necessary, and pretty much achieved most of what i thought would take me months!

    He was patient, adaptive, intuitive, efficient, list goes on. He easily noticed all my weaknesses and gave me precise and sucessful solutions, that quickly got me from a head full of fear and paranoia to “hell yea i got this!”, and from barely being able to stay balanced on the bike for 3 seconds to easily and confidently riding around a whole park. Very highly recommended! More than worth the cost!

    • Dania B. on February 15, 2018 at 11:13 pm

    Riding a bike was one of the things I wanted to do most but was afraid to fail or fall. I’m 27 year old have never tried this joy before and I’m glad that I chose Lance to teach me. He was a great professional teacher, explained every single detail and didn’t rush me through any of the steps, he even slowed me down when I was rushing thing myself !. I felt very comfortable on the bike and I finally learned, it was one of the best feelings because I wanted this for so long and Lance did all in less than 2 hours.
    Thank you so much Lance <3 !!!
    Dania

    • Alyson Promes on August 7, 2017 at 5:37 pm

    I hadn’t really ridden a bike since i was 6. i tried a couple of years ago but having friends/your husband teach you is always a terrible idea. I found the two sessions i had with lance completely *unlocking* i went from not being able to stay balanced or start riding to riding around NY and using it as a great way to commute and see the city. cannot recommend these classes enough i found it totally worth the investment. any questions that i have now lance provides incredibly helpful and speedy responses. have really enjoyed learning from him and will continue to reach out/take lessons as i want to tackle new skills. seriously if you’re debating signing up just do it. Thanks so much Lance!

    • AF on July 12, 2017 at 12:58 am

    The expression, “It’s as easy as riding a bike,” has always made me feel uneasy. I’m one of the (what feels like) few adults who did not learn how to ride a bike growing up. Friends have tried to teach me, but each time I failed miserably. I become fearful of riding…that’s until my lesson with Lance.

    Lance is a patient, thorough and gifted instructor. He guided me through my lesson with ease and precision. Step-by-step, I started to feel like a natural. By the end of my FIRST lesson, I felt confident on a bike and had fun while riding! My fear was washed away. Best lesson and best instructor out there — without a doubt. I can’t wait to get back out there on my bike!

    • plc70 on June 27, 2017 at 5:24 pm

    I’m so grateful to Lance for getting me back on wheels. After becoming spooked by a bicycle way too big for me to control, followed by a hiatus of some years without cycling, I was too panicked to ride again. Through Lance’s masterful teaching skill, empathy and patience I was able to overcome my fear. Thank you, Lance!
    Paula

    • Laxmi Vijaysankar on June 12, 2017 at 11:40 am

    I had an excellent first lesson with Lance. I had not ridden a bike since I was about 10 years old and wanted to start with the basics and build up. He gave me a lesson true to that goal. He is really good at deconstructing the movements and patterns involved and making you mindful of the activity at hand. He is also warm and supportive. I even managed to ride a few circles with pedals by the end of the lesson and feel very hopeful that I will reach my current goal of riding seamlessly on vacations and in the park one day!

    • Barry on September 27, 2016 at 11:27 am

    A couple of months ago, I woke up and decided that I wanted to ride a bike on vacations outside of NYC. This was complicated by the fact that I’m 75 years old and hadn’t rode a bike in 40 years. Additionally, I never really rode a bike in any but the most pristine/uncomplicated situation.
    Well, Lance first wanted to make certain that a guy my age had the reflexes to learn to ride. I then passed the test and Lance turned out be a supremely patient teacher, making certain that I had mastered each skill before moving on to the next one. This was really helpful because sometimes it took me a couple of times to get things right. Lance was very flexible and with good humor would always come up with ways to make things work. We had three sessions at a local playground and then moved out into the real world of Riverside Park. Everything went smoothly. I had mastered the mechanical skills and now Lance helped me to be aware of the situations that can be encountered dealing with pedestrians, other bicyclists and vehicles. Although still a beginner, I now feel ready to ride around urban bikes and bike paths.
    Thanks, Lance

    • Flor on August 21, 2016 at 2:20 pm

    As a kid , I was afraid of falling off a bike and didn’t considered learning how to ride. Physical education is one subject I dread when I was younger. Somehow in my 40s, I feel I need to learn to bike before my bones starts to get brittle. And i want to show my kids that mommy can bike so they can also start learning how to ride.

    Finding Lance is the best gift I ever gave to myself. He was very thorough and constantly trying to figure out what could he do better to make me learn how to ride. He’s a great teacher, putting you at ease and making you feel more confident. Most of all, his instructions are individually modified , looking at your weakness and finding ways to make you “get it” . He’s never pushy and an overall amazing teacher. Thank you!

    • James on July 14, 2016 at 10:26 pm

    I am the only child so my parents are extremely over protective. They felt that knowing how to ride a bike is a dangerous pursuit so they kept that away from me. Throughout my life I always felt that something was missing by not knowing how to ride a bike. So I did some extensive research on how to get this issue resolved and this is where I found Lance and Virtuous Bicycle. I am so glad I found Lance! His patience and encouragement throughout my journey in how to ride a bike really smoothed the learning curve. Lance’s ability to deconstruct, decode and demystify the whole process on learning how to ride a bike is an amazing experience all on its own.

    • Isabelle on July 5, 2016 at 10:17 pm

    I am so incredibly grateful to Lance for teaching me to ride a bike! I didn’t learn as a child and tried three times unsuccessfully as an adult (twice with friends and once with bike New York). As I lack coordination skills, I felt I would never learn. But with a husband who is a keen rider and a daughter approaching the age when she will learn to ride, I thought I would give it one more try. Luckily I found Lance, who is a skilled, experienced, patient and fun instructor. After four lessons, I felt I had been riding my whole life. You gave me wings Lance! Thank you!!!

    • Judy on June 30, 2016 at 4:08 pm

    I hadn’t ridden a bike since moving to New York over 20 years ago. I now plan to ride a bike to work six miles each way. Lance gave me the perfect skill-building lesson to ensure that I will be able to do this safely.

    • Suji on June 25, 2016 at 11:34 am

    I never learned how to ride a bike as a child. More than just a rite of passage biking meant gaining independence and would be beneficial in so many areas of my life. Lance sees me as an individual, always pushing me to do better within my abilities, and always made me feel safe when we attempted to improve my skills. It has been and continues to be a wonderful liberating experience with a caring knowledgeable fun and warm hearted teacher.

    • Ricki Harell on June 5, 2016 at 8:55 am

    Best learning experience I’ve had in a long time! Got it for my 34 bday. Now, getting to the age of 34 without knowing to ride the bike is kind of a big deal, and like everybody I was nervous and scared I might fall. 
    Lance was the best teacher I could hope for. He was patient, funny and very reliable. He took me step by step and in the second lesson I manage to ride the bike! All of this without falling off from the bike even once. If you want learn how to ride, Lance is your man. He’ll make you feel confident and will make it seems to look so easy and most important, a lot of fun.

    • Joe, Carol and Maxine on May 16, 2016 at 3:19 pm

    My family and I often workout in the same enclosed area where Virtuous Bicycle conducts lessons for new bike riders. While I am not an expert on bike riding, it is very obvious that Lance is a very dedicated and competent professional teacher/trainer. We have observed him training several students over the last few months and we can honestly state that he is totally committed to his students and he gets amazing results. He appears to be extremely patient and understanding of his students. Most important, his students respond positively to his instructions and his friendly, warm manner. As he arrives at the park early to set up for his lessons, we always enjoy chatting with him. However, when his students arrive he is all business and gives them his undivided attention. We respect his commitment to his students and it is refreshing to see someone go all-out to help one learn a new skill.

    • Jouli on October 6, 2015 at 5:16 pm

    I never learned riding a bike as a kid and I always thought that it is too late to learn when I am already in my 30s.. Well, Lance showed me that it is never too late. I showed up for my lesson and was so nervous but Lance made sure I was focused, relaxed and most importantly having fun. He had me riding and pedaling on my own by the end of my first lesson, he gave me so much confidence that I could do this and actually enjoy it. Taking a private lesson with Lance was the best thing that I have ever done, I’ve started going on short rides around my neighborhood, I went for my first park ride this weekend and I survived and so did all the people that were at the park, THANK YOU LANCE, YOU ARE AN AMAZING TEACHER!

    • RS on October 2, 2015 at 6:23 pm

    RS

    As a teacher and 60+ year old, I know a good teacher when I see one, and Lance is an outstanding teacher! It’s clear from the start in how you get on and learn how to control the bike and learn how it works, before you start using the peddles. And start to lose any fears you have from not ever riding a bike. He has a set of starting and continuing steps that he tailors to each student–and you learn the do’s (e.g, peddling steadies and controls the bike! And it does not take much to turn the bike) and most importantly the don’ts (e.g., don’t get off the bike until the brakes stop it). And in the practicing he provides, you figure out what skills you need to improve further with him and on your own. If you are informed, you can ride safely, and then you can move on from there. Thank you Lance!

    • Debby on September 27, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    I promised by husband on his birthday 3 years ago that I would learn to ride a bike. I attended a Bike New York Learn To Ride class the next year (under duress) which went well and I proudly reported that I was able to “ride” by the end of the lesson. However earlier this year my husband wanted me to demonstrate my riding skills, and he quickly realized that my skills were basic at best and only good for navigating an empty car park!

    Then came Lance.

    Lance is first and foremost a really nice human being, and is genuinely interested in people and what makes them tick. In my opinion this is what makes him a such a great teacher, as he can empathize with his students and also adapt his teaching style to the student as he realizes that everyone learns differently. Lance is also funny, patient, considerate, very reliable, an excellent communicator (loved the photos, video and many encouraging emails), extremely motivating and overall a great ambassador for cycling.

    I have just completed two 3 hour lessons (I recommend the extended lessons) over the past two weekends, and can now safely tell my husband that I can ride a bike! Don’t get me wrong, I won’t be commuting in traffic to work tomorrow but I am planning on buying my first bike in the next few days and will start riding in Prospect Park with my husband and slowly branch out from there as I gain more confidence and skill.

    Thanks again Lance, you’re a superstar!

    • SJ on August 28, 2015 at 1:06 pm

    I had an absolutely amazing lesson. Lance clearly understands how to teach adults ( there was not an iota of condescension or impatience); clearly knows what he is talking about ( he explained the mechanics and led me through the exercises in a way that I just got it!), was extremely motivating, encouraging and mostly very likeable. I am so going back to get more lessons and recommending Lance to anyone who will listen! Thank you so much! I feel empowered and that is SUCH a gift.

    • Malik on August 12, 2015 at 5:51 pm

    The other day I could not write a proper thank you note for the great learning session. Probably, you have heard this a thousand times from many people but I would say it one more time, you are one of the best and fun teachers. To be very honest, I could not believe I actually rode a bike for the first time with so much ease until I saw the short video clip afterwards. A big thank you.I can’t wait to learn the next steps!!

    • Daniela Rios on August 3, 2015 at 6:07 pm

    I just bought a new road bike to join my husband in his hobby, and although I have ridden bikes as a child and a couple of times as an adult, I was not very confident in my abilities. My first attempt at riding my new bike was a disaster. Since the bike’s seat is high (and supposed to stay high) I lost my balance and fell right off resulting in a nasty bruise and scrapes all over my legs. To avoid shattering my confidence completely, I decided to contact Lance, to build on my current biking skills and mainly to have him teach me how to ride this road bike (my little death trap, as I nicknamed it). I was a bit nervous before the lesson but Lance quickly put me at ease. He guided me through some exercises (like stopping without falling!), and helped me gain more confidence. To my surprise, I was easily mounting and dismounting the bike within the first hour of my lesson. I learned how to navigate the road, dealing with the other bikes, dogs running around, distracted tourists, the whole thing. Before I knew it, I was riding around the Central Park loop with Lance, going up hills, shifting gears, stopping the bike at the stop signals, noticing potentially hazardous situations way ahead and avoiding them… I was finally happy and at peace with my new bike. And the best part is that it was easy… or at least Lance made it seem easy since we took one step at a time, and once you put all the pieces together, you realize that it really is not so difficult. Lance is very patient and very easy going. I highly recommend him, not only for those first time riders, but also for people like me, who have been on bikes before, but were lacking some extra skill to be able to try new challenges!

    • AC on June 29, 2015 at 11:58 am

    I never learned to ride a bike as a kid because my parents never spent the time with me. Lance was so methodical, and patient – there was definitely an art to how he taught me how to ride. I am so glad that I reached out to him! After the first lesson, I couldn’t believe that after years and years, I can finally say that I can ride a bike! Thank you Lance for being a brilliant teacher! I didn’t think that I could do it :)

    • Fernanda on June 7, 2015 at 3:02 pm

    After contacting many teachers for adults in NYC I finally found Lance. He was the ONLY one who got back to me and was super structured and serious in his evaluation about my potential to learn.
    Lance is a true teacher, it is easy to trust him and to let go of being afraid. I had tried so many times with friends. Nothing like a professional with love for teaching and a good methodology.
    I took a 3 hour lesson and by the time it was over I was riding on my own. I am super thankful for having such a joyful experience.

    • Ben on August 15, 2014 at 6:37 pm

    I was so lucky to find Lance to teach me how to ride. I am in my early 30’s and had never had a chance to learn to ride a bike before meeting with Lance. He was patient, fun and clearly invested in my success all of which were traits I really appreciated. I went from being a complete beginner with no bike skills to confidently moving through Riverside park while changing gears. Lance was an amazing teacher and I could not recommend him more strongly for those like me who have meant to learn forever and never got around to doing it. Thanks again Lance!!!

    • Jae-eun on August 15, 2014 at 5:18 pm

    I never biked as a kid and it was my first bike lesson ever. I just followed each step Lance asked me to try and to my surprise I was riding a bike after one hour! I didn’t know learning a bike could be this easy and fun. Highly recommend.

  1. I can’t say enough about how good Lance is at teaching people how to ride a bike. His technique is extremely effective as is his execution. I knew immediately that my daughter was in good hands. Lance is patient, methodical and effective. Like the Dog Whisperer for bike riding…I would highly recommend him!

    • Albert on April 25, 2014 at 12:06 am

    The whole process was a gratifying experience from start to end, and I can’t thank you enough. I was definitely amazed by how the drills came together, and coming into the session did not expect that I would actually be riding the bicycle by the time it ended. You have truly developed a great program! Any apprehension I had about learning how to ride a bicycle was replaced by enjoyment.
    I am greatly looking forward to our next session!

    • Blaine on April 18, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    Lance was so awesome! He was patient with me, he helped me overcome my fears and achieve my life long dream of being a cyclist. He knows what he is doing and gives very clear instructions. He made my whole experience so much fun! He is respectful, professional, and he makes you comfortable! Thank you so much Lance, I’m so happy I chose you to be my instructor and looking forward to riding with you in the future.

    • Emma on April 7, 2014 at 11:59 am

    For anyone who is nervous about learning or re-learning how to ride a bike Lance is your man! Don’t let your friends take you out, put you on a bike and push you down a hill. You may (or may not) figure it out, but most likely you will never get on again! Lance was infinitely patient and paced our sessions appropriately to build my confidence in my own abilities. I was never pushed too far outside my comfort zone, but I could still see measurable improvements. On my rides now I realise how much I learned in those lessons that has certainly saved me from making costly mistakes. I am now able to confidently ride laps of Central Park negotiating hills, pedestrians and traffic and most importantly I am enjoying it. Thanks Lance for opening up a whole new world for me. My husband still can’t believe that I am finally out riding with him!

    • AJ on October 25, 2013 at 7:38 pm

    I didn’t learn to ride a bike as a kid because I was constantly afraid of falling. But lately I’ve been feeling I was missing out on all the fun that other bikers seemed to be having so I reached out to Lance. He is a patient teacher who starts with the basics and lets you learn at your own pace while you gain confidence. I started without knowing how to get on a bike and left feeling like a pro. I’m so glad I reached out to take the class and I still can’t believe that I am actually able to bike!

Had a good experience with VB? Your honest feedback is so important - please comment! - See you out there, Lance