Wanted: A rider. Teach LdnGrrl how to ride day

LdnGrrl - got to say that as a newbie I'm impressed with the rate of your posting - almost Hippyesque in volume, but far more friends no doubt (looks at my own pathetic count on both fronts).

A shame this post didn't appear earlier this summer (just coming to the end of my holidays). Can appreciate that you aren't in the best place to gain confidence as I used to work in Northwood and despite its quiet roads they weren't exactly cycle friendly.

As for the balancing, I'm not sure how people could help in this regard. Are you comfortable on your bike - saddle height, stem length etc?

With regard to confidence, I feel that it has to come from you. I was knocked off my bike 10 years ago and broke my spine. Getting back on my bike was no problem as I was knocked out and couldn't remember the collision. However, I then started feeling conscious of vehicles approaching from behind. I now wear a cycle helmet and I'm fairly wary of my surroundings. My own feeling is that cycling is a far more visual activity - you can prepare for what will come ahead and from the side of you, but not from behind.

Just cycle I guess (what shit advice) you'll gain confidence I'm sure.

BTW you appear to cycle a Gitane - so did I, it was a lovely bike.

Good luck

Repost on the posting volume :P
But thank you for your advice, and yes cycle, cycle and cycle is what I plan to do, with someone telling me to HFTU.

Don't think my bike is entirely comfortable, which reminds me I should ask if anyone could bring some tools with them for adjusting seat/stem etc.
Thanks though

hmm Blackbird Hill is akin to the A40 fr trafficitous! ffs!!! now you could just get up Salmon Street and freewheel down to Kingsbury....

One of the Prime Coaching peeps- Brian Wright, runs a women's session at Hillngdon circuit on a Friday @ 2, that would allow you to wobble round in safety on a non traffic road. If you can get there it'd be a help to you, 2pm is usually a working time for most peeps though...

There are the Thursday 18.30 kick off sessions at Hillngdon too, (get there before then,) sessions too, its for an hour and you'd be ok.

Now a regular female rider- Mad Mel is partially deaf, as is another female colleague, and I'd want to be sure you can hear what's around you, otherwise its dangerous for you and A N Others- its called spacial awareness. Please don't think for one nano second I'm trying to put you down, but your safety on the roads IS paramount.

I just think Blackbird Hill during rush hour etc isn't a good place to start, and I can't think of anywhere suitable nearby. From memory there's a park in Wembley which may be ok for riding, otherwise its a car ride out to eg Hillingdon circuit- alongside the Hayes by-pass, and futher out there's Black Park in Iver, off road but gravel paths etc.

You need help for sure, but the right help to build up fitness and skills. All do-able. And I salute you for puttng yourself forward on here.

Sometimes you just have to get on a bike and do it in short steady steps- ride to A and back, ride to B and back, etc. Canal towpath's are nice a quiet.

I'd like to help, but its a question of it being effective, and my time is very limited, I was a BC Coach but chose to stop, some know that, and some have guessed that anyway.

Kingsbury can be as busy, but if you go into the "village" it's quiter though, but the hill going up Salamon st? Masssssive :P

However I do have a brent welsharp park bottom of my road , (Massive park, sailing clubs) if that's any help?

I should say my bike is currently geared at the moment until I either get the parts to swap about on that or get my pug up and running.

I have no clue where Hilligdon is, and I don't drive :(

There is a canal path that goes from Alperton to Shepherds bush. I think.

I can hear with my hearing aid on, but when I am concertating I tend to focus on what's the front of me and somehow background noises get zoned out?

Thanks for your tips though and will take that to condiseration