27.12.2012
I got myself a bike. How hard could it be? It's like riding a bike, no? Well, no, actually. I could stay upright, but get off the pavement? Not a hope!
A friend thought I'd be safer on a tricycle and sent me these illuminating words of advice. A slightly more practical friend, who could cycle on the road but only if she never had to turn right, suggested Bikeability.
Our instructor was quite a philosopher. His mantras were "Keep peddling but never take your hands off the brakes" and "You don't need mirrors to see what's behind you". Rules to live by, I think!
Firstly, he told us that we weren't nearly as bad as we thought we were. When you believe you are exactly that bad (or worse), this is an enormous confidence boost. He showed us the mistakes that hesitant cyclists make and told us we had as much right as anyone to be on the road. In the middle of it, even!
Three sessions later we cycled from Dulwich to Greenwich and back!
I
can't say I've made that (frankly terrifying) journey again or even that the
bike gets many outings. But it's a start.
