Do you think one can learn how to Ride a Bike as an adult?or its harder & Hopeless?

Question

My friend Cookie has wanted to learn how to ride a Bike ever since he was a young boy,but due to the fact his family could not afford it and approve of it he never learned.Now as an adult in his 30s he wants to learn

Do you think one can learn how to ride a bike as an adult?or its harder & Hopeless?He is about 6ft 4 and He heard when youre this tall your less coordinated with your hands of feet ?Is it something you start as a child or it becomes extremely hard..I know its not impossible but is it justa hopeless case?

Answer 1

There are programs (CANBIKE) for teaching adults how to ride.  Get a proper fitting (used) bike at a place like Silent Sports in the spring (or fall when people are dumping them.)

It isn't hopeless.  It won't take any more effort than it took as a kid and adults will learn faster.  It is all about the determination.

My wife biked through CANBIKE and got frustrated after 30 minutes of riding.  When I took the training wheels off my daughter's bike at the age of 4 she was determined and tried for 60 minutes the first day - going from 10 seconds up to three minutes - and went back to it the next day and never looked back.  

My wife was up and running faster, but was frustrated even though she learned five times faster than my daughter.  It is about determination and is no harder or easier except from the psychological point of view.

From the psychology... "The bigger you are, the harder you fall"... learn in soft grass with a mountain bike and a helmet and help nearby if needed.  Just as true for kids as addults.

Answer 2

About as hard as it would be to learn how to swim.  ;)