People who know me also know that I am vehicularly challenged. That is, I cannot drive any vehicle. Yes, not even a cycle.
In my childhood, I have seen my brother ride his cycle. Somehow, nobody ever taught me how to cycle and I being the silent and non-adventurous one, never asked for it.
Time flew by. Whenever people would ask me the question, “I am sure you know how to drive the car” and I would sheepishly say, I don’t even know how to ride the cycle.
For all my travels within a city, I have either walked or used the public transport system.
Almost a month back, there is something which told me, I should not be like this. I should learn how to ride a cycle atleast. Definitely it is not rocket science.
My dad bought me a brand new Hero- Miss India cycle 
which looks very similar to the image below which I took from the Hero cycles site: http://www.herocycles.com/missindia1.htm
I got the 24” cycle because that was the size that fit my height and came with the “balance wheels”. (The next height was 26” which does not come with a balance wheel)
I struggled a lot for the first week (the balance wheel was of no help because it had actually got twisted thanks to my first fall). I fell so many times. I hurt my hands, legs and even my stomach. I almost felt I would never be able to ride a cycle. I used to put the right leg and push the pedal and by the time I lift my left leg to push the left pedal, the cycle would go in random directions and I would fall. It was actually funny sometimes
I dint give up. I was determined. The second week saw some improvement. I could atleast pedal and ride for short distances before I fell off.
The “third” week was miraculous. No balance wheels. And I was able to ride like a bird. Seriously, it felt like magic. Haha…Ofcourse, not magic, it was pure hard effort. I was even able to ride the cycle up a slope.
Yes, I am no more challenged. I am in love with my cycle.
P.S: I was actually motivated by the post written by Anna Paradox where she had written about her “learning of the cycle” which began with the title:
Those Who Do, Can
And ya, riding a cycle is a wonderful exercise. I sweat out nearly 40 mins to an hour everyday on my cycle and I can already see the difference
16 Comments
May 11, 2009 at 5:00 am
Wow! This is inspiring! I guess I too should start learning
.
Hey, btw why don’t we catch up sometime?
May 11, 2009 at 10:48 am
@Sangeetha:
Yes, definitely, I think you will get it easier than me. Go ahead and buy a cycle – 24” with the balance wheels and I assure you within 3 to 4 weeks, you will be able to ride.
It is good to have the “balance wheels” because that way you don’t need the support of any other person, you can learn on your own.
Yes, we should definitely meet up. But where, when, how :->
May 11, 2009 at 12:20 pm
:O u learnt to cycle recently :O.. thats an achievement i should say. So hows your arm now?. Cycling is fun, thats very true but keep always left while riding on the road.
May 12, 2009 at 2:41 am
Great Job! Really inspirational. Reminds me of college days where i used to spend atleast three hours with it everyday.
May 12, 2009 at 12:41 pm
hey,
where there is a will, there is a way
Pass on your contact no. to me via e-mail. will send mine too. let’s talk sometime and decide on the wheres and hows
May 12, 2009 at 1:12 pm
hii,
i think u would have got a nice experience from it and hope u ride ur cycle well now… Moreover, cycling helps in keeping ur body fit..
May 14, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Interesting. The bicycle looks good. Congrats on your achievement. Someone should try to motivate my wife who is similarly vehicularly challenged. I have tried everything in my power to no avail
Next thing you should learn to drive a car. Much safer for Indian traffic conditions, although not that Green.
May 14, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Congrats ..party time
May 15, 2009 at 5:51 pm
@just08in:
Thanks for the suggestion to drive on the left side of road. My arm is perfectly fine. Yes, it was definitely an achievement for me as I was driving a vehicle for the first time. felt great
May 15, 2009 at 5:53 pm
@Deepak:
Thanks a lot. Sigh!! I wish I had learnt the cycle during my college days. Would have been so much fun. Anyways, better late than never.
May 15, 2009 at 5:54 pm
@Sangeetha:
I will surely keep in touch. Not sure about meeting anytime soon but we will surely catch up in the future.
May 15, 2009 at 5:55 pm
@Vidhya:
Ya, it has helped me stay fit too because I am sitting at home since the past week or 2
Ya, really enjoying my rides on the cycle. It feels great especially to drive in the evenings when the cool breeze hits your face. Feels lovely
May 15, 2009 at 5:59 pm
@Sukumar:
Thanks a lot. Yes, my cycle looks lovely
Haha..Learning a vehicle cannot be motivated externally. Till now, hundreds of people have asked me to learn some vehicle but I could never get convinced. But suddenly one day, I just got this motivation to learn by myself.
Sure Sukumar. I am planning to learn to drive the car too. I may not buy a car but it will be useful to know how to drive for emergency purposes.
May 15, 2009 at 5:59 pm
@Hariram:
Yay!! Definitely
September 16, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Hi, Saraswathi!
Congratulations on learning to ride a bike! And thank you for mentioning my newsletter.
I’ve just put that issue up on my website where everyone can see it. It’s at: http://creatingspace.annaparadox.com/?p=407
With all my best wishes,
Anna Paradox
October 17, 2009 at 8:05 am
Well, it was nice reading this.
I think i am directionally challenged , without looking at m,y hands i cant decide which is left n right
never got to learn a cycle but well i did learn how to drive a car and felt driving is soooo soothing