Hi there SunnyDee,

I've never heard of bicycle riding lessons for adults but that is most certainly not the definitive word on whether they exist or not.

You will probably find you can teach yourself to ride so long as you follow some basic steps.

• Firstly, buy a bike to suit your size. To do this, stand over a men's bike (obviously I don't know if you are male or female) with your feet flat on the ground and legs straight at either side of the crossbar. If it is a mountain bike, you should have a clearance between your gusset and the bike of about five to eight centimetres. If the bike you want is a road bike (aka racer), then the clearance should be only a centimetre or two. Once you have a bike which suits your height, it will make things a lot easier.
• Okay then, assuming you've got a well sized bike, then next you're probably not too happy with balancing on it. There are different methods of adjusting yourself to this but I think the best is probably to put the saddle down low enough that you can comfortably put your feet on the ground in a manner in which you feel secure. When you've done this, take off the pedals (I know that sounds like an odd idea but please bear with me). Remember, you don't need to try to remove the entire crankset, just the pedals which screw into it (which should unscrew fairly easily).
• At this point, you should have a well fitting frame, a low saddle and a bike with no pedals on it. This is all okay. Now get used to the handlebars and find a flat piece of ground. Sit on the saddle and simply push the bike along with your feet. As you get more and more comfortable, keep trying to take your feet off the ground for longer and longer (remember there is no rush and just to work at entirely your own pace). You should find you will soon start to get accustomed to the balance of your bike and can play with the brakes a bit to get used to them too.
• When you have grown used to, and happy with, the balance of your bike and are pretty au fait with the brakes, then you can screw the pedals back on and attempt to pedal. It might be frustrating and make you want to scream at first but there will come a point where it all just 'clicks into place' and it all seems so much easier for you. Oh, and remember not to put the saddle up any higher immediately you put the pedals back on. Keep the saddle low so you can always put your feet down quickly if you want to.

I hope there was something of use to you in there and I'm sorry if it wasn't much of an answer to your post.

If there is any manner I can be of any help, please feel free to e-mail me at Chris@PunctureRepairKit.co.uk.

Take care and I hope everything works out for you with cycling. Please keep us up to date on your progress.