bicycle

[deejake]

hi im 14 years old and my sister whos 15 still doesnt know how to ride a bicycle. ive been trying to teach her for like 3 years but she wont learn. any ideas thanks

[niterider]

If she has not learned in three years, let her ride a 3 wheel trike for big people.

[Loonette]

Does she even want to learn? Maybe she's only trying because she feels she's supposed to learn. Ask her what her true intentions are and what goals she may have. If she's truly not interested, then just leave her alone.

As far as techniques for helping her learn... that's a tough one. My daughter started kind of late (she learned at age , and it was very frustrating. It was difficult to help hold the bike up with her or to even run along side with her. Eventually, we just said - hey, if you really want to ride, you'll figure it out. Trust yourself, lift up your feet and coast around a bit, start working the pedals. We had given her enough verbal instruction as to what's-what, but in the end we just left her alone to practice as she saw fit. We would also take her to an area that had a slight downslope so that she could get up a bit of speed to feel her balance and to practice braking, but without having to focus on pedaling. Eventually she got it. Now we wouldn't be able to stop her from riding if we wanted to.

At age 15 it might be a bit more difficult for your sister to learn, but certainly not impossible. But I'm sure she wouldn't be the first person to live out a happy life without knowing how to ride a bicycle. Good luck to her (and you) - just don't stress it.

Cheers,
Loonette

[Bachstrad37]

Man, she is really missing out on one of lifes' pleasures. It's up there with learning on how to swim.

Is she lacking courage or just not interested? If she's lacking in interest, just let her be. She'll probably regret later, but hey...it's her life.

If she's lacking courage, let her initiate on picking it up. Just understand that she'll learn at a different pace than what you're willing to teach. Be some passive about teaching her and realize that part of learning will involve some bumps and bruises.

[Johnj]

Get a bunch of cute boys to come over on their bikes and go riding. Be sure to invite some 15 year old boys. Then just before you all ride off say "Sister could go along but she never learned to ride a bike."

[deejake]

Get a bunch of cute boys to come over on their bikes and go riding. Be sure to invite some 15 year old boys. Then just before you all ride off say "Sister could go along but she never learned to ride a bike."

I must admit that made me laugh...but I'm serious here. She is one of the most important pople to me and I care more about her than i do myself. It embarasses me whenever i remember she cant ride a bike. and btw. she cant swim either. I'm going to work on that next. She isnt a very athletic person, but anyone can ride a bike if they try hard enough. I've been through all the steps...but she doesn't seem to have any impetus to try. So please...if anyone else has any honest and serious advice..please tell me...

[Johnj]

Bob...my 50 year old sister never learned to ride a bike or drive a car. Uhh...did I say that with my out loud voice?

[logitech104]

man john... your sig is annoying.

anyway, have you actually sat down and talked to her and asked if she even has any interest in riding a bike? Or maybe you shouldn't even bring up the topic because she is embarrased and doesn't want to talk about it. Also, she might be fudging the whole getting on a bike and learning thing from you because she wants to teach herself, by herself. Maybe this thought is rummaging around her head "I know I don't know how to ride a bike, don't rub it in!"
She probably doesn't want to be babied around and taught like a four year old.

Evan learned when he was four years old, without training wheels, then me soon after. I would make a deal with her. Ask her if she will take the time, patience, and determination to learn, and if she doesn't like it, you will drop the whole "trying to get her to learn to ride a bike thing".

She can't swim either? Cool, i suck at swimming too! Evan actually isn't able to swim, so don't be too down. Body fat floats, so if she's a twig, then that might be the reason she can't swim. I'm sorry to say i'm also kinda twiggish .

I would say don't really bother her about it too much, but definitly give her the opportunity to ride a bike, she won't regret it!

Love,
~Shelly

[Logitech105]

Evan actually isn't able to swim

your so dead for saying that

chickenbob, I blame your parents for this. They should've taught her how to ride in her younger years. You, on the other hand should just keep being a positive influence.

Just had a cool thought. How about letting her join this forum so we could talk to her directly? Because we're kinda not getting any feedback on what she thinks.

[jstark47]

Evan and Shelly,
Why do you guys have user names that are one lousy stinkin' character apart??!!!!!! Geez louise..