Biking excuse list

Just get out and do it. I recommend a mirror for your bike. I probably spend 35% of my saddle time looking behind me. Research the routes you want to ride for amount of traffic, best time of day, dogs, etc. Start out with short rides and continue to increase your distance each time out. Ride with traffic, and hold your line, do not swerve in and out of parked cars. ride so cars have to pass you. Here, in Illinois, if you are in the road, you are a vehicle and have all of the rights a car driver has, you just don't move as fast. Our laws say you must pass a bicycle and allow at least 3 feet of cushion. You will get used to riding with cars going by, but selecting lesser traveled routes is still a good idea.

Do you live near a bike path/trail? Removing cars from the equation makes biking much less stressful.

Do you live near a bike path/trail? Removing cars from the equation makes biking much less stressful.

This.

My boyfriend loves to cycle, but won't do it on the roads. Fortunately, we live right by a canal, so there's plenty of scope for him to get on the path and veer off on cycle tracks.
He rode from North Wales to South Wales a couple of years ago and had to do some of that on roads - said he hated it, especially because drivers are very inconsiderate of cyclists. That's true, I get impatient being stuck behind a cyclist and am also terrified that I'm going to hurt someone if they do something unexpected.
If you don't have any cycle tracks nearby, maybe try sticking to roads with low speed limits or where there isn't much traffic.

Personally, I don't cycle because I can't. Never mastered it as a child and still couldn't as an adult. I love it on an exercise bike, though, I'd spend ages on there at the gym, pretending I was cycling through lovely countryside or finishing the Tour de France.

I've been riding a bike since I was 4-do you know how many scars I still have from falling off of my bike as a child?!! Just jump back on, like others have said, get a mirror, and find quiet roads and streets. I bike nearly every day, and have found some beautiful quiet routes here in NH. It's a wonderful way to torch some calories and enjoying the sites. Good Luck!

I don't feel confident when a car approaches or when I have to use hand signals
I live on a big hill
I don't have a bike rack
I get stupid when it's time to grease a chain or pump up my tires

In short I'm fearful and generate excuses when I know I need to just get out and ride. I injured myself on a bike as a young person so this is part of my issue. How have others conquered their fear of biking and gained confidence? I would love to integrate riding into my cardio

One of my fears is getting a puncture, dunno why, it just is lol.

Regarding pumping up the tyres, just unscrew the dustcap thingy and screw in the pump, do it secretly as a practice run when nobody is about.

Cycling in the road is another matter, I refuse to cycle on busy roads and as for going round busy roundabouts, forget it, I go on the pavement and cross that way, I have done exactly the same when I want to turn into the traffic at traffic lights too.

Cycling on the whole is terrific fun and good exercise though, don't let your fears prevent you from having a go. Is there no quiet roads or tracks you can cycle around for a while until you get used to it?

Just do it a few times and you'll feel fine! My first couple of days cycling in Paris I would get of the bike all shaky but now I go everywhere with it! Just don't trust those cars to look out for you!

When I was about 12 I fell off my bike and pretty much landed on my face it wasn't very pleasant lol! But I decided to give it a go again last year and I love it. We have a dog and she loves running next to us. We found some good routes with a couple of pubs on the way lol and made a day of it . However I am really nervous of riding on the rodes. Me and hubby have just moved to Germany which is very bike friendly and I still have only cycled once since moving here but I'm sure once I gain a bit of confidence it will be fine! If you have some nice country routes or forest routes try those out first the first ride is bit scary but it doesn't take long to get used to it. Give it ago you never know you might enjoy it :happy:

Face yours fears! Pumping a tire takes a minute and it's the simplest thing ever. So is lubing and cleaning a chain. You can get a bike rack on craigslist for about 15 bucks. Most LBS have free basic bike maintenance classes. Take one. Climb the blasted hill, it's good for you. Busy roads are usually fairly easy to avoid. If you don't want to ride, then don't ride but you better get some better excuses.

Mine are:

It's too hot outside
It's too cold outside

Okay well I had the most horrible traumatic experience on a bike when I was 7, I fell over the handle bars going down a hill and really grazed and injured my body.

I do that almost every time I go mountain biking. :laugh:

get out and bike, unless you do it you'll never do it.
10 years ago a car drove over me, took 8 months to learn to walk/talk again and two years before I could do both at the same time. I didn't ride for 6 years. but now I ride pretty much everyday.
If you can take a cycling course. and just do it.