We had our first bike bus in Hobart this week! It is school holidays so the "bus" went to Ride2Work day breakfast.

Just found this short film.

Just some background info:

Tried in Elementary School - Couldn't do it.
Tried in my 20's. Still couldn't do it.

I never understood why I couldn't "balance" on my bike, and while I still can't fully comprehend it, this is what I discovered.

1. Keep your head and back straight, and eyes focused on the road (about 20-50m ahead).

By focusing my eyes on the road ahead, my brain would automatically recalculate how fast or hard I should pedal, and how I balance holding the bike handles.

Previously, I would look down at my handles, pedals or wheels while riding which only made me nervous and uncoordinated — I became too focused on pedaling and didn't know where I was headed.

2. You must always pedal at your "base momentum".

To discover your "base momentum", while on your bike, push yourself forward with one foot and try to balance yourself without pedaling for 2-3 seconds.

Remember how fast you needed to go in order to keep that balance for those two seconds. With that momentum in mind, try to pedal while maintaining that speed — This will prevent you from going too slow (wobbling and falling off your bike) or too fast (making you nervous and falling).

By applying those two steps, I was finally able to balance myself with little to no thought.

3. Lastly, to turn, it's not really about turning the handles.

While maintaining your base momentum, slightly lean to the side you want to turn and slightly turn the handles — You don't actually need to turn the handles that much.

Don't slow down and don't worry about falling — As long as you do the above, science will do the rest and keep you upright and moving forward, without falling off your bike.

My final words: Bike riding has been such an odd experience. It feels like I'm using a part of my brain I've never used before. It truly feels like the back of my brain is being activated and controlling everything from balance to turning. It kinda feels good. 🧠

~ Wish all you new bicyclists' good luck! And happy riding! ✨🚴‍♀️✨

PS: I did fall a few times and got a bloody knee, but it was all worth it!

* According to Nic LaPorte

Paris and its sites are great, but one quickly develops tourist-noia--they're (I was one too, I realize) bussed in and swarming every well-known city location by 10 am daily. 

I quickly figured out that getting out early, going to not-so-well visited spots--and, especially, having a bike--mitigated much of that while helping me cover a lot of ground. (It's great feeling your ebike escalator you up and around Monmartre's hills and past the throngs making their way toward Basilique du Sacré Coeur.)

What I really enjoyed is what I describe as "New York's East Village in the 1980s" feel of the more ethnic areas abutting the edges of my seemingly gentrifying 10th arrondissement nabe. The image here perfectly captures the evening atmosphere. 

If you bike in your home city, I recommend you rent an ebike if or when you visit Paris. Yes, biking here can sometimes feel, as in central Amsterdam, like controlled chaos, but you will see so much more and It will make your experience feel next-level.