Learning to Cycle as an Adult {in my 30s} !!!

Confession: Until 3 weeks ago, I did not know how to balance on a bicycle and cycle on my own.

Don't get me wrong, I love cycling {and do it very often on our Assault Airbike for exercising}... it's just that I can't balance on my own?? haha.. It's not that I haven't tried learning before. I remember my mum brought me to learn when I was a kid and just on that day I almost manage to master it, we got into a car accident and she never brought me back out to practise again (*≧▽≦)

Over the years, some of my friends tried to teach me too but I just couldn't get the hang of balancing on my own. Of course, I am kinda bummed not being able to ride a bike on my own sometimes but it never really bothered me too much. I don't use it in my daily life for transport, especially in Singapore, and my family/ friends and I are hardly ever out cycling for recreational purposes. If there's a need to, I'd just rent a tandem bike and cycle with someone.

Or, there's always my trusty 2 legs haha... I love going for strolls and walks to explore places.

In Japan, bicycles are widely used. People ride it all over to the shops, park, school or work. When I was studying and staying the dorm at Ryukoku, my friends and I used to love going to this １００円回転 sushi place to binge on delicious and cheap sushi! It isn't that accessible by public transport as there's no direct bus or train there. It takes about 20 minutes by bike... or about 45 minutes by walking. Most of them are able to cycle but we would usually all walk together. Sometimes though, they would take their bikes and because Min and I can't cycle, we would walk. It really worked up our appetite though and gave us a good exercise to burn those calories after our full meal so honestly, I didn't mind one bit!!

Yup, it was nice knowing that there was someone else who didn't know how to cycle even as an adult too haha.

I was resigned to my fate of never being able to cycle on my own until recently, a cycling enthusiast friend found out that I couldn't cycle and took it upon himself to want to teach me and another friend who happened to not be able to cycle too.

A group of us went down to East Coast Park one Saturday to try and get this other friend and me to learn how to cycle. I didn't bear much hope of mastering the bike in one session but lo and behold!!! I manage to balance and cycle on my own after about 30 minutes!!! Hooray!!! So so pleased and thankful to my friends who were patient enough to teach a me to cycle even after 30+ years...

So you see, you can teach an old dog new tricks haha ( ᐛ )و

I love my new-found freedom of riding a bike and have been rather addicted to riding. Can't wait to go faster and further!! ❤

I've been practising at least once a week since I learnt how to cycle and on my second practice session, my family and I went from East Coast Park all the way to Gardens by the Bay via the park connectors. I never knew that it was so close and accessible to one another!!

Really, it's amazing how much you can discover and explore on a bike...

Unfortunately when we reached there, my rented bicycle's rear derailleur broke and I had to walk and push it all the way back to East Coast Park again to exchange for another one *groan*

Last weekend, I learnt how to shift bicycle gears to pedal up and downhill more efficiently, and how to brake more smoothly.

I am still sticking to the park connectors and even then, I get nervous when I have to cycle near other people so will try to go to less crowded areas. Slowly, I'll try to gain confidence to cycle on pathways, roads and maybe even mountain trails haha...

I'm planning to get my own bicycle for Christmas but have not decided on what to purchase yet. Any ideas or suggestions for a first bike??

Ever since I shared that I only recently learnt how to cycle as an adult a few weeks ago, at least 6 people have come up to tell me that they still don't know how to cycle too! Well, I hope that they get to learn real soon!!!

Most adults would already know how to cycle so if you can, just grab a patient friend / family member to teach you. However, if you don't want to impose on them and don't mind paying someone to coach you, I searched online and found that there are structured adult cycling classes that you can go to at Biking Singapore, Cycle School SG and Singapore Bike School {founded by Daddy Kenneth who shared about his fatherhood journey on my blog previously}.

Cycling is not a necessity in our society, but it does help improve our health in many ways by increasing cardiovascular fitness, increasing muscle strength and flexibility, improving joint mobility, improving posture and coordination.... not to mention it is super fun, relaxing and can be enjoyed by the whole family!

I foresee us going for many more cycling sessions in the near future haha (⌒▽⌒)☆

Know anybody who still can't ride a bike?

What do you suggest to get for a first bike? Something cheap or second-hand? 

Or invest in a good, expensive one?

P.S. If you want to get fit & have fun with your family, Safari Zoo Run 2017 is coming up!

There's an early bird promo until 30 Nov 2016 and just for my blog readers and friends, enjoy 10% off current rates when you register from now until 15 Jan 2017 using my promo code: SZR2017BGPSAKUHARU10 (*＾▽＾)／

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