I attended my first bike riding development group. I learnt so much. We started off by just learning how to manouvre corners - basically the leg on the outside of the corner should be down while the inner leg is held up, this helps your stability around the corner. I also need to relax my arms and try not to lock my elbows. A little easier said than done. My elbows automatically hyper-extend so it takes a little more concentration than those that just have normal locking elbows.
I also learnt to focus ahead versus just meters from my front tyre. Makes sense really - The possibility for collisions is far higher when you are looking at the ground just ahead of you. This came in handy when we did our next exercise in sitting just behind someone. I do believe they call this "drafting" in a race. The instructor wanted me to get quite close but I am not confident with this yet, so I held myself about 2 ruler lengths away and tried to follow right behind but just as I thought I had it mastered I would get the wobbles and my straight line looked like it had been drawn by someone in kindy. I tried.
Next we had a guest speaker on what saddles are appropriate for bike riding. Come to find out my seat is too soft and not appropriate, so the next day I went to my local bike shop and put a seat on layby. This one has the slit down the middle so hopefully my nether regions will be much more content when I get the saddle paid off and fitted. Everyone was having problems with their bum, oh not me - I just have to be different :)
The last component was bunch riding. Lucky there was only 4 of us in our beginners group. I dont mind riding close by someones side. Felt comfortable. What I was not comfortable with was letting go of one hand and placing it behind my back. Whilst my right hand was holding on all was good, I could ride in a straight line. Left handed riding is something I definately need to work on. I got the death wobbles straight away. It was like watching a little child learn to ride. Nevermind. Practise makes perfect, or so I keep trying to tell myself.
