Hi folks,
So the story- I've been here about six weeks now for a student research project, I have three months left, and I am ashamed to admit I'm scared of my bike, which needs to stop. Before coming, I hadn't ridden regularly in quite some time, but I was lent a road bike to use on my first day when I arrived, and I'm so grateful for the thought... but this particular bike has been psyching me out the whole time. It's much differently built than what I was used to, and I've been having a hard time reminding my body how to balance, I feel like it's so awkward and unfortunately it's not adjustable.
Anyway I've been going through phases of "I can do this, it's a challenge!" to "okay! I'm going to at least get on and ride it up and down the road by us!" all the way to "it's terrifying, not touching it". I don't want to give up on this bike because it was freely lent, but I'm hoping to either find someone to meet up with who has a more upright cruiser I could peddle around on for awhile, or know how to ask for that at the bike rental place here, just to practice on- all I've seen on their rack at the station (I'm near Avenches) are bikes just like the one I've got- and it's hard to tell from the online list of availability, but it looks like the only upright things they have are children's bikes which are probably too small. I've been into Bern a few times also, and maybe I've not walked by the right place, but I only ever see at what I thought was the bike rental place, are similarly built bikes.
I just feel like if I could get some time on a friendlier/more upright cruiser again, then my body would remember how it feels and how to balance and I could succeed with the road bike. And then freedom, to get around faster! I just don't have many contacts here since my project has kept me not only busy, but fairly isolated from meeting new people. Any suggestions how to find what I'm looking for, or anyone volunteer to help a girl out? I do hear the trails around here by Lake Murten are pretty... and I give very good thank you hugs!
So the story- I've been here about six weeks now for a student research project, I have three months left, and I am ashamed to admit I'm scared of my bike, which needs to stop. Before coming, I hadn't ridden regularly in quite some time, but I was lent a road bike to use on my first day when I arrived, and I'm so grateful for the thought... but this particular bike has been psyching me out the whole time. It's much differently built than what I was used to, and I've been having a hard time reminding my body how to balance, I feel like it's so awkward and unfortunately it's not adjustable.
Anyway I've been going through phases of "I can do this, it's a challenge!" to "okay! I'm going to at least get on and ride it up and down the road by us!" all the way to "it's terrifying, not touching it". I don't want to give up on this bike because it was freely lent, but I'm hoping to either find someone to meet up with who has a more upright cruiser I could peddle around on for awhile, or know how to ask for that at the bike rental place here, just to practice on- all I've seen on their rack at the station (I'm near Avenches) are bikes just like the one I've got- and it's hard to tell from the online list of availability, but it looks like the only upright things they have are children's bikes which are probably too small. I've been into Bern a few times also, and maybe I've not walked by the right place, but I only ever see at what I thought was the bike rental place, are similarly built bikes.
I just feel like if I could get some time on a friendlier/more upright cruiser again, then my body would remember how it feels and how to balance and I could succeed with the road bike. And then freedom, to get around faster! I just don't have many contacts here since my project has kept me not only busy, but fairly isolated from meeting new people. Any suggestions how to find what I'm looking for, or anyone volunteer to help a girl out? I do hear the trails around here by Lake Murten are pretty... and I give very good thank you hugs!