Helping a learner.

[swift]

hello, ive recently been asked to teach my friend how to ride...unfortuantly she doesnt have a manual car liscence and she doesnt understand changing gears on a pedal bike ethier.

how do i teach her?
i was thinking i get a postie bike for her to learn on, as its got no clutch then jump across to a clutch operated 250 later. any other ideas?

[Stoneville]

One word DON'T, it will be the best thing you do for her.

If you want to help, find her an Instructor, plenty listed in the 250 section, sticky thread. After she has the basics then she should be right to get her own bike and for you to shadow her

[swift]

well she had a lesson with the instructor and rode into a tree....hasnt had lesson in over a year since.


I can shadow her legally, ive held my liscence long enough.

[stevo 1963]

Teaching is something that should be left to those that know what there doing.
Failing that...a low powered offroad bike on a huge vacant block of land.
Just to get the feel for the clutch/throttle/break...then lessons
If she still wants to ride after the tree incident then clearly shes very keen.
Do a quick search for instructors on here...heard there are a few very good ones

[scotch]

well she had a lesson with the instructor and rode into a tree....

Reminds me of this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui9g4...e_gdata_player

[Rich]

Professional instructors know all the techniques to get someone up to speed quickly...

Pointing her to one is the best thing you can do...

[Mo-Fo]

hmmmm mate I'm not having a dig but if she crashes into trees and can't even ride or understand how to ride a pushie maybe she's one of those ppl who possibly shouldn't learn to ride? As she may end up hurting herself?

just throwin it out there....

[swift]

haha it was sorta like that scotch....she was at the park with the professional its a massive empty park about 20 houses could fit on it, and theres one tree in the middle so the instructor says stay in first or second and just get used to riding the bike...then ride around the tree and come back to me. she went straight into the tree lol!

[Speed Dealer.]

how do i teach her?

That's your answer mate. You don't know how to teach her (and an internet forum isn't going to teach you). Let her get her confidence up with a professional instructor. Plus, if she has an accident under your care, you'll probably blame yourself. My girlfriend asked me to teach her to ride so I bought her lessons for her birthday. Had changing gears down pat in the first lesson.

If you have your heart set on teaching her, a dirtbike is a good way to learn to change gears, plus dirt/grass is a bit softer than road.

[Rich]

haha it was sorta like that scotch....she was at the park with the professional its a massive empty park about 20 houses could fit on it, and theres one tree in the middle so the instructor says stay in first or second and just get used to riding the bike...then ride around the tree and come back to me. she went straight into the tree lol!

Do you know why she hit the tree?

[SP1RITED]

+ 1 with profesional instruction. When my wife (fiance at the time) wanted to get her bike licence I didn't get involved at all . . .happy times.
Although Ive helped along quite a few other ppl over the years with shadowing and basic riding instruction.

[woody_5755]

Do you know why she hit the tree?

Ooooo can i answer??

Is it target fixation?

[Spiff]

swifty, a long time ago, when i started learning how to ride (a bicycle) and then years later when i learnt how to drive (a car) and even more years later when i learnt how to ride (a motorbike), i look back and realise the one thing in common. i built my confidence and focus worrying about one thing at a time - auto/gearless first, then once i got the hang of the movement, turning, balance, under/oversteer, headcheck issues.. i moved on to worrying about gears. with the motorbike, i had a ride on a scooter to get a feel for braking, turning, open, highspeed (as compared to a bicycle) riding. when i got onto a geared bike, and had to turn, i didn't have to worry as much about going into the kerb (or a tree).

i did take a full course of lessons from an instructor, so would also highly recommend that.

edit: i'm also curious about the backstory behind riding into a tree. heh

[IvanM]

how do i teach her?

You've answered your own question mate.
Like it's been said before, get an instructor to teach her. Her previous experience might not be pleasant, but you as a friend teaching her would lead into a worse experience if something bad happens.

One more thing I would suggest, get her to practice changing gear (and understanding what clutch does) in a CAR....

[Captain Starfish]

fucking hell.

The lack of "can do" attitude here is depressing.

1. Use a bike that can be dropped. Preferably hers.
2. Find a place that has little to hit.
3. Start with an overview of controls on a paddock stand. Get used to working the clutch in and off.
4. In first, potter about the place. Warn about target fixation (you end up going where you're looking).
5. When the wobbles have settled in first, back on the paddock stand to work the gearshifts.
6. Potter about, 1st/2nd/3rd.
7. Back to 1st, figure 8s. I know they don't test them anymore, but it's a brilliant way to learn low control. Remember: set the throttle, then use clutch and back brake to control the speed.
8. Emergency stops. Locked arms, looking at the horizon, squeeeeeeze.
9. Now she's ready for the road - get out there. Back streets, then busier roads.
10. Back to low speed stuff.
11. Back to the street, maybe an LNR once she's looking a bit smoother.

[Cam]

She cute?

I've got some free time later next week, happy to lend a hand.

[Phildo]

Do you know why she hit the tree?

Question already contains its own answer.

[darkfibre]

If she has an auto car licence she can put on 'L' plates and practice in a manual car.

Much easier to teach the basic clutch and gear concepts in a car, and the person teaching is right next to them. Can swap across and demonstrate etc.

Once the using gears concept is learned, its time for the bike.

[Captain Starfish]

Personally, I think it's an unneccessary step...

[swift]

I know everyones suggesting leave it to a professional and i agree she does need a few lessons with them befor she sits the RE test, but she just wants to get her confidence up a bit so she wont have repeat of the last lesson.

swifty, a long time ago, when i started learning how to ride (a bicycle) and then years later when i learnt how to drive (a car) and even more years later when i learnt how to ride (a motorbike), i look back and realise the one thing in common. i built my confidence and focus worrying about one thing at a time - auto/gearless first, then once i got the hang of the movement, turning, balance, under/oversteer, headcheck issues.. i moved on to worrying about gears. with the motorbike, i had a ride on a scooter to get a feel for braking, turning, open, highspeed (as compared to a bicycle) riding. when i got onto a geared bike, and had to turn, i didn't have to worry as much about going into the kerb (or a tree).

i did take a full course of lessons from an instructor, so would also highly recommend that.


edit: i'm also curious about the backstory behind riding into a tree. heh

I might suggest we'll rent the scooters in freo and have a day out...

i think the whole tree thing must of been target fixation but it would of been the most funny thing to watch,(sucks i wasnt there) Appantly she was going slowish and started riding towards the tree to make a loop, at which point she didnt take it wide she kept riding straight towards it...it was one of thoese forked tree's so the bike got stuck right in the middle of the branches upright and she came off bahahahaha. she was fine though no scratches/bruises.

.

3. Start with an overview of controls on a paddock stand. Get used to working the clutch in and off.
4. In first, potter about the place. Warn about target fixation (you end up going where you're looking).
5. When the wobbles have settled in first, back on the paddock stand to work the gearshifts.

Actually i never thought about using the pitstand...thats a brilliant idea.