Cycling

[nickye]

I haven't posted lately but felt i had to today. I'm 49, found out I had dyspraxia five years ago, and today I actually went out on my bike - I only cycled down a little road, but it was quite a big thing for me, as I haven't done it for several years.

I had a lot of trouble learning to cycle as a child, and back then I didn't know anything about dyspraxia, and just used to feel stupid. It is great to be able to realise there was a reasons I struggled.

I had to pluck up the courage to even take my bike out of the garage, and getting on and off wasn't easy - but it is true that you don't forget! I quite enjoyed it. At least I and the bike came back in one piece - always a bonus!

I just don't feel I could go on main roads, and I can't seem to take my hand off and do a hand signal, while balancing. Has anyone got any advice?

As I've said on here before, thanks to everyone for all the support. This is the friendliest and most supportive place I've found online - and I would put a lot of that down to Tom, who always has something caring and supportive to say.

Thanks
Nicky

[Tom fod]

Thanks Nicky

Learning to cycle took me a while too. I didn't pass cycling profficiency at school but used to go out about with friends when I lived in forest I have cycled round Netherlands as Dad is keen The provision for and attitude of drivers to cyclists is so much better!

I think you have to be moving at a sufficient pace to do hand signals but trying to signal and look around at same time would probably cause me some unsteadiness too.

Not sure I'd survive unscathed for v long commuting in small city/local roads where I live but not got room to keep a bike in flat.

[SwervingCentaur]

I gave up trying to learn.

[lubellasquee]

I tried learning before, it was an absolute disaster in the end both myself and my dad realised it wasn’t happening so gave up

[ThomasHoffman]

I haven't posted lately but felt i had to today. I'm 49, found out I had dyspraxia five years ago, and today I actually went out on my bike - I only cycled down a little road, but it was quite a big thing for me, as I haven't done it for several years.

I had a lot of trouble learning to cycle as a child, and back then I didn't know anything about dyspraxia, and just used to feel stupid. It is great to be able to realise there was a reasons I struggled.

I had to pluck up the courage to even take my bike out of the garage, and getting on and off wasn't easy - but it is true that you don't forget! I quite enjoyed it. At least I and the bike came back in one piece - always a bonus!

I just don't feel I could go on main roads, and I can't seem to take my hand off and do a hand signal, while balancing. Has anyone got any advice?

As I've said on here before, thanks to everyone for all the support. This is the friendliest and most supportive place I've found online - and I would put a lot of that down to Tom, who always has something caring and supportive to say.

Thanks
Nicky

Nicky, your achievement is truly significant. Discovering that there was a physical reason for your struggles, rather than just feeling stupid, is a massive weight off your shoulders. Dyspraxia affects motor coordination and balance, so what feels like a little road to someone else is a mountain for you, and you climbed it.

It is very common to feel a bit wobbly when taking a hand off the bars. When you have dyspraxia, your brain is working double-time to manage the micro-adjustments needed for balance. Taking a hand off the bars breaks that stability loop. Here are a few practical ways to handle this as you build your confidence:

Shoulder Checks: Instead of worrying about the arm signal, focus on a clear, exaggerated look over your shoulder. In many cases, a firm head check tells drivers exactly where you intend to go while keeping both hands on the brakes.

LED Indicators: There are fantastic, inexpensive wireless indicators you can mount to your seat post or handlebars. You just click a small button on your thumb-grip to blink left or right, so no one-handed balancing is required.

Stop and Point: If a junction feels too busy, there is zero shame in pulling over, hopping off, and walking the bike across as a pedestrian. It keeps you and the bike in one piece.

Quiet Routes: You can use apps that specifically map out low-traffic, low-stress cycling paths so you can avoid main roads entirely until you feel more steady.

If you ever want to share a photo of your bike or the road you conquered today, your phone might save it as a WebP file. Some older, supportive forums like this one can have trouble displaying those. You can use [illegal commerciall URL removed by Admin ] to quickly flip your victory shots into high-quality JPEGs so everyone can see your bike and cheer you on.