ADULT LEARN TO RIDE A BIKE
What to Expect in a VB lesson
Here’s a little about the VB method, a preview of what you can expect from an adult Learn to Ride lesson.
EASY as RIDING a BIKE – Really?
Those carefree riders who learned during childhood simply don’t understand how scary it is for an adult beginner. But your friends are right – biking itself is not difficult. The challenge is working past all the misconceptions and non-cyclist reflexes until we break through to the other side.
You can do it – but it doesn’t happen in an instant.
When we acknowledge that it’s natural for an adult to be nervous, and take a systematic, dignified approach to learning a new skill, we’ll have a better chance of achieving true, long-term success.
START with a CLEAN SLATE
In the case of a student who has never learned, or has tried but met with frustration, I start with a clean slate. We’ll work through a series of preliminary exercises that teach your body and brain what makes a bike go. I work in very deliberate and incremental steps, so that in each exercise, you’re only focusing on one new skill – our goal is to allow you to feel relaxed and in control at each step. For example, before you even get on the bike, we’ll spend time drilling you on using the brakes – how can you not be fearful on a moving bike if you don’t know how to stop!!
Instead of telling you to swallow your fear, we won’t do anything scary. At no point in our lesson will I ask you to do something you cannot already do. There is no trial and error, no sink or swim. It’s tremendously orderly and very effective.
At some point, it all comes together. You’re riding the bike, and you won’t even know how you did it.
RUSHING is COUNTERPRODUCTIVE
How will we measure success in a lesson? Every minute spent, every exercise moves the needle, and that is the success we seek. While it’s possible that you’ll be “riding” by the end of one lesson, it’s not required and it’s not important. More important is to progress securely as you work toward your goal. Rushing is counterproductive!
IS IT TOO LATE?
I get it, you wish you’d learned when you were little. And it’s so funny, I meet 15-year olds who also feel that they’ve missed it, that they’re too old. Same with 20’s and 30’s, and 40’s…
But take a big-picture view of learning to ride – if you start now, what will your skills be like by the end of the season, or by next year, or in all the years to come? Throughout my life, biking has been a positive presence in so many ways – and never more than now, as I help students get started on their own virtuous cycle – learn how, ride and watch your skills grow, feel better and feel fitter, and ride more because you love it.
I’m looking forward to being your instructor,
Best,
Lance Jacobs
March 2022, Central Park
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Book with Virtuous Bicycle for a lesson with VB founder Lance Jacobs
“Over ten years and hundreds of successful students, I’ve developed a unique approach for adults.”
the League of American Bicyclists
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